Salvage the Bones: A Novel

Brutal and savage story told almost entirely in the present tense. I found it both repelling and compelling. In my opinion it had little to do with Katrina (the hurricane) and more to do about surviving in a savage land. Most of the descriptive writing is eloquent, but at times it could have used better editing. Now I'm looking for something that does not use the word detritus once.

MY BOOK CLUB CHOSE THIS BOOK FOR OUR APRIL PICK....I THOUGHT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT HURRICANE KATRINA. IT WAS A RAW TALE OF 'HURRICANE' OF LIFE AND SURVIVAL PRE- KATRINA. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO LISTEN TO THE DOG FIGHTING AND DECISIONS PEOPLE MAKE TO SURVIVE. MY HEART WENT OUT TO ESH WITHOUT A MOTHER & SURROUNDED BY MEN. DEFINITELY NOT A PLEASURE TO HEAR I DID LIKE THE NARRATION....MADE IT EASIER. THE STORY IS A HARD TRUTH OF LIFE THAT I AM NOT FAMILIAR.

Cherise Booth is an outstanding narrator and injects warmth and humanity in the main characters. It's easy to see why this book won the National Book Award.

I didn't like the theme of dog fighting that runs through this book but I understand how that is a real part of life in southern Mississippi.

gripping, often tragic story, beautifully and sensitively read. A great listen and a worthwhile addition to a literary library.

Life can be so unfair to the people who have the least. I know this and yet when I listened to the book, it once again became abundantly clear.

It's always interesting to read about an important event from the perspective of a character. It adds a depth of understanding that isn't possible any other way. But, this book is brutal. It's so depressing, so tough. Parts of it were simply too much for me.

The writing is flawless. The subject matter is, like I said, brutal. Don't expect to be uplifted or carried away into fiction oblivion. Expect instead to get a dose of gritty, real life.