Sing, Unburied, Sing

A Novel

By: Jesmyn Ward

Narrated by: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chris Chalk, Rutina Wesley

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

WINNER of the NATIONAL BOOK AWARD for FICTION
Finalist for the Kirkus Prize
Finalist for the Andrew Carnegie Medal
Publishers Weekly Top 10 of 2017

"The heart of Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing is story - the yearning for a narrative to help us understand ourselves, the pain of the gaps we'll never fill, the truths that are failed by words and must be translated through ritual and song...Ward's writing throbs with life, grief, and love, and this book is the kind that makes you ache to return to it." (Buzzfeed)

In Jesmyn Ward's first novel since her National Book Award-winning Salvage the Bones, this singular American writer brings the archetypal road novel into rural 21st-century America. An intimate portrait of a family and an epic tale of hope and struggle, Sing, Unburied, Sing journeys through Mississippi's past and present, examining the ugly truths at the heart of the American story and the power - and limitations - of family bonds.

Jojo is 13 years old and trying to understand what it means to be a man. He doesn't lack in fathers to study, chief among them his black grandfather, Pop. But there are other men who complicate his understanding: his absent white father, Michael, who is being released from prison; his absent white grandfather, Big Joseph, who won't acknowledge his existence; and the memories of his dead uncle, Given, who died as a teenager.

His mother, Leonie, is an inconsistent presence in his and his toddler sister's lives. She is an imperfect mother in constant conflict with herself and those around her. She is black, and her children's father is white. She wants to be a better mother but can't put her children above her own needs, especially her drug use. Simultaneously tormented and comforted by visions of her dead brother, which only come to her when she's high, Leonie is embattled in ways that reflect the brutal reality of her circumstances.

When the children's father is released from prison, Leonie packs her kids and a friend into her car and drives north to the heart of Mississippi and Parchman Farm, the state penitentiary. At Parchman, there is another 13-year-old boy, the ghost of a dead inmate who carries all of the ugly history of the South with him in his wandering. He, too, has something to teach Jojo about fathers and sons, about legacies, about violence, about love.

Rich with Ward's distinctive, lyrical language, Sing, Unburied, Sing is a majestic new work and an unforgettable family story.

A 2018 RUSA “Listen-Alike” for LINCOLN IN THE BARDO

©2017 Jesmyn Ward (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"There is a truth and grittiness here that narrators Kelvin Harrison, Rutina Wesley, and Chris Chalk enhance significantly with their powerful talents.... All in all, this excellent novel makes for exceptional listening." (AudioFile)

Amazing writing with compelling characters

This book held me spell bound. From the deep pathos and finely wrought characterizations to the poetic use of symbol and metaphor I could not put it down. Jesmyn Ward is a writer to watch- she is fantastic. I highly recommend Sing Unburied Sing.

Not an easy read, but a worthwhile one.

I had to start this book over several times, and I nearly gave up once or twice because of the brutal situations that the characters were in. It reminded me of both Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison’s work, but with an extra contemporary, original kick. Ward is definitely a poet and the writing is beautiful, though perhaps it is not for those who cannot deal with bits of magical realism. She makes you feel compassion for all the characters, even the ones that are seriously flawed, and she breaks stereotypes while she does it. My favorite character was the toddler baby sister. There are no cookie-cutter happy endings here, but there is deep healing and redemption. Listen to the end. It is worth it and will leave you thinking.

Deep South Drama

Love the complexity of the characters & the story. Family love combined with a background of southern racial tensions.

I was happy to read this Jesmyn Ward book!

I enjoyed this book. I loved getting to know the characters and hearing the story through their eyes. I have not listened to many audible books and I am hooked. I love to read, but the DOT frowns on driving and reading. I loved hearing the story read. The readers were excellent. I did not like Salvage the Bones by this author, but I enjoyed this book. It is rich on many levels.

Masterfully Written

What a deep and compelling story. So visual, at moments I really felt as if I was standing right next to the characters in the story. An amazing and thought provoking avenue.

excellent

all emotions here. the living and the dead bound by emotion. highly recommend this performance.

Narrator expertise

The narrators made this come alive. Particularly Kelvin Harrison. I feel as if I’ve watched a film rather than read a book. Kudos!

A Must-Listen

I have listened to over 100 audio books. I have read hundreds of books. This book has moved me like non other.

amazing

great storyline, love the different pov throughout the story, my favorite character was jojo. the book is amazing

beautiful!

This novel is all about language. One of the best I've read. so layered + rich. highly recommend.