Reviews

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

calster's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

toofondofbooks's review against another edition

4.0

This is the first book I’ve read by Jesmyn Ward and I can say for sure that it won’t be the last. This novel grabbed me from the first page and held me in its spell until after I’d finished reading. It’s a book about a family who are attempting to prepare for Hurricane Katrina, but in the preparations you get to see the dynamics of this family and how they work as a group. They are poverty-stricken, they have lost their mother and they’re trying to survive. The writing in this novel is breath-taking at times. Ward captures the darkest of moments but the beauty in her words kept me reading, when the storyline made me want to look away. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com

nataliewonders's review against another edition

5.0

This book was very well written and tells a classic American tale with a large twist... a hurricane approaching in the gulf.

alwayssunny's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Didn't care for the ending. But overall it was a good read.

goodyeargoodbooks's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 stars.

jenmangler's review against another edition

3.0

I found the last two chapters, set during and after Hurricane Katrina makes landfall, especially powerful. They made the book for me. Like many others I struggled with the dog fighting. It's just not something I can ever stomach.

lrstuv's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.5

mdevlin923's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted to like this so badly...but I just couldn't. While listening to it on audiobook, I kept zoning out or getting lost in the metaphors. It'll be great if you like character-driven novels with beautiful, metaphorical language.

thebeesknees79's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Damn. Just damn. This story is haunting and beautiful and sad. I’m mad that it took me this long to read it.

elizabethfisher's review against another edition

5.0

This book is gut wrenching and real and an important read. The story follows a large family living on the bayou when Hurricane Katrina hits. I personally had a hard time getting into the book in the beginning as the subject isn’t exactly light and the exposition is a little slow, but I tore through the last 100 pages. This is not a beach read but don’t let that dissuade you from reading it.