CCPL - Librarian With a Faulknerish feel this debut novel is set in rural Mississippi on the brink of Hurricane Katrina. Fifteen year old Esch lives with her brothers and grieving father in an area so remote that it could still be the 1930s. Things have not been right in the family since the tragic death of their mother and each family member is floundering in their own way. Simultaneously wise and very naïve, Esch is the observer of all those around her and seeks realization through her relationships with boys. Her brother Skeeter has pinned all his hopes on his pit bull and her new litter of pups and their father seeks his comfort through alcohol. As Katrina looms, the pups sicken, tempers flare, and tragedy strikes. In the end, though the family finds redemption in their love for each other. Gritty and lyrical, this deserved 2011 National Book Award winner is highly recommended for those who like the writing of Cormac McCarthy or Toni Morrison.
As Katrina descends... (KPL Staff Review) Savor this novel where four siblings and their father face the challenges of life in small-town coastal Mississippi. The author will artfully lead you to mourn the childrens'' losses, feel their frustrations and pray for their safety as Hurricane Katrina approaches. -April, Circulation Services
Salvage the Bones is Unsalvageable Until the End Salvage the Bones, written by Jesmyn Ward, is a heartfelt and touching story about a young teenage girl and her family as they tragically deal with hurricane Katrina. The author successfully manages to use literary devices to her advantage. The way that Ward is able to use imagery to describe events makes the reader feel as though they are actually watching the story take place. However, certain parts of the novel dragged and made it hard not to just skip ahead to the more involved parts.The book didn't quite capture my attention until the end when the hurricane hits. Overall, this book will leave people wanting more with the author leaving you with a feeling of loss, tragedy, and hope.
HPL Summer Reading This novel is set in a poor, black community in rural Mississippi in the 10 days preceding Hurricane Katrina, the day of the storm and the day after. The hurricane is actually secondary in this character-driven story. Well written and likeable characters and subtle themes of poverty, race and familial/human bonds.
Interesting But Not Compelling This story of rural poverty in Mississippi, during 12 days that build up to Katrina, has a lot of themes to explore, such as motherhood, loyalty to family, loss & revenge, & the price of survival. I could really feel this Southern setting & found the characters of this motley family--& their sacrifices for each other--interesting & sometimes unusual. However, there were problems in the novel, for me, & a main one has to do with how often Ward ‘overwrites,‘ using way too many similes, metaphors & adjectives, which made me wince & slows the story down. The endless allusions to Greek mythology by the 15 year old narrator, Esch, don’t add anything--the story would be rich enough without them--& also distances/distracts. I often felt that Ward was trying too hard--to be literary or poetic. The story is slow to build (perhaps like a hurricane), but once it does, it becomes quite dramatic & I liked the ending. Worth reading, but not one of my favorite books.