Silver Sparrow
Tayari Jones
2011
352 pages
I confess. I had no interest in reading this one (bigamy doesn’t really float my boat) until I saw the author speak at the Tucson Festival of Books. But I loved listening to her speak so much that I just had to read her book. This is the danger of book festivals…they make you want to read things you were convinced you weren’t interested in!
And yowza, did this end up being a book I was interested in. I gobbled it up in a day. Jones does a fabulous job with her characters. They are both sympathetic and flawed. They are real. I loved them. I hated them. I wanted their stories to never end!
I think most everyone has weighed in on this one, so I won’t recap, other to say…two daughters, two “wives,” two sides of the story. And one talented author.
I hated the one daughter at first, then felt sorry for her…. couldn’t decide! great book club stuff!
I actually read half of this one a few months back and had to put it down due to other obligations. I was enjoying it at the time though so I really should go back and finish it!
Bigamy is not a topic I like in my books, as well. But characters are extremely important and I love characters that have me feeling a gamut emotions. I’ll be looking into this book.
Yay! Glad you liked it!
And that’s why it won the Indie Lit Award for Fiction.
I still have books from the Festival that I attended with you, unread.
Glad it worked out!! You know a book I’m not interested in reading … A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? ; )
I haven’t read this one but I really want to. Isn’t it amazing how seeing an author will make you read just about anything?
I have glanced at reviews of this one, but hadn’t really looked to see what the book was about. I was shallowly turned off by the cover (I don’t know why). With so many people enjoying it though, I should probably give it a chance.
I don’t know if Bigamy “floats my boat” either (I mean, I know it doesn’t float my boat in practice, but in fiction, that’s a whole ‘nother issue!), but I’ve only read raves about this book and this author, so I know I want to read it at some point.
I am officially intrigued… seeing/hearing the author really can make a difference.
I love this author!!
I recommend Leaving Atlanta by her as well… there is one scene in that book I have not forgotten.. it’s heart breaking.
So glad you loved this one too! Tayari has become one of my favorite authors. I would love to hear her speak in person.
Love Tayari Jones! I really recommend her other books – The Untelling and Leaving Atlanta. So good!
Hmmphf! I had no interest in reading this until I read your review. Thanks, Jill!
Such a beautiful cover. I honestly didn’t know what this one was about at all (I like living under this rock thankyouverymuch), but your emphatic response has me very curious!!
I can’t wait to read this one. I have heard some amazing things about it, and love the “two perspective” angle.
Ooooh, good news! I’ve got a copy, so I’m happy to see how much you loved Silver Sparrow.
I really am impressed how you can write such powerful and short reviews.
This book was one of my favorites last year. I’m so glad that you enjoyed it.
I loved this one too. Although I was expecting to enjoy it, Jones still surprised me with her writing and how she split the plot.
I have a distaste for bigamy and don’t find it interesting, usually.
And I thought that *I* was the only person who hasn’t yet read SILVER SPARROW … not because of the subject, just because I haven’t gotten to it yet. Am glad to hear that her presentation convinced you to pick it up … maybe I need an excuse to go to a book event
I wasn’t interested in this one either, but of course now I’ve got to read it. Peer pressure.