Red at the Bone: A Novel
Moving forward and backward in time, Jacqueline Woodson's taut and powerful new novel uncovers the role that history and community have played in the experiences, decisions, and relationships of these families, and in the life of the new child. As it explores sexual desire and identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and the life-altering facts of parenthood, Red at the Bone most strikingly looks at the ways in which young people must so often make long-lasting decisions about their lives--even before they have begun to figure out who they are and what they want to be.
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The way the author displays and writes the connection between these generations and their coming of age events that made them the person they are today is absolutely beautiful. Starting the narrative at a traditional celebration, you follow the grandparents to the parents to the young mother to be jumping between past and present in heart breaking yet unconditional love of memories and views of each other. I probably am not describing all the emotions this book brought out in me properly but this book was a good read.
She felt red at the bone. Like there was something inside of her undone and bleeding.
Beautiful writing. Relatable. Eye-opening. Heartbreaking. Raw.
A reminder that there are different kinds of black Americans.
âShe felt red at the boneâlike there was something inside of her undone and bleedingâ
I liked that the plotâwhile disjointedâmade perfect sense. the pieces of this family fit neatly in each othersâ hands even if they couldnât see that. all a little longing, all a little lost, all looking after one another (or wanting to) the only ways they know how. red at their bones
I liked that the plotâwhile disjointedâmade perfect sense. the pieces of this family fit neatly in each othersâ hands even if they couldnât see that. all a little longing, all a little lost, all looking after one another (or wanting to) the only ways they know how. red at their bones
Woodson says so much with so little words. And her writing is so universal yet specific. She just kills me.
Really gorgeously written. If you're at all one of those people who needs a good plot, don't bother even picking this book up. I can barely remember anything that happened, but the characters' inner lives are drawn in rich, luscious detail. And by the way, I highly recommend the audiobook on this one. The author (narrator), Peter Francis James (Po' Boy), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Sabe), and Shayna Small (Iris) are each wonderful.
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