With the opening line of , “My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist,” author Tayari Jones unveils a breathtaking story about a man’s deception, a family’s complicity, and the two teenage girls caught in the middle.
Set in a middle-class neighborhood in Atlanta in the 1980s, the novel revolves around James Witherspoon’s two families — the public one and the secret one. When the daughters from … the secret one. When the daughters from each family meet and form a friendship, only one of them knows they are sisters. It is a relationship destined to explode. This is the third stunning novel from an author deemed “one of the most important writers of her generation” (the Atlanta Journal Constitution).
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I couldn’t make it to the book club where An American Marriage was discussed, but I would definitely recommend Silver Sparrow to anyone who enjoyed An American Marriage. It’s different in a lot of ways, but there are strong common themes in both books and powerful reflections on race, gender roles/expectations, coming of age, and the complexities …
Read this novel for the riveting story-telling and the gorgeous writing. A bigamist’s two teenage daughters are the first person narrators, each telling half the story. One wife and daughter know they are a secret; the other live in blissful ignorance. James, the husband/father, and his brother, Raleigh, come vividly to life as do the mothers and …
I adored this book. A modern classic.
I loved this book. The dynamics between the two mothers and their daughters were intriguing as well as a bit suspenseful. Tayari is a masterful storyteller.
This is my new favorite book! It’s genius and so relatable.
This book is what made me fall in love with Tayari’s writing. My favorite of all her books, Silver Sparrow is the story of what happens when you are a part of the side family and you are forced to live with a deep longing for something that you may never get to have.
Great writing and characters. Hooked me on the first line of the book.
This is the new literature of the American South. Or really, this is the new literature of America. Strongly developed characters, engaging story, creative delivery of the plot, and present and past information. A great read. Now on to read more of Tayari Jones’ work.
It takes place in Atlanta. Lots of the places mentioned are familiar to me. It’s the story of an illegitimate daughter of a married man. She soon learns that she takes 2nd place to his legitimate daughter. The story and the characters seem very real to me. I like true stories and this book has a “this really happened” feel.
All of Tayari Jones’ books are terrific–this one touched me deeply, so much that I’ve read it multiple times.
Silver Sparrow was an enjoyable book that can captive its audience, but I did see some flaws in the book. The book started out good then started to become boring. I did lost interest in the book. I did regain interest in part two, unfortunately, I lose interest again because of repetition. The book does have a interesting topic, though, I feel …