Jesmyn Ward is the real thing

A big thank you to Karin who hosted for our fun September meeting. We had great food and even better conversation although not as many people had read the book as usual. That turned out to be a real stimulant as their questions made us think about the plot, its meaning and why were there all those ghosts?

I admit to being overwhelmed by this book and its young author. Jesmyn Ward is now 42 years old and has written 2 novels, both of which won the National Book Award. Her first novel, Salvage the Bones, was published in 2011 and this novel. in 2017. She also became a McArthur Fellow in 2017 which is how I came to find her work. This is a work of an incredible mind with a strong point of view and a story to tell.

That story, in this case, found its home with Jojo, a 13 year-old with a (usually) absent mother tied to her boyfriend Michael and drugs. Jojo is tied to his three year-old sister Kayla, and his loving grandparents, who are aging and ill. The story is of a road trip to Parchman, a prison where his mother will pick up Michael, Kayla's father, and deal drugs along the way with a friend Leonie, his mother brings along.

Leonie, irresponsible and besotted with her own life, is also haunted by the ghost of her brother Givens, shot by a cousin of her boyfriend. Poor Jojo can also see him, although he can't tell Leonie, and also has another haint to navigate. This is a sadder story, one of a young boy convicted of a minor crime and sent to Parchman, notorious for reinstating slavery by renting out its inmates. Many of the inmates were black, their crimes minor if actual, and their sentences harsh.

Richie, this sad ghost stays with Jojo as they travel back home, and stays with him while the ghost of Givens brings his mother, JoJo's grandmother home to him. Richie won't leave, but at last he understands what has happened to him, at an age not much different than Jojo.  The ghosts stay on, chaining the present to the past injustices.

The overwhelming sense of hardship, loss and societal disadvantage is difficult to take. Despite that, it is beautifully written, haunting and in some unknown way, a little hopeful about the way forward. If you haven't read it, pick it up, it is amazing.

And so on to next month, which is coming up soon. Our book is The River, by Peter Heller, another writer who can make the page come alive. We are scheduled for Julie Joyce's (thank you!) on Oct. 15. This is a shortish book, no problem getting through it.

Our November book is One Giant Leap, by Charles Fishman, who is a friend of one of our group. It is about Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon and its scientific and technical challenges. Fitting for the 50th anniversary which really makes me feel old.

See you all soon!