Silver Sparrow

Where can I begin?The author says this book is a “love letter” to her half-sibling, to her half-sister that she shares her father with. She explicitly states that her father was not bigamous. Yet concerning the number of single mother households in America today, there are many families that have been torn asunder or affected by bigamy in more ways than one.This book has deeply affected me, and although several readers of this book have posted reviews saying this book is pointless and that it was “disappointing” to them because it didn’t really progress from the sensation that bigamy is, or that the storyline didn’t lead to anywhere, are clearly missing the point here. The point is to show the effect of big on their lives. The subject of bigamy is so hard to write about. It’s a stagnant situation that reeks, can never fully be corrected without hurting anyone and it never really leads anywhere. It’s like being stuck in a rut. If you’ve ever had to make a difficult choice in whom to love, and live your life according to it, you’d probably relate. Love in real life, is not the Corinthians kind of love, it is not patient and kind. Love in real life is heartbreak.Although the ending of the book was a bit dramatic (and most real life bigamous stories don’t always end like that), the concept of a bigamous marriage as depicted in this book really hits home. So, this book was a tear-jerker, I didn’t just cry but it drew a very deep part of my soul that I didn’t know existed. It was a part of me that had remained walled off, it was numb, cold and unfeeling, and this story by Tayari Jones gave it life, emotion and a heartbeat.I loved this book. Tayari writes with great feeling and sensitivity, something that she is able to expose us to. I could sense the pain, joy and the heartbreak of the author, and the emotional proclivity it probably took to imagine and write something of this magnitude. I also love the author’s way with words, and the way she transports us to not just read but live that feeling. I would’ve loved more of Dana and Chaurisse. In going through what they went through, and persevered, Dana and Gwen are both strong characters to me and I admire them. Dana was the most likeable character in this book to me, after which her mother Gwen was a close second. And they were constantly singled out. I would’ve loved to read more from their perspective, I think there need to be more mother-daughter books that explore similar topics, it would make for a great feminist book, one that I’d love to read. Another thing I’d have loved to read of would be the probable love story, of what could’ve been if Gwen had given Rayleigh a chance. I think that was happiness but a lot of women who have been singled out tend to reject happiness and follow the path of pain, and loneliness.I regard Tayari Jones as the black equivalent of Elizabeth Gilbert. Tayari literally made me “Eat, Pray, and Love” with this book of hers: a tribute to her siblings. It is very sweet and yet so dark in the most mysterious of ways, it points to human infallibility, that strength lies within and the fact that blood runs thicker than water... regardless of whom we choose to call family, and our toes to them despite our circumstance, and ourselves.I read this book months ago on kindle but I am ordering the paperback version on Amazon just so I can reread it again, and feel every bit of emotion course through my bones again, as I cozy up on my couch with a cup of hot chai and my thoughts. I may order pizza and sniffle into my pillow as I course through the book with raw emotions, and I might just yet call my friend and cry about the book if I feel like.Or I might find renewed strength just like Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With The Wind, “I’ll think of it tomorrow” and pretend that I will deal with the harshness of the world tomorrow, while feeling the desolation of today.Tayari, I have only read a few pages of American Marriage but I read Silver Sparrow because it was so easy to read and relatable to me, I’m sure you have touched many sisters lives by writing this and putting bits of your own life story into this, if any. Love, Z

Great storytelling! It was a good read! I think it was Very well written. I Highly recommend reading this book

What does the "other woman" represent in the nightmares of women everywhere?. The mere thought of an "other woman" existing is terrifying, horrifying, humiliating and for many, beyond imagination. What if the "other woman" had a child? What if she lived in the same town and neighborhood? What if the "other woman" was not a passing fancy, but existed in the husband's life for decades - visiting her for dinner, giving her money to support herself. What if the husband's friends and family knew about her? Is the "other woman" to blame? Is the child? How does the child of an "other woman" grow up emotionally healthy when she knows she is living in a shadow? When she knows that she is a secret? What kind of man, husband, father would live this sort of double life? And which family would he choose if his secret was exposed. Silver Sparrow explores the very complicated walls and paths drawn around the hidden life that a bigamist lives and that of his secret second wife and their child.The main portion of the story takes place during the 1980s in Atlanta, and is told from two points of view. The book begins with Dana, the bigamist's secret daughter. The unfolding of the story with Dana's point of view, immediately put Dana as the sympathetic character. And as Dana told the story, I almost was able to believe that the father may have been doing somewhat right by her. Ms. Jones is such a skillful writer, in that she allowed me to buy completely into their life. The second half of the book focuses on Chaurisse, who is also a daughter of the bigamist's, but by his first marriage - and thus his public relationship. From the beginning of Chaurisse's point of view, it becomes clear that what Chaurisse has is a true father and a much truer family experience.; poor Dana has the cast-offs. The contrast between each girl's life becomes starker as the story unfolds. We learn that, incredibly, both Dana and her mother are invested in protecting the bigamist's secret; they are invested in protecting their life in the shadows. I saw incredibly, because at some point shouldn't they become frustrated with being pushed to the side? At some point will they have a need to bring it to light? And how does the "first wife" not guess about the duplicity? Does she not wonder why her husband is gone every single Wednesday? Does she not notice that money is missing? Both wives have their own careers and truly are able to support themselves and their daughters. They are not in a situation where they are dependent on their man - the bigamist - to support them financially. So where does the emotional dependence come from? Why stay? The story does not explore these points directly asked, but they are explored implicitly.Dana and Chaurisse are the same age, however both girls do not possess the same level of knowledge about each other or about their father. Dana and her mother know all about Chaurisse and her mother; they live in their shadow. Every choice and step that Dana and her mother take is tempered by whether Chaurisse and her mother will be there or choose to do something similar. Dana is truly a "second". Chaurisse and her mother have no idea that Dana exists. But Chaurisse "gets" her father on a daily basis, she lives with him and has the intimacy of a father-daughter relationship. Dana does not have any of this. Her father, while a weekly visitor, is a mystery and almost an intangible.Through the telling of the story by Dana and Chaurisse, readers are also taken back in history and treated to a story telling of the adults' lives as children. The characters in Silver Sparrow are richly developed, not only Dana and Chaurisse, but also the ancillary characters that assist in creating (and maintaining!) this situation - the mothers, the father, and the father's best friend. Through the interplay of the various characters, readers are pulled into this beautifully told story. And let me tell you, it is an entertaining immersion, you will not regret it, but it is painful as well. There are some truly heartbreaking scenes where the characters hurt each other - hurt in a deep emotional way. Hurt in a way that as a reader, I did not know how they could survive such pain.This is a wonderful story, a beautiful book and I highly recommend it!

This book made me think and consider my life. Brings out feelings. Look forward to more books from this author.

I really liked the story lines, author’s style of writing and her way of showing you the different types of family and what goes on behind close doors. Reading is uncomplicated, easy. Anyone will enjoy this book

It was pleasant, easy read.

Well written and thought provoking story unpacking complex family dynamics told through the eyes of two half sisters. I love this author's work.

An excellent book to read over a weekend.

This book is a page turner. You will finish it in no time. It’s interesting, and definitely heartbreaking. Allow some recovery lol