Salute to City Reading- Silver Sparrow (Atlanta)

Today I am happy to take part in city reading day wherein bloggers will be highlighting novels in which the city setting shines. There's something very nice about reading a book where the city is not mere background, but so developed it becomes another vital part of the story.

Silver Sparrow is Tayari Jones third novel like her previous two it is set in the city of Atlanta. This was my introduction to Jones writing I've heard great things about the author for years and her work lived up to the high praise.

I had the opportunity to go to one of the author's book signings when she was in Atlanta. You know an author is good when people will stay in a room with no air conditioning in summer(in the south mind you). I think that speaks volumes for Jones talent and how much she will always be loved by her native city.

At the signing Jones talked about the setting and how authors have the ability to capture the history of a city within a novel. When I read Silver Sparrow I could not help but notice and appreciate how much care Jones took with her city setting. It was simply one more reason for me to call this a 2011 favorite.

"Jones beautifully evokes Atlanta in the 1980's while creating gritty, imperfect characters whose pain lingers in the reader's heart." - Kirkus Reviews.

Read the first chapter

The round up for a salute to city reading can be found here at Colleen Mondor's blog Chasing Ray
Colleen also contributes to Guyslitwire, today they have announced their holiday book fair and will be teaming up again with Ballou High School in Washington D.C., the school's story

Silver Sparrow's Crossover Appeal

Besides this, my personal blog, I also contribute to Color Online,* a blog that focuses on promoting the works of female authors of color. On occasion I will rerun a young adult or middle grade review. Though for the most part there isn't much over lap. Since I tend to review fiction at Color Online.

Though I never know what to do with novels that have Young Adult crossover appeal. Should I review them twice? And write each one to fit the target audience? Last year I came across four such titles

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans CO interview(loved Evan's answers)

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

All were reviewed at Color Online but not here.

I recently finished Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones. The book comes out at the end of May. I requested a copy with hopes of reviewing it over at Color Online. It didn't take me long to realize two things, 1. I absolutely loved the writing. Its so beauifully done. 2. The story has some serious crossover appeal.

Set in Atlanta in the 1980's. Its the story of James Witherspoon a man with two wives. Each with one daughter. The second wife and child knew about the first family.

Part I is Dana Lynn Yarboro (the second daughter), Part II is Bunny Chaurisse Witherspoon (the first daughter)

"My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist. He was already married ten years when he first clamped eyes on my mother. In 1968, she was working at the gift wrap counter at Davison's downtown when my father asked her to wrap the carving knife he had brought his wife for their wedding anniversary. Mother said she knew that something wasn't right between man and a woman when the gift was a blade. I said that maybe it means there was a kind of trust between them. I love my mother, but we tend to see things a little bit differently. The point is that James's marriage was never hidden from us. James is what I call him. His other daughter, Chaurisse, the one who grew up in the house with him, she calls him Daddy even now."

Silver Sparrow is one of my favorite novels of the year. It can be pre ordered at Amazon for 40% off.

A review of Silver Sparrow at Reads4Pleasure

The other contributors - Ari, Tarie, Terri, Nathalie, and Vasilly