Where the Line Bleeds: A Novel

This book was very good and different. It told the story of young black Louisiana men and the problems that they had which is really the same as any young men growing up in the northeast. There mother Cille had to go to Atlanta to work as she’d done since they were born. No jobs so young ones had to end up selling drugs for pocket monies.

I have really become a fan of Jesmyn Ward in the last year, so when WHERE THE LINE BLEEDS was selected as a discussion book for the Reading Women Podcast as part of their Working Class Stories theme in June, I knew I’d be picking this book up. This book is part of Ward’s Bois Savage series which are loosely connected in place and time and I had already read and enjoyed the other two, SALVAGE THE BONES and SING, UNBURIED, SING. WHERE THE LINE BLEEDS tells the story of two young men, twins Joshua and Christophe. As the book begins, they are graduating from high school and ready to take on life. They haven’t had a traditional home life. Their father was a drug addict and not in the picture and their mother left town when they were very young. They’ve been cared for by their grandmother who is going blind as a result of diabetes so they are becoming her caregivers more and more. In a difficult economic climate, the Joshua and Christophe put in application after application at the same places, sharing a car and an ambition to get work. As it turns out, only Joshua gets hired. Desperate to start making money, Christope is convinced to start selling drugs. This continues to drive a wedge between the brothers who have only known how to tackle life up to now as a pair. This book was really fascinating. This is not a story that relies a lot on plot, but focuses in on character development and why these characters make the decisions they do. In some twist of fate, largely based on luck, Joshua gets an opportunity to better his situation and is forced in many ways to leave Christophe behind. I have enjoyed reading a few novels this year that really explore the consequences of different choices and how life might have been different if a different choice was made. In this novel, this same theme gets a twist in that you have two boys who are very much the same until high school graduation, but are put on different paths with just one minor difference in getting and not getting a job offer. Also, a little bit of cover appreciation. At first glance, it appears to be a lovely cover with some pretty foliage. While it is that, it also depicts the twins and the widening river between them and their lives in the novel. Overall, I really loved the reading experience. As with all of Ward’s books that I have read so far, the author really has a masterful way of writing descriptions that I really enjoy, so I will definitely be adding more Jesmyn Ward titles to my TBR!

Amazon lists this as the 3rd Bois Sauvage novel but it's Ward's 1st and predates the other 2 novels. The writing is not as good although the story is certainly as compelling. Chapters jump between characters and time making this one a slightly more difficult read. I may not have been as eager for Salvage The Bones and Sing,Unburied,Sing if I had started with this one. In the end, I was left wondering how Joshua and Christophe turned out. How did they fair through Katrina? How much longer did they have with Ma-mee? How are they today? Ward is an amazing writer.

i read salvage the bones about a year ago. it is one of the best books i have read in the past 10 years. so i was very much looking forward to this read. sadly, while the characters were well drawn and interesting and the descriptive passages beautifully written, the story lacked any drama or tension until the very end. i kept asking myself where is this story going. it took endless pages of detailing what the twins ate, wore, drank,smoked, how they smelled and how often they showered to arrive at the central conflict. finally i could not put the book down but that was 90 percent through the story.

This was one of my favorite books I read in 2018. The relationship between the two brothers and their loyalty to family was incredible and heartbreaking. The twins' past in basketball had me particularly interested. I don't read enough characters that identify a athletes. I love that this took place in 2005, right before Katrina hit. It was a strange time to be alive, and for these characters and so many others, this book takes place "before" a massive "after." This book helped me get into Jesmyn Ward, as I hadn't read her yet. I can see why she has so many accolades. I can't wait to read more from her.

Ward is great at creating vibrant relationships between siblings and families and communities. I appreciate her returning to the South every time. I feel the heat from the gulf. I picture the rickety homes. I understand their hunger. There is always a sorrow floating in the background. This time, was especially sorrowful as I realized this is it. They will live here and die here. I love the older characters so, wise and trusted.

A story of twin brothers trying to find love, respect, family and friends in the Golf Coast region of southern Mississippi. Opportunities for employment are limited. Their mother left them when they were 5 to seek a life in Atlanta. They are raised their visually impaired grandmother who gives her all to give them a chance at life. Jasmine Ward had an exceptional skill for drawing the reader into the world of the novel, into the lives of the characters, and into contemporary American realities.

After reading SIng, Unburied, Sing, I was enchanted. This earlier novel isn't as beautiful but its reality and its political implications are as strong and enlightening as her two subsequent novels. After reading her memoir, Men we Buried, I understand better the passion behind Ward's work. I recommend ALL of her work. Jesmyn Ward is a brilliant storyteller, a lyrical poet, an important voice. Read this and all the others. You won't be disappointed.