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Silver Sparrow

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Silver Sparrow

May 2011

The opening line of SILVER SPARROW by Tayari Jones is seven words: "My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist." Ponder it for a moment and think what those words mean for the person who wrote them, and then think about how that scenario can envelop a whole group of people who are caught up in knowing --- and not knowing --- secrets, lies and the truth that is somewhere between.

Written in two parts that then collide, you first hear the voice and story of Dana, who is the secret child. Her dad is a dad only once in a while. She knows about the other girl and realizes that that girl has the "real life," while hers is the shadow one. The second story is that of Bunny, who has her dad full time but knows nothing of the full world in which he lives. The story arcs wonderfully so both stories come together, and there's a lot to think about and talk about. Set in Atlanta in the 1980s, the city is a character as well, as it sets the stage for the two different worlds in which the Witherspoons live. It's a look at cause and effect of actions --- and inactions --- and leaves a lot to discuss once you finish it.

Silver Sparrow
by Tayari Jones

  • Publication Date: May 24, 2011
  • Genres: Fiction
  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
  • ISBN-10: 1565129903
  • ISBN-13: 9781565129900