Twins' story is well written, and very poor & rural Mississippi based ( )

Portrait of the life of two black teenagers and their family living in rural coastal Mississippi. The story slowly builds to a violent and tragic conclusion. The protagonists struggle with finding work and then with the danger and monotony that work brings. ( )

I thought this was a very powerful book, that was very well written, although a little slow at times. So descriptive was the author, that I could vividly imagine the setting and the characters. The story was poignant, and touching; it showed pride, resilience, disappointment and hope. Joshua and Christophe are twin brothers just graduated from high school. They have been raised by their grandmother, Ma-Mee in a very rural part of Mississippi. It is clear that they love her deeply, and respect her even more. They were basically abandoned by their mother, Ma-Mee's daughter, and their father. Cille, their mother, comes in and out of their lives, often enough to sometimes give them hope that she might do motherly things, and their father is a drug addict who lives in the same town, but is too wrapped up in addiction to be anything other than an embarrassment. Both boys look forward to finding jobs and helping to support Ma-Mee. Joshua finds a job, a job that is hard and tedious, Christophe doesn't, which leads him to sell drugs. He makes good money, but never feels pride, he knows his money is dirty. He has Joshua lie about working overtime so Christophe can contribute. Their close relationship suffers. This book is all about relationships and family. Beautifully written. ( )

Upon finishing Where the Line Bleeds, I have now read all of Jesmyn Ward's books. Although this one was my least favorite, I still think she is one of the best writers around. I love her writing; it is poetry and down to earth all at the same time.

The love that shines through in Ward's characters gets past the difficulty of life in her stories. The tenderness these 18 year old twins showed their grandmother, who raised them, was exquisite, even while they are going through separation issues of their own as they try move on after graduating from high school.

I can't wait to read her next book. ( )

The Line Bleeds is the third book in the Bois Sauvage series and tells the coming-of-age story of twin brothers Joshua and Christophe, raised by their grandmother, Ma-Mee, in the impoverished south of Louisiana. Just out of high school, they struggle to come to terms with an absent mother and a drug-using father and quickly learn the world offers few chances to get ahead. Jesmyn Ward's way of painting each scene with fragrant smells—not all pleasant, frank inner-dialog, and colorful tiny details of the world she's creating always makes me feel like I'm right in the midst of the action. Good and gritty. ( )