[edit]
I really couldn't get into the story. Sweet Song tells the story of fair-skinned Leon, born of a white landowner and a black house servant in post Civil War America, and his struggles for his identity. It was really a struggle to get through the first quarter of the book. I was as confused where the author was going with this story. There was little foreshadowing.

In the beginning the storyline is slow and disturbing. Without mention of a specific location, historical events, an explanation of why this "farm" and its inhabitants did not have contact with others outside of the farm, and with the dialogue sounding too contemporary, the first chapters just did not work. So much seemed to be missing and lacking. It did not give an authentic historical feel. I kept wonder what time the book took place and where it took place. More historical references are needed to bring the reader into the time period.

I was upset by several of the disturbing sexual references/events in the story. For example, Martha bathes naked in front of Leon telling him "stories" while he is four I think. Then the reader is subject to his mother sexually molesting him repeatedly. Then his sister insists on having sex with him too. It turned my stomach.

For the record, erotica does not bother me, but these events were not explained by character insight or motivation. They just happened out of nowhere. The pacing and plot become more engaging when Leon leaves the farm, and is plunged into the larger world, where he learns the rules of how to live as a white man. Unfortunately, it was too late for me to change my opinion of the book. ( )

I received an advanced copy of this book. In Sweet Song, we are presented with a character who struggles between two worlds being born half black and half white. He is a product of a slave and land owner's union. Leon is loved and hated in both worlds and is conflicted as to which life he would chose to lead. When Leon gets involved with Hilary the landowner's daughter (Leon's half sister) he is forced to leave and find his way in all his confusion. Sweet Song's story seemed to flow and was interwoven with some interesting characters. For me though, the story wasn't as riveting as I would have liked. It was a nice story but the ending wasn't very satisfying. All in all, I give it 3 stars out of 5. Sweet Song was just that....sweet. ( )