I heard an interview of Tayari Jones about Silver Sparrow and picked the book up. When I heard her talk about the book, I really did not feel I would like the book. It was not a hard read or a book I had to force myself to read. Jones writes well and you want to get to the end of it. The language is direct and hits your face – you cannot escape the reality the book offers.

The father in the book is a bigamist. He has 2 daughters almost the same age and as different as they can be. Dana is the “silver girl”, the “outside girl”. She lives with her mom and knows the secret. Chaurisse on the other hand is ignorant of the secret. The girls, their vibrant lives are so beautifully described by Tayari. Chaurisse and Dana become friends. Dana wants to know all about her dad’s other life and goes to Chaurisse’s home, her mom’s beauty salon and soon the secret is out. How does the father deal with it? The mothers? The daughters?

A wonderfully written book that failed to strike a chord with me.