Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

10 June 2014: This was such a well-written book. The story of how two sisters meet and create a relationship is told from both their perspectives, which at first made me weary. I wondered if it would be too cliche or too predictable. It wasn't.

Dana Lynn Yarboro and Bunny Chaurisse Witherspoon are sisters with the same father, only Chaurisse believes she's the only child. Dana Lynn has always known about her sister. Always known that Chaurissse would be priority over her. Always known that whatever she wanted, she could only have if Chaurisse didn't want it also. They would have little run-ins but only Dana Lynn would know she was seeing and speaking with her sister. Inevitably it all becomes known in the tiny city of Atlanta that Mr. Witherspoon hasn't been truthful about his life.

I think what makes this book so real and so true is the background provided by the author, Tayari Jones, on each character. They didn't seem like characters made up for a fiction story and perhaps they're not, but it was easy to visualize each person in their background context. Whether it be walking miles back and forth to school, tending hair in a beauty salon, or envisioning a powerful and well respected matriarch...this book was great! I VERY HIGHLY recommend it.