Jesmyn Ward presents us with a series of essays which give us a peek into the skeletons upon which her stunning fiction is built, the sweet and sour life and experiences and family, which lead her to lament in the opening piece: “Sometimes, I wish I could write easier stories…” The language is vivid, florid, precise, and beautiful all at once, as she covers topics such as family, Katrina, Faulkner, representation, book banning, book reviews, movie reviews, justice, leaving home, and returning home again – common themes treated with absolute tenderness and honesty.
On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward, (List Price: $29, Scribner, 9781668064269, May 2026)
Reviewed by Doron Klemer, Octavia Books in New Orleans, LA