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Joyce's Reviews > Good Dirt

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
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bookshelves: 2025-reads, historical-fiction

Unfortunately, I don’t think Charmaine Wilkerson’s writing style is for me. One thing I absolutely loathe, is being pulled away from an immersive narrative to hear a story I couldn’t care less about. She does just that! She tells so many stories in one book, which for me, feels a bit distracting and overwhelming.

Nonetheless, I think she’s a great story teller and there were many parts of the book I enjoyed. I loved following the storyline with Ebby and Henry. It was my favorite storyline in the book. My second favorite was following her parents as we learn about secrets and see them navigate life after a parents worse nightmare.

The jar is a dominant character in the book. Sadly, it’s the reason a tragedy occurred all those years ago. That dang jar is the reason we had to be pulled away from Ebby’s storyline. And I’m not gonna lie; I really didn’t care about that jar. However, I fully understand its significance to the book, and I appreciate and respect the history surrounding it. 3.5 stars!

Thanks to Libro.fm for an early audiobook copy! January LaVoy does an excellent job narrating the audiobook.
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Reading Progress

December 7, 2024 – Shelved
December 7, 2024 – Shelved as: to-read
January 11, 2025 – Started Reading
January 11, 2025 –
10.0% "Great start to the book! But after reading Rooney’s masterpiece I need to shock my brain with something completely different."
January 15, 2025 –
39.0% "Finally! The convo we’ve been waiting for the whole book."
January 16, 2025 –
45.0% "Love leaves a memory in the heart. Even when your head tells you it shouldn’t."
January 16, 2025 –
60.0% "Ready for this to be over"
January 17, 2025 –
64.0% "1. I officially don’t like Henry!
2. Good for you Avery!"
January 17, 2025 –
80.0% "Loving the last quarter of the book."
January 18, 2025 – Shelved as: historical-fiction
January 18, 2025 – Shelved as: 2025-reads
January 18, 2025 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)

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message 1: by Ashley (new)

Ashley Hi Joyce, I found your goodreads account via your YouTube channel. Before I react to your post, I wanted you to know that I thoroughly enjoy your content.

On to Ms.Wilkerson, and her books/writing. I was excited about Black Cake but quickly understood that I'm not the audience for her writing style. It's refreshing to see someone else with whom I share similar reading interests, express the same. Thank you for being thoughtful and truthful in your review of her latest novel.


Alicia Yes- you nailed my feelings perfectly. I was so over the jar by the end.


message 3: by Juju (new) - added it

Juju Totally agree with you! I don’t really care about the jar in the middle of the book and almost don’t want to keep reading….


message 4: by Alli (new) - rated it 3 stars

Alli Lavely I’m also midway through and am struggling to imagine a teenage boy being such a fan of a jar! The kids I’ve know (and have, and have been) barely notice anything sitting on the shelves of a home. The history of said jar is interesting but I’m having to suspend my disbelief a bit.


Stacey Yeah. She’s not for me either


message 6: by Mia (new) - rated it 3 stars

Mia Jackson It did not work. Like you, by the time the novel ended, I felt a huge letdown. Not for me.


message 7: by Laura Laskowski (new)

Laura Laskowski I was fine with the writing style (a little basic but that's OK) and various plots/story lines, until Henry shows up at the rental in France. I allow a LOT of elasticity and suspension of disbelief and yeah yeah, it's a small world, blah blah blah, but nope. Contrived is far too mild a word. I didn't set the book down so much as toss it away in disgust, no.... disappointment. I have since picked it back up but just cannot get into it fully. It's a book club read so I need to slog through and I have hopes that there will be something redeeming hiding within the as-yet unread pages.
Meh, you can't like them all, eh?


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