Reading Recommendations & Reviews

Suzan-Lori Parks’ Getting Mother’s Body is a vibrant, lyrical road novel set in 1960s Texas that follows 16-year-old Billie Beede as she sets out to dig up her mother’s body—and the jewels said to be buried with her. What unfolds is a story rich with humor, grit, and heart, as Billie and her eccentric family confront their pasts, their dreams, and the ghosts that bind them.

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Parks, best known for her Pulitzer Prize–winning work in theater, brings her sharp dialogue and musical rhythm to the page, creating a story that feels both deeply rooted in the Black Southern experience and universally resonant. The novel brims with vivid voices and emotional depth, balancing biting wit with moments of quiet revelation.

Verdict: Getting Mother’s Body is a bold, soulful, and beautifully written debut that captures the messiness of family, freedom, and the search for self with unforgettable style.