Reviews

Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford

oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition

Took me a while to find the rythmn (hate that word... can never spell it...) RHYTHM and perhaps that's partly the point? I'm sure there are layers of jazz related meanings and motifs that are flying fast and furious over my head.
but for the nonjazz literate, this was an enjoyable noir, full of the themes and characters you'd expect to stumble into: newspaper broad, likable earnest young man, bewildered gumshoe in over his head etc etc. a bevvy of love interests who don't fade into so much wallpaper.

A bit heavy on the exposition maybe, but then this world needs a little; the fact our eyes (Barrow) is something of a semi tourist himself helps. in short, it's a dense book. heavy on the political intrigue which doesn't seem to rise above vague glimpses in murky gloom. Maybe a little more light would have made the society of this alternative timeline a touch more graspable and rooted in something solid. As such, I found it a little too slippery for true immersion. but it was likable never the less. Memorable final days.

Can practically see the adverts for the tv/limited series adaptation now.

ryzar's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

przela71's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

elsymary's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

abibbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

luckygreendress's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bjayfogg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kateofmind's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

PHENOMENAL 

stumc92's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

owlizabeth's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0