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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I loved the book, my friend Anna hated the book and didn't finish. All of the characters/ caricatures represent philosophies and tendencies and are not real three-dimensional people. I liked how the book represents aspects of the clash between African civilization and European civilization that has taken place in America. I like how the book puts dance and music right at the center of that clast. the book is drop-jaw rediculous.
For various and sundry reasons, it took me over twenty years after finding out about it to read this book. I advise you not to procrastinate as long as I did. Challenging, hilarious, thought-provoking, and still utterly relevant, MUMBO JUMBO leaves you wondering where "Jes' Grew" is growing now, and just how off the tracks our cultural train may be running. If I could find Mr. Reed's contact info, I'd write him; the book will foster loads of questions. If you have read it, I suggest you check out any of Kip Hanrahan's CONJURE recordings, in which a stunning variety of black musicians (Allen Touissaint, Alvin Youngblood Hart, David Murray...that ain't close to all) bring many of the elements of MUMBO JUMBO to life, often with Mr. Reed reading over them. These recordings may be hard to find in hard copy form. If you don't mind subscription downloads at a super-cheap price, eMusic carries them.
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
Though this genre overall is not for me, this I found to be one of the more interesting and cogent of the post modern novels I have read. A punchy and dense takedown of western civ that still managed to have some fun.
Brilliant, brief but sprawling. It's remarkable that Mumbo Jumbo's central themes tackling the fragility of Western Civilization still feel so trenchant now a half century after its release. Reads like a novel-length poem, dizzyingly discursive but smart, funny and vulgar enough to never be too intimidating.
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Hands down one of the most difficult books I've ever read. If you struggle with attention disorders or reading in general, like me, I would say skip this. The lack of quotation marks, commas and other punctuation make the novel very hard to follow. I'm still struggling with comprehending the text even now. I enjoyed what I got, and it offers a very unique take on history, but it was certainly a struggle. Not for the faint of heart!