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nevinator's review against another edition
3.0
“No one knows how a dolphin makes both whistles and echolocation clicks simultaneously.”
This book is a fictional retelling of real life jazz creator “Buddy” Bolden fall into insanity. This short 151 page book is trying to capture a man’s life through the rhythms of written jazz. Sporadic narration, repetitive poetry, and broken men spread the pages of this book. Every time you feel like you are following the tempo of the story, it changes and keeps you wondering what happens next.
Though, you get what you read and this book is only offering an experience that I don’t think I’ll repeat. It tries to capture the tension of enjoying the joyfully music of life, what is a sense of purpose, and what direction does one need in life that, just like Bolden, the book goes mad trying to act like a dolphin.
The experience of trying to find music through noise, people in messes, and sanity in depravity is a theme I do enjoy, it is how you get into my treasured books really easily, yet this one falls flat and I can't explain why.
This is also a hard book to recommend as an experience. My recommended litmus test is if you are not drawn in by the experimental writing style and the two paragraph summery on the back, I would say do not read it.
If the themes touched upon tickle an interest, I will always recommend “The Brothers Karamazov” and looking specifically at the dynamics of Grushenka, Dimitri, and Ivanovana. It covers the same depravity.
In many ways, reading this book is what the title advertises.
This book is a fictional retelling of real life jazz creator “Buddy” Bolden fall into insanity. This short 151 page book is trying to capture a man’s life through the rhythms of written jazz. Sporadic narration, repetitive poetry, and broken men spread the pages of this book. Every time you feel like you are following the tempo of the story, it changes and keeps you wondering what happens next.
Though, you get what you read and this book is only offering an experience that I don’t think I’ll repeat. It tries to capture the tension of enjoying the joyfully music of life, what is a sense of purpose, and what direction does one need in life that, just like Bolden, the book goes mad trying to act like a dolphin.
The experience of trying to find music through noise, people in messes, and sanity in depravity is a theme I do enjoy, it is how you get into my treasured books really easily, yet this one falls flat and I can't explain why.
This is also a hard book to recommend as an experience. My recommended litmus test is if you are not drawn in by the experimental writing style and the two paragraph summery on the back, I would say do not read it.
If the themes touched upon tickle an interest, I will always recommend “The Brothers Karamazov” and looking specifically at the dynamics of Grushenka, Dimitri, and Ivanovana. It covers the same depravity.
In many ways, reading this book is what the title advertises.
nora_knight's review
read the opening for class, might read the whole thing if I ever get a copy.
megan_prairierose's review
3.0
I don't know how to review this book. Should I start by saying that I'm a blues fan, not a jazz fan? Maybe that has something to do with it.
Lyrical prose. This book was fascinating yet frustrating to read. There were single lines that were so beautiful. Yet I am a lover of linear thought and prose, so this book was a challenge for me.
The story of Buddy is sad and sadder still the world in New Orleans that he lived in. But out of that came the birth of Jazz music. Hard to believe that there is not a single recording of this pioneer of Jazz and only one fuzzy photograph.
Lyrical prose. This book was fascinating yet frustrating to read. There were single lines that were so beautiful. Yet I am a lover of linear thought and prose, so this book was a challenge for me.
The story of Buddy is sad and sadder still the world in New Orleans that he lived in. But out of that came the birth of Jazz music. Hard to believe that there is not a single recording of this pioneer of Jazz and only one fuzzy photograph.
kieranmckenna9's review
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
slynn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
helium's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A beautiful and tragic retelling of the life of "Buddy" Bolden for all the jazz and poetic writing lovers.
I personally had a hard time following and only truly got used to the writing style about halfway through the book.
A lot in between was lost for me; perhaps I need to reread it to experience it fully.
I personally had a hard time following and only truly got used to the writing style about halfway through the book.
A lot in between was lost for me; perhaps I need to reread it to experience it fully.
erinwolf1997's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Self harm, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, and Suicide
aprylrose's review against another edition
5.0
OHMYGOD. this book is so not up my alley, however i have never felt the variety of emotion i did while reading this. just- please read this.