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A review by oxnard_montalvo
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
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.
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.