Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Grove Press (2004), Paperback, 416 pages
Description
Set in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century, and in Harlem in the present day, this is an epic tale of history and fate, love and friendship, roots and pilgrimage, jazz, music and everything in between.
User reviews
LibraryThing member emmakendon
A bookmooch which has winged its way to me from South Africa. Story-wise, it's folk-tale mixed with downtown US social history, and character-wise it would perhaps appeal to Irving-readers or perhaps Ian Banks. I thoroughly enoyed it, but would hesitate to recommend it to anyone who isn't moved by
There isn't a huge amount of jazz and blues in it, so it's perfectly approachable from that point of view to any heathens out there, and Satchmo, King Oliver et al make a charming if brief appearance. Good ending, which is always a relief in any book (especially so soon after Joanne Harris' 'Five Quarters of the Orange' which was a waste of time from that point of view).
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jazz, because it bears the same kinds of marks of irony, story, conversation and pure function. My only reservation, and this would probably be debunked in practice, is that the characters are for the most part very, very pleasant and the dangerous ones don't hang around for long. I'm sure if Lars von Trier were to be moved to have a go at this, he might redress the balance pretty well... There isn't a huge amount of jazz and blues in it, so it's perfectly approachable from that point of view to any heathens out there, and Satchmo, King Oliver et al make a charming if brief appearance. Good ending, which is always a relief in any book (especially so soon after Joanne Harris' 'Five Quarters of the Orange' which was a waste of time from that point of view).
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LibraryThing member FPdC
Translation of the english original Twelve Bar Blues. A novel with several interwoven stories spanning three centuries and three continents. A tale of love, hate, magic, jazz, and the quest for one's identity. Good reading!
LibraryThing member cameling
A journey of identity and tracing roots takes us through Africa, New Orleans and New York amidst in an environment of music and cultural insights.
There were teasing references to some of the jazz greats and it was a nice musical journey from Africa to New Orleans. While the story starts with 2
I would have liked more details rather than passing references to Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, King Oliver, and Fate Marable, but that would be my only criticism of this book.
4 stars
There were teasing references to some of the jazz greats and it was a nice musical journey from Africa to New Orleans. While the story starts with 2
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best friends and a woman they both loved in 18th century Africa, the journeys their descendants take introduce us to the budding jazz movement and beyond. Unfolding the branches of the family trees through the generations and unraveling how they each descended from the 3 original Africans in the midst of all the music and tribal magic kept me turning the pages. I would have liked more details rather than passing references to Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, King Oliver, and Fate Marable, but that would be my only criticism of this book.
4 stars
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LibraryThing member bchandler27
This story centers on a jazz musician, Lick Holden, born and raised in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century. A man who's history (and place therein) has largely been forgotten except by his close relatives who share his destitute fate. His station in life has been the result of a zukulu
I loved the writing, but felt like the author got half way into the book and couldn't figure out how to properly bring the moving pieces together. Or maybe I just wanted a different type of ending that the author didn't provide. There were moments early in the book that I felt like this was a five star read but subsequently I just wanted the book to end. Nonetheless, it did give me a greater appreciation for the origins of jazz and the musical and cultural influence of New Orleans.
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(African witch doctor) curse imposed on his grandfather, and an overarching theme in the book centers on redemption from this act. I loved the writing, but felt like the author got half way into the book and couldn't figure out how to properly bring the moving pieces together. Or maybe I just wanted a different type of ending that the author didn't provide. There were moments early in the book that I felt like this was a five star read but subsequently I just wanted the book to end. Nonetheless, it did give me a greater appreciation for the origins of jazz and the musical and cultural influence of New Orleans.
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LibraryThing member pengvini
Unfortunately all of the parts of this book that are set in Africa, both past and present, made me cringe. I cannot recommend it to anyone.
The only reason why I persevered and finished this book is because I am signed up to attend a discussion on it.
The only reason why I persevered and finished this book is because I am signed up to attend a discussion on it.
LibraryThing member Karin7
Although at first I thought this was going to be a five star book and it won the Whitbread Fiction Prize, it ended up being a four star read for me, but was still very good.
This story is structured like a 12 bar blues (twice) with a prelude and a coda. Although most of it is set in the early and
Given that this was Patrick Neate's debut novel, I think it’s possible that he has written better novels following it. Whether or not I read them won’t depend on whether or not he can write; he certainly can. Rather, it will depend upon whether or not they are all as tragic as this one.
Recommended.
This story is structured like a 12 bar blues (twice) with a prelude and a coda. Although most of it is set in the early and
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late in twentieth century, some of it is much, much earlier. It's a true blues story; poignantly tragic with some beauty interspersed here and there, and a story involving fate, tragedy and sorrow. It is set in Africa, New Orleans with smatterings of things in England, New York and Chicago. It interweaves the history of the origins of jazz in much of the part of the story about Fortis (aka Lick) and even includes some fictional scenes with some real jazz legends. It involves witch doctors, chieftains, prostitutes, singers, pimps, and of course Lick with his cornet. But his nickname doesn’t necessarily arise from where you think it might.Given that this was Patrick Neate's debut novel, I think it’s possible that he has written better novels following it. Whether or not I read them won’t depend on whether or not he can write; he certainly can. Rather, it will depend upon whether or not they are all as tragic as this one.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member zmagic69
Not sure what to say about this book.
I bought it in 2002 at Square Books in Oxford Mississippi, and then it sat in the TBR pile until yesterday.
The book starts in Africa in the mid 1700’s
Jumps to New Orleans in the beginning of the 20th century, then London, New York, Chicago and New Orleans
It is part historical fiction but the writing is phenomenal!
I don’t want to explain much of the storyline but it is the birth of jazz, the plight of blacks first as slaves, then just trying to get by in New Orleans past and present, and oddly but refreshing the portions that take place in modern day Africa are unusually funny.
This is a great book.
I bought it in 2002 at Square Books in Oxford Mississippi, and then it sat in the TBR pile until yesterday.
The book starts in Africa in the mid 1700’s
Jumps to New Orleans in the beginning of the 20th century, then London, New York, Chicago and New Orleans
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1998. Then Africa 1998, then back and forth between these times.It is part historical fiction but the writing is phenomenal!
I don’t want to explain much of the storyline but it is the birth of jazz, the plight of blacks first as slaves, then just trying to get by in New Orleans past and present, and oddly but refreshing the portions that take place in modern day Africa are unusually funny.
This is a great book.
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Awards
Costa Book Awards (Shortlist — Novel — 2001)
Language
Physical description
416 p.; 5.47 x 1.06 inches
ISBN
0802140564 / 9780802140562