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kateea7536's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
Wow. I’ve never read anything like this before and probably never will again. It was so beautifully written and the metaphors were so lyrical it was just spellbinding and immersive in a completely different culture. I loved the musical themes that ran through the book as a musician myself and it was harrowing to read about the conditions so many experienced but they felt so authentically and vividly brought to life. It had a massive impact on me and the characters will stay with me for a long time. I did sometimes get a bit confused with switching between the two different plots but the way everything linked up was incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Rape, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Grief, Alcohol, Drug use, Blood, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Racism, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
eriklikestoreadsometimes's review against another edition
4.0
Characters were interesting but I can’t say they developed much. This book is a “slice of life” story that’s connected through 1920’s - 1990’s.
I didn’t like the ending because I found it anticlimactic with not much change or resolution.
I didn’t like the ending because I found it anticlimactic with not much change or resolution.
shandelier_'s review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Twelve Bar Blues is the first book I have read that has prominently black characters! It is a great book of representation and black history!
I would've never thought that this would put me out of my reading slump and I am so happy that I even picked it up at our local book trade event!
The book opened my eyes to prostitution, poverty and most importantly, the racism of the time. I found it saddening and beautiful at the same time. Beautiful for the fact that they have fought all the discrimination they faced.
I also love the fact that it was about the jazz culture in New Orleans. Also, the African culture was an excellent added mix!
I would highly recommend this book to everyone I know! This is a must-read!
I would've never thought that this would put me out of my reading slump and I am so happy that I even picked it up at our local book trade event!
The book opened my eyes to prostitution, poverty and most importantly, the racism of the time. I found it saddening and beautiful at the same time. Beautiful for the fact that they have fought all the discrimination they faced.
I also love the fact that it was about the jazz culture in New Orleans. Also, the African culture was an excellent added mix!
I would highly recommend this book to everyone I know! This is a must-read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
kevinalbrecht's review
4.0
A story that spans centuries, continents, musical styles, and cultural experiences: I've never read a book quite like this before.
Have you ever heard the advice to writers of fiction from Hemingway to always write what is true? Though I thought I understood that when I first heard that advice, I really didn't. But if any book epitomizes this advice, it is this one.
Twelve Bar Blues has so much in it that is unbelievable, but feels so completely real that those unbelievable parts are made more believable than most nonfiction. Ecstatic musical experiences, explicit sex, racist slurs, inescapable poverty, gut turning smells-- everything feels so true that you can't help being utterly repulsed by what happens at the same time that you can't stop reading it.
Have you ever heard the advice to writers of fiction from Hemingway to always write what is true? Though I thought I understood that when I first heard that advice, I really didn't. But if any book epitomizes this advice, it is this one.
Twelve Bar Blues has so much in it that is unbelievable, but feels so completely real that those unbelievable parts are made more believable than most nonfiction. Ecstatic musical experiences, explicit sex, racist slurs, inescapable poverty, gut turning smells-- everything feels so true that you can't help being utterly repulsed by what happens at the same time that you can't stop reading it.
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