Tananarive Due, Scott Joplin's Ghost

I listened to "Scott Joplin's Ghost" by Tananarive Due. Checked it out of the library on 19 CDs.

Disclaimer: The below is merely my opinion. I just listened to the book.

Categories: supernatural, mystery, historical fiction, music, african-american

Comments:

I really like the way the author interweaves the historical fiction about Scott Joplin's life and times with a current day story of a young musician tempted by stardom and drawn to create the music within her.

From looking at some other reviews I just realized how well the story of Scott Joplin was done. People believe its true. It may well be. I'm no historian and sure wasn't around as the 1800's turned to the 1900's. But my point is that it's so well done that it comes out believable.

There is something about being black in this book that rings with truth. A cultural connection between the last days of American slavery, the end of reconstruction and today's uneasy truce between respect and racism in the U.S.

I also love the way you can't tell what the phrase "Scott Joplin's Ghost" means by the time you finish the book. I can see at least three distinct meanings in this book.

(On a side note, I read the author's "Blood Colony" within the last year, before I started this blog. I have to smile at the similarities in the heroines of the two stories. Both are young women. Both are very talented but naive. Neither has a driver's license. Both quote lyrics "gotta fly now, don't wanna die now" Also both books have a grandmother appearing as a ghost at the time of her death. Strange, huh?)

Finally, the book does an excellent job paying homage to the musical greats, black and white, that contributed to today's American music. Hip-hop, R&B, soul, gospel, blues, rock and roll, jazz, waltz, opera, classical and ragtime ... its all in there.

I was sad when the reader said, "The End."

It has: homicidal pianos, ragtime music, hip-hop gangsters, drive-by shootings, lynchings, timeless love, faithful friends

What did I like: it's a long book that doesn't seem long, you laugh and cry for both Phoenix and Scotty, family is important in both stories, the story sections-back and forth-build together and give you the information you need at just the right moment.

What didn't I like: the white characters tend to be thin and toneless.

Rating: 4 of 5, I liked it a lot.