From the Bookshelf of Reading 1001…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
Jazz focuses on the lives of a black couple, Joe and Violet Trace, who moved from rural Virginia to NY fairly soon after they married. The story goes back and forth in time, from Violet's childhood after her mother dies to Joe's origin as the child of a "wild woman". Though a short book, this is not a quick read.
Joe and Violet have no children, and all seems fine, until he becomes obsessed with a teenager, Dorcas, in their NY city neighborhood. Honestly this part of the story does not fit with J ...more
Joe and Violet have no children, and all seems fine, until he becomes obsessed with a teenager, Dorcas, in their NY city neighborhood. Honestly this part of the story does not fit with J ...more
Beautifully written. Characters are written so well I think of them as real people.
I struggled with this book but it is truly a work of excellence. I just struggled with the book. I usually love Morrison’s writing but this one was hard.
But I appreciate it. It tells the story of the migration to the north when African American’s moved from the rural south north the the cities, especially Harlem. It is a story of migration, orphans seeking homeland and identity and Jazz music.
Narrative is a interesting aspect of the book. There is a collective narrative. As in Jazz improv, eac ...more
But I appreciate it. It tells the story of the migration to the north when African American’s moved from the rural south north the the cities, especially Harlem. It is a story of migration, orphans seeking homeland and identity and Jazz music.
Narrative is a interesting aspect of the book. There is a collective narrative. As in Jazz improv, eac ...more
This little novella is beautifully written with prose that feels both melodic and lyrical. Honestly I could hear the jazz of New Orleans in the background while I read. Beyond that, though, I wasn't enchanted by the book. I didn't find the exploration of race either unique or deep. I didn't find the study of relationships particularly intriguing. And the plot was non-existent. I wanted much more.
...more
Mar 27, 2017
Diane
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1001,
20th-century,
1001-done,
bipoc-author,
historical-fiction,
nobel-laureates,
black,
2017-reads,
radcliffe-100
May 13, 2011
Charisma
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1001-books,
2006-edition
Jan 16, 2012
Nanosynergy
marked it as to-read
Jul 17, 2015
Ashley Husemoller
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1001-before-dying
Jun 17, 2017
Yvonne
marked it as to-read
Jan 13, 2018
Sorobai
marked it as to-read
