Books matching: black culture and music
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- #1
Save:A dazzling, genre-defying classic - equal parts funky, funny, and thought-provoking. If you like your novels challenging and bursting with energy, Mumbo Jumbo deserves a spot on your shelf.
Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed is a wild and wonderful ride, described as a Neo Hoodoo conspiracy yarn. The novel delves into a world where Black and European cultures collide, giving rise to a unique flowering of American culture. Through a satirical lens, Reed explores the spread of Black culture and music, the battle between the straight-laced society and the hip music world, and the power dynamics at play. The book is a multi-vocal, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural jazz novel that challenges readers' knowledge of history, culture, and literature.
The plot revolves around the Jes' Grew epidemic, the spread of Black culture and music that is treated as a plague by the whites in power. Reed's writing style is described as wildly rambling, hilarious, and satirical, with a mix of comic relief, sarcasm, and deep political commentary. The novel incorporates legends from Europe and Africa, weaving together elements of African Voodoo and postmodernism to create a mystical murder conspiracy narrative.
A TRUE SPORT, THE Mayor of New Orleans, spiffy in his patent-leather brown and white shoes, his plaid suit, the Rudolph Valentino parted-down-the-middle hair style, sits in his office. Sprawled upon h...1971•262 pages - #2
Save:A wild, jazzy, and inventive fantasy that brings New Orleans to magical life - sometimes at the cost of coherence. Not for everyone, but unforgettable if you’re up for a ride as unpredictable as the city itself.
The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings is an urban fantasy novel set in a version of New Orleans filled with magic, music, and supernatural elements. The story follows failed magician Perilous Graves as he embarks on a mission to save the city from an evil force that is kidnapping and killing essential songs, which manifest as spirits. The book is praised for its complex and imaginative world-building, including elements like musical spirits, time travelers, zombies, and sentient graffiti tags that come to life.
The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view, showcasing characters like Casey, a trans male grappling with the magic he and his cousin created, and a group of children tasked with using magic to protect the city. Despite some challenges with plot coherence and pacing, readers appreciate the rich descriptions of New Orleans, the seamless integration of music magic, and the fresh take on magical realism and Black culture in the setting.
June 2022•451 pages - #3
Save:A wild, esoteric trek through the dark woods where horror meets philosophy - brilliantly thought-provoking for fans of both, but maybe not for everyone. Try it if you want your brain bent and your worldview shaken.
'In the Dust of This Planet' by Eugene Thacker delves into a philosophical exploration of cosmic nihilism and the horror of the unknown. The author combines elements of Lovecraft, Zen Buddhism, and Schopenhauer to ponder on the erasure of relative nihilism that plagues contemporary lives. The text is described as a poetic yet academically dry examination of darkness, void, and mystery in philosophy, intertwined with discussions on monster movies and posthumanism. Despite some sections being deemed tedious and disjointed, the book is appreciated for its intricate prose and scholarly approach to the subject matter.
August 2011•177 pages
