Mumbo Jumbo |
|
|
|
| Title: | Mumbo Jumbo |
| Author: | Ishmael Reed |
| Publisher: | Scribner |
| Type: | Book / Paperback |
| Publication Date: | 11 June, 1996 |
| ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0684824779 / 9780684824772 |
| List Price: | $14.00 |
| You Save: | $4.55 |
| Amazon Price: | $9.45 |
|
This book is also available, brand-new, from 3rd-party marketplace sellers at Amazon.com, from $5.88.
|
The HTML code below can be pasted onto your web-site, your MySpace page, or blog - or any number of similar places - to create a link to this page:
If, instead of a text link, you'd like to create a link to this page which will display the book cover, if it's available, then the code below will do exactly that:
Check for the same book at these other US book sites:
• [ Abebooks ]
• [ Alibris ]
• [ Barnes & Noble ]
• [ Half.com ]
• [ Powells ]
… or check UK bookstores
|
Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
A preeminent African-American novelist, essayist, and activist takes an unorthodox look at black and white relations throughout history. Reprint. 15,000 first printing. NYT.
|
Other Items You May Enjoy:
Browse Books From These Related Subjects:
Customer Reviews:
• Wow
23 November, 2006
This is a brilliant jazz piece all about Jes Grew and the past and future history of the world. The way Reed writes is totally inspired, interesting and full of insights. There's some interesting ancient historical material in it too. In spite of Reed's idiotic misreading of Set the elder god, this is is a delicious book. While it's a novel, it's a lot better than that. It's music.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Remember "old School?" It's Alive And Well!
20 August, 2005
Ishmael Reed has continued to inform young and old folks how not to "forget" where it all belongs. This work melts the '60's and '70's to the new millenium. It's all about "where it REALLY is!" Don't ever forget from whence you come and where you are GOING!
- Amazon Customer Review
• Supah Dupah
24 January, 2005
after several references to Mumbo Jumbo in the anthology of African American speculative fiction "Dark Matter" edited by Sherree Thomas, i began seeking this book out. reading it seemed to be almost a literary corollary to listening to jazz's sonic dissonance. you either get it or you don't. there is basically no middle ground. if this was a movie it would have a soundtrack that would overpower the senses. imagine the soundtrack if you will. one scene would be filled with voodoo drums, the next Chicago Jazz, followed by P-funk, then Fela. at least a third of the flick would be a visual version of "Dancing in the Streets" by Martha and the Vandellas. if you get the picture then you probably liked the book.
i personally found it fascinating reading. in my opnion the 'collage' style of writing made it that much more interesting. what impressed me is the fact that Reed keeps the plot and storyline intact amidst all the 'Mumbo Jumbo'. it was really intriguing thinking to myself as I read the book "this is just an alternate reality". when I read this book I considered its literary style comparative to the musical style of Sun Ra (i'll build a world of abstract dreams...and wait for u). so in all fairness it is a bit hard to follow for the average reader. so mote it be.
at first, i was totally surprised to read reviews distressingly proclaiming Mumbo Jumbo a confusing read. then, after looking a little deeper and reading some of their other reviews it all became clear. it appears that the distressed few are quite comfortable with linear writing. they seem to be a younger group and probably haven't been exposed to this type of creative writing before. since Mumbo Jumbo is not written linearly, those who are unaccustomed to it might be turned off. also, it was interesting to read their satisfaction with "Ceremony" by Leslie Marmon Silko eventhough, it is merely a different take on a parallel theme, ie. the clash of cultures. Their different responses to Silko and Reed sparked the question, "Are they thinking like Atonists?"
i found the book a pleasant relief from the bizarro world we live in today. it reminded me of the Marvel Comics series "What If?" But then again, who's to say that this can't really happen? after all there WERE those who referred to jazz as "the devil's music". and wasn't legendary Blues musician Robert johnson supposed to have sold his soul to the devil (or Jes Grew). imagine conquering one's enemies by making them dance..."Dance! Dance! DANCE!", I said.
lastly, it seems that Reed creates quite a bit of grist for the mill of the conspiracy theorists out there with the Atonist monotheists trying to impose their one world monoculture on everybody else.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Jes' Wonderful
25 March, 2005
It's a wonderful book. And to think that we're occupying Haiti again. Powerful stuff goes on there, but the book is about us, here.
- Amazon Customer Review
• I Really Enjoyed This Book
14 July, 2006
Relax. It's not as difficult to follow as some reviews make it out to be. I found it a real page-turner. Ishmael Reed always has a great sense of humor, and he always has something to say to piss somebody off (including YOU)...
His writing style will STILL be viewed as experimental, lo these 34 years after this book was published-- yet conservative literary critic Harold Bloom included this book in his 500 essential books of the Western Canon.
I'm waiting for the Tarantino big-screen adaptation...
- Amazon Customer Review
|
