In 'Coming Through Slaughter,' Michael Ondaatje delves into the turbulent life of jazz musician Buddy Bolden, who is considered the father of jazz. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century New Orleans, the novel intertwines themes of music, madness, and identity. As Buddy's genius flourishes, so do his struggles with mental illness and societal expectations, leading to his tragic fall into obscurity. Through lyrical prose and rich imagery, Ondaatje captures the essence of a vibrant world that is both beautiful and chaotic. This haunting tale invites readers to explore the intersections of art, memory, and the human experience.
By Michael Ondaatje
Published: 1996
"In the cacophony of life, it is often the silences that speak the loudest, revealing the hidden melodies of our existence."
Bringing to life the fabulous, colorful panorama of New Orleans in the first flush of the jazz era, this book tells the story of Buddy Bolden, the first of the great trumpet players--some say the originator of jazz--who was, in any case, the genius, the guiding spirit, and the king of that time and place. In this fictionalized meditation, Bolden, an unrecorded father of Jazz, remains throughout a tantalizingly ungraspable phantom, the central mysteries of his life, his art, and his madness remaining felt but never quite pinned down. Ondaatje's prose is at times startlingly lyrical, and as he chases Bolden through documents and scenes, the novel partakes of the very best sort of modern detective novel--one where the enigma is never resolved, but allowed to manifest in its fullness. Though more 'experimental' in form than either The English Patient or In the Skin of a Lion, it is a fitting addition to the renowned Ondaatje oeuvre.
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“In the cacophony of life, it is often the silences that speak the loudest, revealing the hidden melodies of our existence.”
Coming Through Slaughter
By Michael Ondaatje
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Michael Ondaatje is a Canadian author, best known for his acclaimed novel, 'The English Patient,' which won the Booker Prize and was later adapted into an Oscar-winning film. Other notable works include 'In the Skin of a Lion,' 'Anil's Ghost,' and 'Divisadero.' Ondaatje's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose, deep exploration of memory and identity, and rich, evocative use of imagery.
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