Coming Through Slaughter

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Based on the life of cornet player Buddy Bolden, one of the legendary jazz pioneers of turn-of-the-twentieth-century New Orleans, Coming Through Slaughter is an extraordinary recreation of a remarkable musical life and a tragic conclusion. Through a collage of memoirs, interviews, imaginary conversations and monologues, Ondaatje builds a picture of a man who would work by day at a barber shop and by night unleash his talent to wild audiences who had never experienced such playing. But Buddy was also playing the field with two women, and inside his head was a ticking time-bomb which he was unable to stop.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

Edward and Elizabeth's sequential illnesses allow for some wryer recognition than the Brandenbergs' doll-eyed pussycats usually inspire. First, Edward gets so much attention when he's sick that Elizabeth, predictably, resents having to go to school, do her usual homework and chores, etc. Then, just as predictably, she gets sick-but instead of Edward getting jealous, he visits her good-naturedly with news of his day and a pouting Elizabeth then calls him lucky for doing all the things she had earlier complained about doing herself. Human families with their own Edwards and Elizabeths will enjoy the characterization--though only reading-aloud parents will pick up on the titles of this intellectual cat family's reading matter. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.