Coming Through Slaughter

First, I highly recommend listening to the Audible narration of this novel which is literary jazz. The rhythm of the writing and portrayal of the ensemble of characters is a key feature of the novel. The writing style is quite experimental. It embodies the story of the early jazz trumpeter, Buddy Bolden as he descended into madness. Bolden establishes the melody which he shares with an ensemble that take it on from their perspectives and voices.

This is a powerful book telling the story of Buddy Bolton who played coronet during the Storyville era of New Orleans at the turn of the century. Only this skillful poet/author could capture the turmoil, violence, beauty, rhythms, obsessions and self-destruction that permeated this place and time. Bolton was not only a jazz coronet player but also a barber who knew and passed on all the local gossip. He was an alcoholic addicted to whiskey and in love with two women. The reader watches him as he sinks into more and more depression and manic behavior; his music more wild and frenzied, unique and exciting. Throughout the story the writer brings the reader into Bolton’s music. He breaks up voice and tone in scenarios with stunning paragraphs and narratives. It gives the book a haunting, frightening quality as Bolton slowly goes insane. This book is unique and brilliant—extremely moving.

If you're a fan of Michael Ondaatje's style (heavily poetic/lyric) you'll be a fan of this book. While it's short, it demands to be read slowly (some passages read more than once); both so that you can figure out what's going on and so that, once you do, you can appreciate it. Ondaatje succeeds in recreating a place and time that no longer exists, a testament to his research and skill. Why not five stars? It wasn't a book I couldn't put down, even though I didn't.

This book is just about as quotable as Tombstone, Anchorman, or Death Wish starring the late, great Hollywood motion picture star, Mr. Charlie Bronson. If you've seen Death Wish, you'll be pleasantly surprised that this book holds no similarities whatsoever (though one gentleman does get his nipple cut off, and another burns to death). It's really a heartwarming tale of jazz, booze, hookers and dementia, of a simpler time, really, written in poetic, lyric prose that makes razor fights and arson and dementia seem like a musical fairy tale. In fact I've heard that it'll be the next Pixar film. True story. Or maybe not. Draw your own conclusions, dear reader.

With muscular writing, tight phrasing, and an eye for detail, Coming Through Slaughter runs down the riffs like a house on fire. While Buddy Bolden's life unravels in real time, he helps create America's original music: jazz; burning himself out in the process. Set in New Orleans, Ondaatje pulls out all the stops to make this fictional account of Bolden's erratic and flamboyant life sizzle with a jazz structure in its own right. Not a structure suitable to some, but strong writing until the end. Good stuff.

This book will haunt you long after you have finished reading it. M. Ondaatje tells the life story of Buddy Bolden, the greatest trumpet player, who some accredit with the birth of jazz in New Orleans. Through family and friends' memories laid open as witness and testimony, the author presents Bolden's life. Precious few documents exist as tangible evidence of his life and work, but thanks to those that do, the author is able to flesh out this man's life, success and misery in such a way that you finish the book with no doubt whatsoever that what you have read is indeed what happened. The title is what intrigued me, and the title is what will stay with me.

I really enjoyed this book. I had just finished But Beautiful for the second time and noticed a reference to Coming Through Slaughter. If you are interested in the history of early american music; the blues, jazz, and the struggle of the brilliant black americans who made it this is a great read. Much more than a history text, this book is a heartrending story told through the eyes, ears, and heart of the talented and troubled trumpeter, Buddy Bolden. Highly recommended!

This is one of the most haunting and artistic novels ever set in New Orleans. It doesn't need ghosts or vampires to draw readers into the past, but rather the tiny fragments of a real life lost legend of Jazz. One of his best books.

Nobody alive today has heard Buddy Bolden's music, he never recorded a note of his trumpet playing. But if you love jazz,you will know that he is called the father of jazz, and if you love jazz you will love this book.Reading this book I almost felt that I was living his troubled life, I was with him when he was at the top,and in those dark drug filled times at the bottom. But this more than a book about Buddy Bolden, it is a book about New Orleans at the dawn of the 20th.century, it's about living life to the full, and music that thrilled the world.This is not an easy book to read, but it is a book that must be read by all jazz lovers, and is a lasting tribute to a man that influenced all the jazz greats who followed him . To read this is to truly know-- "What it means to miss New Orleans "

Book from a library with "Not for Resale" stamped on it!However have to give it 4 stars because . . . what a great book. He takes you through unexpected (to me) types of writing, with a wonderful story and pure poetry prose.I'm now reading "Skin of a lion" which is also a wonderful intriguing book.I'm sure other people will write more eloquent, knowledgeable 2,000 word reviews.For me, I loved it. Recommended

I felt like reading a detective's notes. Interesting loose structure. Great narrative. A man that has not been ever recorded, we have no idea how he sounded and yet, people consider him as a legend.

This is a wonderful book, as always with Michael Ondaatje. Amazing...

This is a finely crafted novel about a jazz legend, Buddy Bolden that itself incorporates jazz elements. Improvisation, shifting dialogue and variations on the theme of living and loving in the earliest years of the jazz revolution of American, especially Black American culture. I recommend it highly. It is short but very moving. A jewel of Ondaatje’s early works.