Half-Blood Blues: A Novel

Written by Esi Edugyan

Narrated by Kyle Riley

Winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize

Man Booker Prize Finalist 2011
An Oprah Magazine Best Book of the Year

Shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction

Berlin, 1939. The Hot Time Swingers, a popular jazz band, has been forbidden to play by the Nazis. Their young trumpet-player Hieronymus Falk, declared a musical genius by none other than Louis Armstrong, is arrested in a Paris café. He is never heard from again. He was twenty years old, a German citizen. And he was black.

Berlin, 1952. Falk is a jazz legend. Hot Time Swingers band members Sid Griffiths and Chip Jones, both African Americans from Baltimore, have appeared in a documentary about Falk. When they are invited to attend the film's premier, Sid's role in Falk's fate will be questioned and the two old musicians set off on a surprising and strange journey.

From the smoky bars of pre-war Berlin to the salons of Paris, Sid leads the reader through a fascinating, little-known world as he describes the friendships, love affairs and treacheries that led to Falk's incarceration in Sachsenhausen. Esi Edugyan's Half-Blood Blues is a story about music and race, love and loyalty, and the sacrifices we ask of ourselves, and demand of others, in the name of art.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Feb 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781427222770

Esi Edugyan

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Victoria, ESI EDUGYAN was raised in Calgary, Alberta. She is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of Washington Black, which was a finalist for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the Man Booker Award and won the Scotiabank Giller Prize; Half-Blood Blues, which was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Man Booker Prize and won the Scotiabank Giller Prize; and The Second Life of Samuel Tyne. She is also the author of Dreaming of Elsewhere, which is part of the Kreisel Memorial Lecture Series. She has held fellowships in the U.S., Scotland, Iceland, Germany, Hungary, Finland, Spain, and Belgium. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Reviews for Half-Blood Blues

[rainpebble_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Half Blood Blues is a beautiful story about a horrendous time in the history of the world. This is a story that moves from the Paris & Berlin of 1939 to the Baltimore, Berlin & Poland of 1992 and back, with Sid as our narrator. It is the story of extremely talented Black Jazz musicians playing in the ratty closed & boarded up clubs of Nazi Berlin. They have to hide and slink about to be able to play but play they must for this feeds their souls. They hang together day and night with one or the other going out to find booze, food or whatever their needs may be if it can be found. A French woman, Delilah, comes into their lives; sent from Paris by Louis Armstrong to find them and bring them back to play with him. But the timing is very tenuous because of Nazi Germany and the "boots" (S.S.) stalking the streets of Berlin. And so they hole up and play. The 19 year old Hiero is masterful on the horn, Chip on the drums, Sid on the Bass, Fritz on alto sax, Ernst on the licorice stick (clarinet) and Paul on piano. They spend their time playing and hiding from the S.S. Then Paul is taken, not to be seen again.As times go from bad to worse, they get their papers in order and hightail it off to Paris. But not all are able to go. Their world turns to madness when one day they waken to hear the German army marching, unhindered by the army of France, into Paris. As I read this book I could hear their disagreements, feel their pain when they hurt one another or the world hurt them and see the ugliness of their world along with the beauty of their music.I highly recommend Half Blood Blues and rated it a 5 star read. Oh, that my next one could be as good.

[twopairsofglasses · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sid Griffiths is an old jazz bass player who is traveling back to Berlin and remembering his time in that city and in Paris during the second world war. He played music back then with a mix of Americans and Europeans, white, black, and half-black, including Hieronymous Falk, a young natural genius on the horn. The book is about art, love, jealousy, and race, and it pains a vivid, visceral picture of life in these cities during the war. I loved Sid's narrative voice; it is fully alive from the first page and doesn't let go.

[knowledgelost · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While this book wasn’t exciting or fantastic in any way, shape or form; I’m still glad I read it. It was an enjoyable read, real story around focused mainly on the friends and their love for playing Jazz. Half Blood Blues was short listed for the Man Booker and tells the story mainly of Jazz Musicians Sid, Chip and Hiero during World War 2. As they were African Americans they were labelled Rhineland Bastards and end up been abducted by the Nazis. This is a book not only about racism (thankfully not set in American) but a book of friendship during hardships and the music that kept them together. While there is so much else going on in this book that will give you an idea of what to expect in it. Half Blood Blues made me want to break out some Django Reinhardt and use him as my soundtrack for this book. I know he is more ragtime than the Jazz mentioned in the book but I didn’t feel like playing Louis Armstrong while reading about him would work. For me ragtime suited my mood with this book. I can see why this made the short list but I can also why it didn’t win; Half Blood Blues is enjoyable to read but it doesn’t really stand out as a book.

[sly_wit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After an initial difficulty with language, I grew to really enjoy this book. I had put it on my to-be-read list back when it was up for the Booker, but then it was chosen for The Readers Summer Book Club and that became my impetus to read it sooner rather than later. Plus, I had my Paris-themed book salon coming up, although much of the book takes place in Berlin.

The author does a great job of capturing what I imagine the banter of 1930s jazz musicians might be, as well as their love of music. It also presents a little-seen side of World War II, so don’t let that part of the blurb drive you off if you hate war stories. Much like in Skeletons at the Feast, I appreciated the new perspective. It gets a bit sappy at the end, but I think it’s a sappiness that is well-earned.

[castlelass · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Narrator Sid Griffiths and his friend, Chip Jones, are black musicians from Baltimore. To escape the Jim Crow laws, they travel to Germany, where they meet gifted mixed-race trumpet player Hieronymous (Hiero) Falk, and form a jazz band, the Hot Time Swingers. The story opens in occupied Paris in 1940, where Sid observes Hiero being taken away by the Nazis. It is told in dual alternating timelines – one set during WWII and the other in 1992. The WWII timeline finds the Hot Time Swingers going underground due to jazz being banned, and they eventually flee to France, where they meet Louis Armstrong. The 1992 timeline follows Sid and Chip as they travel to Europe to find out what happened to Hiero. This novel is primarily a story of friendship and jealousy. The dramatic tension arises from the mystery of what happened to Hiero. I have mixed feelings about this book. I like that it provides a different perspective on WWII, examining the experiences of black jazz musicians in Germany. The first half is very slow in developing and contains many digressions. Of the two timelines, the one set in WWII is much more appealing. The writing is an eclectic mix of southern dialect and elaborate metaphorical language. The pace picks up in the second half and it becomes much more engaging, but it was hard to get over apathy I felt at the beginning.

[mickyfine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully compelling story that weaves together two parallel timelines in the life of Sid Griffiths, a biracial American-born jazz musician who spent much of his young adulthood living in Europe. Half of the tale is set in Germany in 1939 as Sid and the other men in his band struggle to get out of the country, which has become increasingly unsafe for a group of Black men who play jazz. However, once they get into France the threat of the Nazis continues to loom. The other half of the novel follows Sid in 1992 as he travels with his former bandmate, Chip, to Berlin for a festival screening a documentary celebrating the life Hieronymous Falk, another of their former bandmates. However, Chip has a surprise for Sid that will force Sid to once again grapple with a decision he made in 1940 that had disastrous consequences.It took me a bit to settle into the novel as Edugyan writes it in an historical version of African-American Vernacular English, awash with slang of the 1930s jazz scene. However, once I was accustomed to Sid's voice I was drawn completely into his life in both the early days of the war and in the 90s as he struggles with the choices he made in the past. Edugyan effortlessly weaves in her research about the lives of Black folk in Europe in the 30s and also manages to include real jazz figures in the story, including an appearance by Louis Armstrong. A gorgeous tale of friendship, jazz, and the impossible decisions that were made in the face of war. Recommended.

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Until now, with this book, I've never read a book that itself moves and works like a blues song. But that's changed with Half-Blood Blues. Edugyan's gorgeous novel is, in every way, a carefully crafted blues that is also an artfully told story and thoughtful examination of personal identity. In moving between 1939 and 1992--and at the same time between America, Germany, France, and Poland--it reveals the life of a jazz musician whose personal story is irrevocably tied to others' stories and identities as they were lived in 1939, and as they echo over him even fifty years later.Edugyan's Half-Blood Blues might well display the most artful use of personal voice and dialect I've ever seen in a novel, and the way in which her rhythms and structure evoke a blues is something to behold. Even in the tone of the beginning and ending, this book is experienced like a blues, and it is masterful. Absolutely, I recommend it.

[cecilturtle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The language alone in this book transports the reader to another time and culture. Told through the words of Sid, this story brings us to the Jazz Era at the onset of the war. I learned about a piece of history which, in itself is invaluable to me, but it's the characters with their complex emotions and multifaceted personalities that grabbed my attention. Is Sid vicious or kind? Chip mercenary or loyal to a fault? Hiero helpless or all-knowing? There's always an element of surprise, a subtle shift, to keep the story moving.More than anything, it's Edugyan's ability to describe music that had me hooked - I could see and hear the notes intertwining, transporting me at the heart of the Jazz Age, A mesmerizing book!

[maryreinert · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sid Griffiths was a bi-racial jazz player who could easily pass for white. Hieronymus Falk is German having been born to a white mother and African father; he is an outstanding trumpet player and appears very black. These two along with three other jazz players find themselves in Germany before the war. Jazz is frowned upon by the Nazi's. The story jumps between times before the war in Berlin to contemporary times when Sid and his childhood friend, Chip, are returning to Germany to see Hieronymous who Sid thought had been killed in the war. Sid is very reluctant because of a decision he made while in Berlin that kept Hieronymous from leaving with the group to Paris. Known as the Hot-Time Swingers, the group meets with Louis Armstrong in Paris due to the workings of another bi-racial woman names Delilah.I enjoyed almost all of the book although there were some times that I got bogged down. The ending was superb.

[librarycin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.25 starsMost of this book is set in 1939 and 1940 in Germany and France. It follows a group of boys trying to make a jazz record. The book does switch back and forth to 1992, as two of those “boys” are making their way to Poland to find one who had gone missing during the war. Not a very good summary, but then, I wasn't all that excited about the book, so am having a hard time coming up with a summary (and overall review!). I've been waffling between 3 stars (ok) and 3.5 (good). 3.5 because mostly it seemed interesting while I was reading, but as soon as I put it down again, I had no interest in picking it back up. Ok, so it's not a very helpful review...

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am still not sure about this book. There were parts that had me hooked, and parts that I had trouble getting through. I have read a lot of "war books" but this was from a very different perspective. A group of jazz musicians are in Germany when the war breaks out. They are all considered undesirables, Jews, Black, degenerates etc. One of them is arrested in Germany, one joins another group, one enlists and the rest escape to France. Of course we all know that is not safe either as the Germans invade France. While trying to cut a record with Louis Armstrong, getting involved with a woman, and trying to keep alive, the story evolves about life during the war for this group of people. Definitely a book that makes you think.

[rdra1962 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really interested and well written. Hard to find a completely original Holocaust book- this is a great one!

[bucketofrhymes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is absolutely entrancing... First of all, because of the subject matter -- Black jazz musicians in pre-war/WWII Europe. Second of all, because of the voice that it's written in. There's a natural rhythm to the prose, a perfect turn of phrase, that is absolutely a joy to read.

[mattclark_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tormented, jealous and grief stricken.  Sid Griffiths is an ordinary person caught up in an extraordinary time with the freakishly talented Hieronymus Falk.  Jazz players in the same band, Hiero is "the kid", a genius everyone except Sid recognises, until the chasm between their talents becomes blindingly obvious.

This story flicks between Germany and Paris in 1939/40 and Europe in 1994.  It's a heart tearing story of selfish betrayals mixed with real tenderness. These complicated people are so alive, and it is so well written you can almost hear the soulful music blaring from the kids horn, the crunch of the Boots marching past, of their terror.

Sid's horrible secret stays so until a climactic finale.  I actually gasped when I learnt what his desperation to be part of something real, something beautiful, something that will live forever drives him to do. 

Great book, recommended for anyone.

...

Armstrong’s voice got real gravelly, real deep and soft, like a pelt carpet. ‘There is a whole lot of talents, Sid. You a mighty fine rhythm boy.’
‘But I ain’t got the stuff.’
‘You know what you got. Ain’t no one tell you otherwise.’
I shook my head in disgust.
‘It don’t matter much bout all that anyway,’ Armstrong added. ‘You think it do, but it don’t. A man ain’t just his one talent. Little Louis needs you. And Jones look to you like you his brother. You got the talent of making others your kin, your blood. But music, well it’s different. I reckon it got its own worth. But it ain’t a man’s whole life.’

Aw, hell, Louis, I thought. Ain’t nothin else I want

[evelynbernard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story of the Jews in the Holocaust is an all too familiar and terrible one. In 'Half-Blood Blues', Esi Edugyan tells the story of a lesser known but equally persecuted people. The Hot Time Swingers was a jazz band in Germany in the 1930's. The members of the band - African Americans from Baltimore, Germans, Jews and a mixed race (mischling) German bond over their love of Jazz. As this type of music becomes banned in Germany, it becomes dangerous for the musicians to remain there. One by one, they are arrested or abandon the band for their own safety. The two Americans and the young black German escape to Paris where they have the opportunity to meet and record music with the great Louis Armstrong. He immediately recognizes the genius of Hiero, the 19 year old trumpet player. When the invasion of Paris becomes imminent, the three must find a way to escape. This book travels back and forth between present-day Baltimore, where Sid and Chip now reside. Hiero's music exists only in a 3 1/2 minute recording. It is so brilliant that he has a large group of followers. A documentary is made and Sid and Chip travel back to Europe for the premiere. The book is told through the eyes of Sid. Sid is a talented musician - not an inspired one. Against the backdrop of Europe in the '30's and early '40's he relates the story of the band, their struggles, envy, jealousy, fear and eventually, possibly, redemption.Hot Blood Blues was shortlisted for nearly every major book award - eventually taking home the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize. Well deserved!

[tea58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is such a terrible time. It is war time in Germany, Poland and Paris. It is a time when one man ruled as dictator. It is his, Hitler's, decision to destroy certain groups of people. In "Half-Blood Blues" by Esi Edugyan, a German American band is the focus. We meet guys who love Jazz along with their lady friend, Delilah. There are many hardships. Their race becomes a thing of danger. One in the group, Chip, is German and Black. Sid is Black, etc. All of a sudden ethnicity becomes an intricate thing of beauty, and it is realized race mixtures are as different as cake batters. If you are open to racial harmony, you will see the novel in one way. If not, you will see it in another way. It is your call, your decision.Within the pages, there is the one and only Louis Armstrong. Ultimately, he will leave Europe and go back to America because of the fast movement of troops throughout Europe. However, he does not leave before trying to make a disc or record with the group. Louis Armstrong becomes more than just a famous face and name. He becomes a man born with a special talent to hear who can play an instrument and who is off and going down another path where the group does not want or need to go. Louis Armstrong's special love for one race of people is unforgettable. Their kindness is always remembered by him. To keep them ever in his mind he eats their food and wears their symbolic jewelry.It is a wonderful Historical novel about friendship, music, romance, jealousy and unfortunately, brutality. There are men who act as gentle as a woman. One friend will not leave another friend while he is near death's door. There is also the woman, Delilah called Lilah. She finds a hiding place for the guys when it is most needed. In order to leave the country, they need specific papers. She fights to get them. Each one in the band knows she will never leave Louis Armstrong. She becomes like Ruth with Naomi. She will follow him wherever he goes.All of these people whether they must go to a concentration camp or hear their racial name defamed or just totally disappear due to the men in boots show war time too can become a time of growth and bonds between men and women can deepen while their country is under siege. In the end, love is as powerful as water. It can overcome evil.If I had to stay on a deserted island and needed to take only a few books, this is one I would take with me. I feel each character is layered. I only had time to peel back one layer. It is also another view of World War II. It is seen through the eyes of those who love music, in this case, Jazz.

[eye_gee-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful audio book, worth reading for the metaphors alone.

[randymetcalfe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two black jazz musicians from Baltimore, Chip and Sid, narrowly escape Berlin in 1939 only to find their dreams come true in meeting up with Louis Armstrong in Paris, but also their nightmares as they watch the Nazis march into the city even as they are struggling to record their finest disc, “Half-Blood Blues”. In the aftermath of the occupation, Sid does something that will haunt him all his remaining days, but which he will not reveal until fifty years later at the end of a quest of reconciliation in Poland.Esi Edugyan’s story is rich with history and horror. Jazz greats file past and interact with the characters. And the tension between individual glory, even if that glory is just a jazz record, and conscience is achingly portrayed. The prose is saturated in what passes for early 20th century Baltimore dialect. But while that at first locates and brings the characters to life, it later loses its effectiveness and starts to seem like affect. It is unclear why they speak in this apparent dialect even in German (Chip and Sid are fluent). And other characters, such as Delilah and Hiero, sound remarkably similar to Chip and Sid. But that is part of a more general concern in that we don’t really get to know any of these characters in any depth. The structure of the crisis and its milieu is adequately portrayed but Sid’s critical action is hard to judge given that we don’t really have a strong sense of him. However, maybe these are minor complaints. Because in general I did enjoy the story and I was, throughout, fascinated to learn about these black musicians in those dark days.Gently recommended.

[thebookjunky · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Never got used to the voice of the first person narration -- lots of 'aints' and double negatives. It was a barrier to immersion in the story. The author throws out some placating colorful metaphors -- "he was an ancient old raisin of a man" -- but it's not enough to carry a good book. It was a long slog to the end. The characters weren't particularly interesting, they felt so contrived. This book had too many ideas and didn't know where to focus, so it felt watery and weak. Disappointing.

[altheaann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this book 'cause the blurbs indicated it was about the underground music and club scene in Germany before WWII, which is something that interests me. However, there isn't really much of that in the book. There's a passing mention of Max Ernst, and mention of some musicians and dancers - but it doesn't really paint a wide picture of that demimonde. Rather, it focuses on the relationship between three jazz musicians, both at that time, and in the 'present' day (1942 and 1992). It actually does a great job of portraying how a group of musicians can form its own tiny world, to the exclusion of everything outside... and the trauma of that world breaking.
The book was not precisely what I expected, but that's not a criticism of it. Actually, it was a far better book that I anticipated. Edugyan has a masterful touch with creating voice - the subtle similarities and differences between how the narrator speaks in the different time periods was impressively well done. The characters of Sid, Chip and Hiero fully come to life, with all their passions and flaws. My only (teeny) criticism is that Delilah, the woman who 'discovers' their band, remains in a sort-of-interstitial position somewhere between being a major character and a minor one. I wanted to know more of her motivations and background.
Still, the book is an incisive exploration of friendships and betrayals.
I'd highly recommend it. I've already ordered Edugyan's previous novel.

[jldarden · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I heard alot of praise for this book and looked forward to reading it. Sadly, I was disappointed. It had some good ingredients but just didn't gel for me. I found the characters uninteresting and generally unlikeable. Though the writing is well done, I had difficulty at times with the speech of characters. In some instances it was distracting. Also, I found the ending disappointingly flat. Can't recommend this one.

[stevelindahl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan is Sid Griffiths' story. He's an African American from Baltimore who once was a sax player in the Hot Time Swingers, a band active with the jazz scene in 1930's Berlin. Sid, along with Chip, a guitarist and fellow American, Hieronymous Falk, a twenty year old half German, half African trumpeter, and Paul Bitterstein, a Jewish piano player, were not in a good place due to the rise of the Nazis and their master-race philosophy. In one scene the band members were hiding indoors listening to the sounds of breaking glass as Kristallnacht occurred in the streets outside.Although any story about a jazz band has to be about the music scene and any story about blacks and Jews in Berlin and Paris during World War II has to be about racism, the most interesting story in this novel is of jealousy and friendship, of decent talent and an extraordinary gift, and of loyalty and guilt. As I said before, this is Sid's story. Hieronymous Falk is not just a good trumpeter, he plays with brilliant sensitivity and emotion. Sid will never be that good, but Hiero has the ability to make Sid better. Sid responds as any human would, with both envy and gratitude. Here is how Sid's opinion changes as he describes Hiero's music (this quote is translated from an audio book, so it may not be perfect):But then I began to hear, like a pinprick on the air. It was that soft. The voice of a hummingbird singing at a pitch and speed almost beyond hearing. It wasn't like nothing I'd ever heard before. The kid come in at a strange angle, made the notes glitter like crystal. Pausing, he took a huge breath. Started playing an ear splitting scale that drawn out the invisible scale he just played. The rest of us come in behind him and I tell ya. It ain't took but a minute more for me to understand just what kind of a player this kid was.He sounded broody, slow, holding the notes way longer than seemed sane. Music should have sounded something like a ship's horn carrying across water: hard, bright, clear. The kid, Hell, he made it muddy, passing his notes not only overseas, but through soil, too. Sounded rich, which might have been fine for an older game, but felt fake from him.The slow dialog between him and us had a sorta preacher, choir feel to it. There was no grace. His was the voice of a country preacher too green to convince the flock. He talked against us, like he beggin us to listen. He wailed. He moaned. He pleaded and seethed. He dragged every damn feeling out that trumpet but hate, a sorta naked, pathetic way of playing like he done flipped the whole thing inside out, its nerves flailing in the air. He bent the notes, slurred them in a way made us play harder against him. And the more we disagreed the stronger he pleaded. But his pleading ain't never asked for nothing, just seemed to be there for his own damn sake. In a weird way, he sounded both old and like he touching the trumpet for the very first time.I hated it.Nazi politics and jazz music provide the color to this great novel, but its real depth is found in the humanity of its characters.Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul and White Horse Regressions

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Canada Reads -- especially when it introduces me to a book I would not have otherwise chosen to read. Such is the case with Half Blood Blues -- I'd decided not to read it when I first heard of it, but picked it up when it was shortlisted for Canada Reads. And I loved it!Ms. Edugyan has given us a page-turner of a story. She alternates in time between 1939-40 and 1992, and makes expert use of that technique. I knew the outcomes of some plot elements and gained a deeper appreciation as I learned what was behind them. Other parts of the story remained a mystery until the end. This all contributed to making the story so intriguing!I loved the character of the narrator, Sid, and what his story says about friendship, loyalty and the longing to be part of something beautiful and lasting.

[infjsarah · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was just OK. It was an interesting time to read about and about an aspect of history I knew nothing about. But I felt there was a much better book lurking in here somewhere. I didn't like the characters and they were mostly very flat. And the explanation for what happened to Hiero as a 1 page dream at the end - What?!! Seriously!!Not me, I'm afraid.

[literateowl_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I anticipated this book as a good read for a few reasons. Jazz, World War II, Europe, and CanadaReads 2014 Donovan Bailey; however, I was somewhat disappointed. 3.5 stars because I just found the idiomatic language and phrasing so disruptive. It was like like Miles Davis. I know he is good but not my style. No offence, no apologies it just didn't tap my soul like I thought it would. The bluesy setting and jazzy characters were a delight but the melody wasn't there.

[scribblekey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

AMAZING. I wasn't into it for the first quarter or so, but by halfway through, I couldn't put it down. This is going to give Annabel some serious competition for Canada Reads 2014. It's the better book, but doesn't feel as "Canadian" - merely due to the setting and whatnot. Either way, one of my favorite books I've read this year.

Edit: just finishing up Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood. At this point, with only The Orenda left to read, Half Blood Blues is my favorite out of the Canada Reads finalists.

Edit 2: It has been a little while since I finished the book. It has really stuck with me, so I came back here to make sure that I gave it five stars instead of four. Yep, I have it five. It really deserves it.

[charlottejones952 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

War novels and historical fiction has always intrigued me but in the past, I have found that most literature based in World War II concentrates on the fighting and the soldiers, rather than civilians and the other problems that surrounded the less-known aspects of the war. This novel switches between the group of characters when they were younger, in the war era, and them in the ‘present’ 1992, when they are looking back at their past. I think that it is great that although obviously their lives were affected irreversibly during the war, the book is very character driven and you see how they view aspects of the war and the prejudice that they suffered. This switching between times meant that sometimes you knew what was going to happen before it happened which in most books would spoil bits, but I think that in this case it really added a lot of depth to the plot and the characters.

The first thing that struck me about this novel was the writing style. It is written in a very unique way, completely capturing the language and colloquialisms of the protagonist, Sid. I love the historically accurate details and the mix of facts with Sid’s opinions and thoughts about the events which take place. Once you get used to the way it is written, it flows really well and is paced perfectly, making this an almost effortless and enjoyable read.

This is a unique mix of fact and fiction, full of love, identity, friendship, loyalty and memory. I found this to be an emotional and gripping read full of mystery and heartbreak, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

[kewing_12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Berlin, Paris, World War II, jazz, jealousy, reconciliation

[ldvoorberg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. The writing in this novel is amazing! American jazz slang and style is interesting enough. The addition of the descriptions, clean and direct yet so evocative. The story is full of humanity and emotion, but also history and culture, the perspective of the latter is not often associated with WWII fiction.
A worthy award winner!

[samsattler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

By the time I finally picked up a copy of Half-Blood Blues, Esi Edugyan’s novel already had quite a reputation going for it, the result of having won Canada’s Giller prize and having been a short-listed candidate for Britain’s Booker Prize. I am happy to report that this story of three black jazz musicians, who find themselves trapped in Paris when Hitler’s Nazis overrun the city, largely lives up to that reputation – except for a quibble or two I will mention later.Sid Griffiths and Chip Jones have known each other forever. The two grew up together in Baltimore where they honed their musical talents to so a high level - Sid on base and Chip on drums - that they would become popular in Berlin as the core of a jazz band they called the Hot-Time Swingers. But they really hit the big time when they add trumpeter Hieronymous Falk to the mix. Hiero, a mixed-race German, is so special a talent that he catches the attention of one Louis Armstrong - who invites the band to join him in Paris to cut a record.The tough decision to shut things down in Berlin is made easy for the band when Hitler labels jazz as “degenerate music” and bans public performances of it. When the Hot Swingers, including its German members, realize that more than their mere livelihood is at stake, the scramble is on to find papers good enough to get them across the border and on their way to Paris. Little do they know, that Hitler’s army is not all that far behind them.Sid Griffiths, the book’s narrator, tells this intriguing story from the perspective of just over fifty years in the future. Sid and Chip are old men living in 1992 Baltimore with plans to attend the imminent Berlin debut of a documentary film honoring the now legendary jazz trumpeter Hiero Falk. Hiero, caught in a Nazi roundup of “undesirables,” has not been heard from since the day of his arrest and is presumed to have died in a Nazi death camp. The mystery surrounding his end, details of which only Sid knows, have turned Hiero into the kind of musical legend that only dying young can do for a musician. But Sid knows the whole story, and even though the truth is still eating at his soul, he does not really expect, or want, to go public with it. Surprise, surprise, Sid.Esi Edugyan has Sid speak in the vernacular of jazz musicians of the thirties. While this initially slows the reader down, once the speech pattern becomes familiar, this technique gives Half-Blood Blues a feeling of authenticity it otherwise would not have had. This does, however, bring me to my first “quibble.” When Sid is thinking out loud for the reader, he sounds nothing like he does in conversation with his friends - even in 1992 – and that is sometimes a little jarring to the reader’s ear. But more importantly, the book’s ending does not quite measure up to the hugely dramatic build-up leading to it. Perhaps unrealistically, I was hoping for more. I did very much enjoy this one, and I suspect that I will be thinking about it for a good while, so if you like WWII history from a civilian point-of-view, you will likely love Half-Blood Blues. Esi Edugyan is most certainly a talent to watch.Rated at: 4.0