Coming Through Slaughter (1976)

Only book by Ondaatje I haven't finished. Could have been an age/stage sort of deal, perhaps try again. ( )

Not my cup of tea. First book I have ever even looked at by Ondaatje. I will be taking a look at another one today and hope to have a better time of it. The book, and or subject, just couldn't keep my interest or attention. I did look at every page and read bits in pieces I found enough of as I skimmed the surface, never getting below it, never finding the deep end of the pool. ( )

Unfortunately the many virtues that others see in this book were invisible to me. I found it disjointed, pretentious in its style and unengaging in its characters. ( )

Coming Through Slaughter is the imagined life story of the early jazz musician, Charles "Buddy" Bolden. Bolden was born around 1876 in New Orleans. He played they coronet, led his own band, and developed a musical style that blended ragtime and gospel music into an early form of improvisational jazz. In 1907 Bolden went insane from alcohol poisoning and was institutionalized for the rest of his life.

Ondaatje's unorthodox novel presents Bolden's story from several perspectives, with short blocks of text alternating narrators, occasionally in first person, and occasionally with documentary interjections. Near the end of the novel the author summarizes what little is actually known about Bolden's life and career, revealing that much of what we have read is Ondaatje's invention.

The Bolden of the novel is eccentric, erratic, usually drunk and occasionally violent. But he is also sensitive and compassionate, especially with women. Most of the women in Bolden's life are prostitutes, and they are part of a vivid picture the author provides of turn-of-the-century New Orleans.

Coming Through Slaughter would probably appeal most to those interested in jazz pioneers. Not having any background in that musical genre, I was interested chiefly in the place and time, but found the narrative too fragmented to develop much interest in Bolden or the other characters. ( )

Short and in short sections that I found easy to read. Based on a true story about Buddy Bolden, a cornet playing Jazz pioneer that ends up in the lunatic asylum. This is a somewhat artistic take on history and an adult read that can be enjoyed by those of strong and open mind. ( )