chrispyschaller's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gaypoetree's review against another edition
3.0
Absolutely buck wild, especially if you’re not clued in to semi-obscure ‘70s cultural references. Some really truly fun anachronism used in very clever ways to criticize historical figures ranging from Lincoln to Harriet Beecher Stowe to Edgar Allen Poe. Also really effective subversion of stereotypes - oh, wait, just for the men, of course! Seriously, the misogyny in this one is soul-sucking. Might read again for academic / analytic / literary context purposes, would NEVER read again for fun.
mrjess_bhs's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fascinating mix of satire, irony, intentional misremembering of history, and just wild characters. It almost reads like an alien observed 1850-1950 simultaneously and attempted to tell a story of enslaved freedom seekers and the Civil War. There are a ome interesting reflections and pondering a embedded through the swamp of misinformation.
bubblegumbook's review against another edition
3.0
I read this for my Modernism and Postmodernism class. I read it in like two days because I needed to turn in an assignment for it. It was confusing to me so that's why the rating is low. I understand it is a postmodern book and I understand why the book is written like this and why the author made certain stylistic choices, but it still was not a super enjoyable read. I liked some parts though.
george_salis's review against another edition
The abridged conversation with Ishmael Reed is now available to read for free here: https://thecollidescope.com/2022/05/20/superbowl-insurrection-a-conversation-with-ishmael-reed/
To read the uncut version, considering support The Collidescope’s efforts and becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/TheCollidescope
Four months in the making: I interviewed Ishmael Reed, making Collidescope history with the longest interview to date. Only Patreon supporters will have access to the uncut interview which includes almost 2,000 more words of literal and metaphorical juicy material that won’t be published elsewhere.
I talk with Mr. Reed about the meaning of Mumbo Jumbo in the age of COVID-19, restrictions placed on Black writers, how Americans create their own mythology, Pynchon’s name-drop of Reed in Gravity’s Rainbow, Ishmael Reed’s publishing efforts, and a whole lot more!
To read the uncut version, considering support The Collidescope’s efforts and becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/TheCollidescope
Four months in the making: I interviewed Ishmael Reed, making Collidescope history with the longest interview to date. Only Patreon supporters will have access to the uncut interview which includes almost 2,000 more words of literal and metaphorical juicy material that won’t be published elsewhere.
I talk with Mr. Reed about the meaning of Mumbo Jumbo in the age of COVID-19, restrictions placed on Black writers, how Americans create their own mythology, Pynchon’s name-drop of Reed in Gravity’s Rainbow, Ishmael Reed’s publishing efforts, and a whole lot more!
cattywampus's review against another edition
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the kind of book that sounds simple but in fact holds so much that each page is a little treasure trove. I am pretty sure that I didn't understand half of what was being said, but what I did get was genius.
djvuuu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5