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A review by rcsreads
Trumpet by Jackie Kay
emotional
sad
medium-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
It's clear that if they were real people several of the characters in this book would read the Daily Mail. Some sections contain a lot of transphobic language and while the underlying story of Joss' love and marriage is full of love and acceptance the background to it comes with a trigger warning.
The books begins with the death of famous jazz trumpeter Joss Moody and the discovery by everyone but his wife that Joss has boobies wrapped up under his suit. The story is told from various perspectives, his wife Millie, his son Coleman, various friends and an extremely annoying and unpleasant journalist.
I liked Kay's writing style but if I put the book down between chapters I could just leave it for days. There was no momentum or need to keep going. It was at points almost like a set of short stories on a theme rather than a cohesive novel.
The books begins with the death of famous jazz trumpeter Joss Moody and the discovery by everyone but his wife that Joss has boobies wrapped up under his suit. The story is told from various perspectives, his wife Millie, his son Coleman, various friends and an extremely annoying and unpleasant journalist.
I liked Kay's writing style but if I put the book down between chapters I could just leave it for days. There was no momentum or need to keep going. It was at points almost like a set of short stories on a theme rather than a cohesive novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, and Death of parent