Jazz

By: Toni Morrison

Narrated by: Toni Morrison

From the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner, a passionate, profound story of love and obsession that brings us back and forth in time, as a narrative is assembled from the emotions, hopes, fears, and deep realities of Black urban life. With a foreword by the author.

“As rich in themes and poetic images as her Pulitzer Prize–winning Beloved.... Morrison conjures up the hand of slavery on Harlem’s jazz generation. The more you listen, the more you crave to hear.” —Glamour

In the winter of 1926, when everybody everywhere sees nothing but good things ahead, Joe Trace, middle-aged door-to-door salesman of Cleopatra beauty products, shoots his teenage lover to death. At the funeral, Joe’s wife, Violet, attacks the girl’s corpse. This novel “transforms a familiar refrain of jilted love into a bold, sustaining time of self-knowledge and discovery. Its rhythms are infectious” (People).

"The author conjures up worlds with complete authority and makes no secret of her angst at the injustices dealt to Black women.” —The New York Times Book Review

©2007 Toni Morrison (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Wonderful. . . . A brilliant, daring novel. . . . Every voice amazes.” —Chicago Tribune

“She may be the last classic American writer, squarely in the tradition of Poe, Melville, Twain and Faulkner.” —Newsweek

“[A] masterpiece. . . . She has moved from strength to strength until she has reached the distinction of being beyond comparison.” —Entertainment Weekly

Good listen

I enjoyed the jazz music in the background. It helped communicate the mood of scene.

Intense and romantically tragic

Toni Morrison's voice is like rolling thunder, the way she put together the story is magic. Her stories are a deep dive into the life of African Americans and gives so much insight. Truly her writing is art.

Tough time syncing with kindle.

Great book. But I was trying to read the kindle version while listening and there are lots of original passages that are cut from the audio. And it was difficult to find where the narrator resumed. Kinda pissed that I spent my money on this one.

Creative Genius

Another masterpiece from one of the greatest storytellers of the last century. Jazz is up there with The Bluest Eye.

Gripping

Toni Morrison grabs your attention in the 1st paragraph. The jazz music enhances this sad story.

WOW

I read this book initially for school, but the book spoke to me as more than just a school book, literally. I will admit, it is a hard read but I truly enjoyed the love, lust, life, death, music themes in this extraordinary novel.

Skips

The story is great and the narrator reads it well, the only, and biggest, problem is that the narrator skips chucks of the story. I know this because I am following along in a book. I will be trying to get my money back.

Poetic but not to poetic

Loved it !! Toni Morrison is missed but her beautiful writing will live forever ❤

Good read

the book was really good. I always enjoy Toni Morrison books. Excellent author very good.

Lyrical reading by author

This book demands your attention as you listen. It is written, mimicking a 'jazz' syncopated style. I found the book easier to read, but the narration by Morrison brings it alive. I took off one star for the annoying 'bridge' jazz music between chapters, and sometimes during the reading. Unnecessary and jarring.