I was immediately fascinated as I began to read this book. It is extraordinary and, undoubtedly, deserves its selection as book of the year... It is a personal favorite for 2024 for me, as well... I have often lamented what occurred to the Indigenous people who inhabited America when it was first found by those across the seas... Especially, when the immigration became so large, that the cruelty of these new occupants was placed toward those who had once roamed the lands here, hunting, making camps and then moving again when weather changed and food was scarce... I am sure they thanked their Ancestors often for what they had been given...
Francis Spufford has studied that history carefully, knowing exactly what had been done, and what sometimes was attempted to be hidden... But there is always somebody who can speak of stories shared by their ancestors and how it all happened. Taking that background, he has created an epic alternative history to that early period by creating a fictional city where the Takouma were the leaders of all things within the city... And, that there are two other groups of people who live in this area. I believe we would now refer to those as African American or European Americans... while referring to the leaders as Native American or Indigenous People...
An early caution, readers will need to quickly pick up the three identifications for all residents there. I found I had to check back to the front of the book once in a while to remember each indigenous name. On the other hand, for at least two of these groups, they act and/or are treated as many think of them in present time. Specifically, the Europeans are routinely attempting to take over the leadership/ government of the city. There is little outward prejudice as we begin to read so what will happen must be taken as read to feel the full impact of the story.
Let me start by pinpointing the main character, Joe Barrow, who is, during the story, named The Thrown Away Boy. Barrow and Drummond were in children's homes together and as they grew, both became police officers in Cahokia. There is a relationship between the two that is important to watch--especially as the investigation of a murder begins! Joe Barrow is also a "red man" who was never before exposed to any of his indigenous connections... Now, he finds it coming into play and he's totally unprepared to be who he is. Especially, when he sees the Tacouma Princess for the first time... Shall we say they each felt the connection? And, finally, and, for me, the most intriguing part, was that he plays piano... And throughout the book he will spend time trying to decide exactly where his future lies... In the meantime, I'm sharing most of his playlist on my blog Early Jazz which was mostly new to me and probably all you readers!
The merge of the old and the new, even in the 20s is presented through the leader who is also considered a god of their people. When corn is ready to be harvested, for instance, it is the Man who dresses and blesses the corn...and we watch as the time for the festival of the Green Corn Planting in the parish of St. Lawrence arrives, and even in the midst of the investigation, the Man prepares to play his role...
The body had been found on a roof, cut in a manner which would seem to be ritualistic... The man was takata (European). And the death was created to match an Aztec-style tableau...gruesome, with body parts lying alongside the body, yet intriguing as each part of the destruction was studied. Questions started coming the longer they worked: how did this takata get into the building. And why was he on the roof? This was sacred Takumba stuff. Barrow began looking around and noticed that a nearby building had a lit window from which, perhaps, somebody could have seen something. Asking around he learned what they thought he should already know... It was the house of the Moon--that is, the niece of the Sun--The Man...the closest heir in the city. Other than Frankie Blackhawk, but he's out in Hollywood making movies. And, in a short time, they learn that Blackhawk had been killed!
Was this going to move toward a war between the citizens as it happened in the past? When the first murder occurred, the Man had sought out Barrow and let him know that he expected to have him report back to him, keeping him up-to-date on what was happening. Readers will begin to see tension rising, and Barrow soon in the midst of "Indiana Jones"-type action for which readers will be holding their breaths as he makes it through each event! This is one of the best historical alternative novels I've ever read. Don't miss it!
GABixlerReviews
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Top reviews from other countries
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