Music can speak to us in ways that written or spoken language cannot. It can tap into our emotions in a way that is undeniable but difficult to describe. Any music lover can feel its power but the ability to understand that power and put that understanding into words is no small accomplishment. Yet that is precisely what David Joseph does with his collection of short stories titled I Wanted To Be A Bluesman. In it, Joseph presents twelve stories about twelve very different men who share a love of the blues. Each story features a significant encounter that highlights the power of blues music to shape lives and create meaning in surprising ways. Through their love of the blues, these twelve men learn that hardship can often lead to understanding, acceptance, wisdom, and even redemption.

One of my favorite stories in the collection is “The Day Eric Clapton Walked In The Store” in which the narrator, a customer in a blues record store, listens to the owner recount a story about the day Eric Clapton walked through his door. The story captures the excitement of a random celebrity encounter and leads to a wonderful ending that makes it plain how even rock stars love the blues. Another story, “When Bessie Smith Came To Town,” features a grandmother who has a thing or two to teach her son and grandkids about the great blues singer, Bessie Smith, and how the blues can bring a family together in unexpected ways. I found David Joseph’s I Wanted To Be A Bluesman a surprising treat.

Author David Joseph offers readers an enthralling collection of twelve short stories in I Wanted To Be A Bluesman. Inspired by blues music, two brothers choose two very different paths in their lives. A husband and his wife slowly drift apart over the years, but it's his wife's intense dislike of blues music that makes the husband realize their marriage is broken. A young car thief keeps his mouth shut after being caught by the cops, and his intimidating gangster boss rewards him for his loyalty. A man disillusioned with the Catholic Church is pleasantly surprised when he unwittingly strikes up a bond with a priest over their shared love of the blues. A feisty grandmother shares the story of how she and her boyfriend went to see Bessie White during segregation in 1930s America.

David Joseph's love for the blues is clearly evident in this wonderful collection of short stories. I Wanted To Be A Bluesman contains stories that delve into the often unexpected facets of human relationships and show how wildly different people can form a connection through a shared mutual interest. In addition to the tales, Joseph also shares a blues playlist with readers. The characters feel very human. Each story has a protagonist that the reader can relate to because they appear as people in the real world. Joseph's characters truly leap off the pages, and for me, it was one of the highlights of this collection. I enjoyed all the stories, but "After All, It's Not Brain Surgery" was one of my absolute favorites. Short story lovers shouldn't miss out on this!