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Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite
I truly loved this body of work. In Tales Of The Blues by J.J. Counsilman, you will experience 75 tales - poems, songs, free verse, mind maps, lists, mini-essays, and short stories - displaying various forms of blues inspired by songs from the '20s and '30s. The pain, hopelessness and everyday life of this era depicted in the songs are incorporated into each of the works. There are so many great pieces to choose from that you will be giddy with where to start. With each piece, there is background information on the artist being depicted. The reader will enjoy Satan's Blues, inspired by Mississippi guitarist Robert Johnson. Johnson had become a master guitarist at a young age and it was said that this was because he had sold his soul to the devil. He died at the age of 27, and has since not only been considered a blues master guitarist but has influenced many upcoming and known guitarists. This chosen work touches on all aspects of the song Me and the Devil from its inspiration to the collaboration of Johnson's life. Also, the reader will discover some vintage black and white photos that add an excellent touch to the body of work.
I enjoyed the material in this book. Some of my favorites were No One Else, Lethal Dreams, Useful Pardons, and Old Man's Blues. It was interesting that this era of the Jazz Age or Roaring 20s that ended the Depression era is when bootlegging, jazz bands and swing dancing including the Lindy Hop began. But along with this era also came anger, crime, murder, and infidelity, which was reflected through the music. The music - like the material in this book - spoke of the emotions, life, and feelings of the people. Several of these poems spoke to me as well, regardless of the message, and I enjoyed every minute reading. If you'd love to learn more about this author and this collection, get a copy today. Also, if you are interested in more work from this author, there are over ten other bodies of work to choose from. Enjoy!
