Viper´s Dream by American expatriate in Paris Jake Lamar is a complex story of self-betrayal and making all the right - and wrong - choices, set in Harlem in 1936 and 1961. Clyde ´The Viper´ Morton wanted once to make it big as a famous musician. But when he fails in the musical domain, the underword is ready to welcome him. But is this choice really worth ? How much should someone betray oneself in order to survive the failure of his or her own dreams?
Reading the book made me a bit nostalgic, as thinking about my years when I was breathing and drinking jazz, more than three times the day. Especially Thelonious Monk, a master of improvisation, who is having an appearance in the book, together with his ´belle extraordinaire´ Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter.
There are many details about jazz history that may intimidate even the most dedicated jazz lover. For instance that Viper´s Dream - viper was the slang used to designate marijuana smokers - was written by Fletcher Allen and recorded by Django Reinhardt.
But the musical part which offers a background to the story, as unexpected and spontaneous as the dialogue of instruments during a jam session, is only a part of the book. At the same time, a more deep piece is played, about making choices and assuming the consequences.
Alert, poetic and with a direct take on life challenges, Viper´s Dream is beautifully written and request your full concentration to follow the story and the complex challenges of the characters. It also invites to add more jazz into our lives, and music in general. Definitely, we need more and more books inspired by a jazz theme.
Rating: 5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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