Half Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan

The Crown, Bathford, 28th February 2013

A select group, with absentees due to overseas engagements, thespian diversions and ill health.

It was a qualified thumbs up for Half Blood Blues. Chris B (whose choice it was and who sent his notes ahead) spoke for most of us when he highlighted the book's general accessibility – despite the extensive use of vernacular, it 'winged along' nicely. We bought into the atmosphere, the way the tension of the immediate pre-war period and then of the fall of Paris was used not just as a background but as a framework for the story. The part of the story involving Sid and Chip as older men also created a believable and affectionate portrait of two old sparring partners, who had been through a lot together and who still (at least on Sid's part) hadn't really worked it all out.

Lots to enjoy: The detective story structure kept us guessing until the end, and then didn't necessarily fill in all the blanks, depending on your point of view. There was a great love story going on between Sid and Delilah, which most felt was sensitively and powerfully expressed – we really felt his frustration and empathized with his lack of faith in his ability to compete with a younger man, and cheered for him when he got his girl (for a while, at least). Sid was a very human and fallible narrator/protagonist.

Edugyan's writing style was compact yet powerful; there were some passages that demanded to be read again simply because you suddenly realized that she'd painted a tremendously powerful picture without making you aware of any kind of elaborate setup – guerrilla writing? For example Hiero's playing was effectively described as 'solar'… This unpretentious voice helped the narrative to flow, and in particular her gift for striking a believable note in dialogue between 'blokey blokes' was noted and appreciated. The simple idea of US and German jazz musicians, black and white, getting together just for the love of the music, made for a beguiling central thread.

It wasn't a smooth ride all the way however: There was some trenchant criticism that the book managed, despite its central theme, to avoid any mention of the Nazi sterilization programme that – some sources say – rendered all German-born blacks incapable of procreation by 1937. And there was quite a lot of discussion about the credibility of the plot. Did we really believe or relate to the motivation that drove Sid to pull the visa trick? Would Sid's obvious (but usually resigned rather than bitter and twisted) jealousy have come out that way? For several that final chapter didn't quite live up to the ground carefully laid before it.

In summary:

Chris B: Found it easy to read though didn't make a deep impact afterwards. Drew a parallel with Dancing on the Edge - recent BBC drama. No score given yet
Steve: liked it for its voice, style and ability to surprise (human zoo?). 7.5 points

Ras: Quite enjoyed it, though prose a bit indigestible, and completely thwarted by the end. 5 points

Chris W: Found it very easy to read – could empathise with Sid and his loves, jealousy. Powerful about Paris – wanted more from Hiero at the end. 7 points

Neil: Found it hard to get started but then enjoyed it, particularly the interplay between Sid and Chip. However, found the visa twist hard to stomach. Plausibility issues. 6.8 points

Mark Th: Superb awareness of and ability to write male relationships; language a bit inconsistent; some historical issues. Overall enjoyable: 7.3 points

Rob - one of the missing people, basically agrees almost totally with the above summary, including that the last chapter sold the reader a bit short. 7.5