book data
27 ratings,
3.37
average rating, 7 reviews
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published
October 21st 2003
by Crown
binding
Hardcover, 192 pages
isbn
1400045401
(isbn13: 9781400045402)
description
Oakland is a blues city, brawling and husky . . .
Often overshadowed by San Francisco, its twinkling sister city across the Bay, Oakland is itself an A...more
Often overshadowed by San Francisco, its twinkling sister city across the Bay, Oakland is itself an A...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 56)
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avg 3.37
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in February, 2009
While Reed's subject was intrinsically interesting to me as a resident of Oakland, his prose was lousy. The sentences were poorly constructed, poorly edited, poorly copy-edited, and poorly proofread. At times, it felt like I was being read to directly from the tour literature he had picked up on his visits to landmarks. Not all of this is Reed's fault. Clearly his editor was asleep at the switch.
Furthermore, I found the personality of the narrator as it came through the book distinc...more
Furthermore, I found the personality of the narrator as it came through the book distinc...more
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I love both Oakland and Ishmael Reed. I used to see him around town a lot, which was always cool.
This book is worth reading but not especially great or illuminating. However, if you don't happen to know a whole lot about Oakland before reading, you will get more out of this bk than I did.
This book is worth reading but not especially great or illuminating. However, if you don't happen to know a whole lot about Oakland before reading, you will get more out of this bk than I did.
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In my opinion this started out a bit awkwardly, but when Reed gets going it really takes off. Having volunteered for Wilson Riles Jr's campaign against the contemptible Jerry Brown (quoting Noam Chomsky on his radio show before running for Mayor as a progressive, then changing spots to pro-development, anti-social program strongman when elected), the section on said campaign was tough to read, but I'm glad it's there.
I especially liked the oral history of blues preservationists in ...more
I especially liked the oral history of blues preservationists in ...more
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01/16/09
larry-bob
marked it as to-read
So Google Books little snippet seems to indicate he mentions Homo hop performers and drag kings.
Read in January, 2007
An opinionated snapshot of Oakland during the Jerry Brown years, Ishmael Reed's Blues City captures the culture, politics , and history of a city typically overshadowed by it's neighbor to the west. Reed's notes will find resonance with anyone who has loved a city or a neighborhood and his inclusion of accounts of groups as disparate as the Californios and the Black Panthers make for a fascinating read. Reed also spends much of his time lamenting the transformation of Jerry Brown and his polic...more
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Read in April, 2007
This is a good book to read if you live in Oakland or happen to be there for a few days. It's a short, quick read, highlighting some interesting history and places to visit. I think Ishmael Reed has lived there most of his life, so he knows what he's talking about. This is part of a whole sort of travelogue series that includes another good one by Chuck Palahniuk about Portland.
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Read in January, 2005
A very extreme non-fiction view from a well respected author.
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