I chose this book in one of my high school English classes as an independent study project. I think it's still the most difficult book I have ever read, a thorougly frustrating but ultimately satisfying experience! Ondaatje's poetry-pose was hard for me to absorb, and there are random pages in the book with unconnected lines or lists on them that have nothing to do with what you've been reading or with what's on the next page! But it all comes together beautifully at last, with most of the leftover ends getting tied together.
The really impressive work for me was in the research involved, the time Onadaatje must have spent learning about this screech trumpet player's life through what scattered materials are available. And his descriptions of jazz music as Bolden plays is unlike anything else I've found in my short history of reading. Knowing how Bolden's life ended makes the end of this book all the more tragic. This would be my favourite Ondaatje pick to recommend to anyone!