I Wanted to be a Bluesman

LoveReading Says

Celebrate the power of the blues in this thought-provoking collection of stories. I have previously read David Joseph’s I Didn’t Know What to Say, so I Just Said Thanks, so I am familiar with his keenly observed writing on human behaviour. In this fourth collection of short stories, there is a consistent theme of the power and influence of blues music. Whether it’s a record store in ‘The Day Eric Clapton Walked into the Store’, or a solace in ‘Sebastien’s Little Sister’ the blues is a key topic in each of the 12 short stories. As with Joseph’s previous works, each story is brilliantly self-contained, each bringing to life a small glimpse of a world and unique characters. Focusing on this one specific genre of music is a little stroke of genius as it maintains a consistent thread that helps to make the stories cohesive, but also allows for multiple different perspectives and interpretations to be explored. Like the brothers in the first story ‘I Wanted to be a Bluesman’, the narrator hears a longing for home where his brother hears a call to travel. There’s a range of different emotions evoked throughout the stories too, ‘The Day Eric Clapton Walked into the Store’ is a more light-hearted anecdote, whereas ‘Sebastien’s Little Sister’ shares a much darker story of trauma and comfort from pain. A personal favourite of mine was ‘When Bessi Smith Came to Town’, a family gathering centred around a grandma recollecting her early relationship with her husband and going to see Bessie Smith. It’s a light story filled with family connection. I loved the dynamic between the family and the emphasis that family, our grandparents haven’t always been the way we may know them, and the additional dimensions that are brought to life as they regale us with stories. The final story ‘Alton’ is well placed as it is thought-provoking, asking questions about the life you want to lead, and following your own path in a way that expands beyond the parameters of the collection and lingers after reading. I Wanted to be a Bluesman offers highly readable literary snapshots into the human condition. A great collection for blues fans, music fans, or anyone looking to ponder the impact music can have on our lives.

Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador

LoveReading Ambassador

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