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Joplin's Ghost Audiobook
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(3.93) - 438 listener ratings
Publisher Description
From the award-winning writer of The Good House, The Living Blood, and more, Joplin's Ghost is a chilling tale of a star-in-the-making whose life goes haywire as she is haunted by the ghost of a long-dead music legend. When Phoenix Smalls was ten, she nearly died at her parents' jazz club when she was crushed by a turn-of-the-century piano. Now twenty-four, Phoenix is launching a career as an R & B singer. She's living the life young artists envy and seems destined for fame and fortune. But a chance visit to a historical site in St. Louis ignites a series of bizarre, erotic encounters with a spirit who may be the King of Ragtime, Scott Joplin. The music of Scott Joplin is strange enough to the ears of the hip-hop generation, but the idea that these antique sounds are being channeled by the protegee of rap superstar G-Ronn is nothing short of ludicrous. With growing violence in G-Ronn's inner circle and a ghost bent on living forever through her, Phoenix's life suddenly hangs in the balance," writes Tananarive Due. Can the power of her own inner song and the love of a music writer who believes in her give Phoenix the strength to fight to live out her own future? Or will she be trapped forever in Scott Joplin's doomed, tragic past?
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"As a vocalist and music lover, I have a great appreciation for the story line in this novel. Due tells a colorful story of love. From the love of musical performance to the undying love between soul mates. It is also rich with actual historical facts about Joplin! A good read "
— Melodye (5 out of 5 stars)
Joplin's Ghost Listener Reviews
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" An excellent read combining the paranormal with romance, jazz and hip hop music, and history. It's never boring. "
— Karen, 1/5/2014 -
" Great book, but a little lengthy. Good character development. Really enjoyed the relationship between Phoenix and Carlos, as well as the one with her father. "
— Glenda, 1/4/2014 -
" I think this was an ambitious undertaking to link the spirit of Scott Joplin and his unfulfilled dreams to a young, 21st century R&B singer. I love reading about history so I loved the way the story moves from Joplin's time to current day. But overall, I did not understand it. One of my bookclub members had to explain certain parts to me. There is a scene where the main character is making love to her boyfriend and somehow Joplin's ghost gets involved in this encounter. That was too confusing for me. "
— Tracey, 1/4/2014 -
" I am a longtime Scott Joplin fan, and enjoyed this spooky look at what it might be like to have been touched (if only for a moment) by his genius and his pain. Solid writing. "
— Gail, 12/9/2013 -
" As a vocalist and music lover, I have a great appreciation for the story line in this novel. Due tells a colorful story of love. From the love of musical performance to the undying love between soul mates. It is also rich with actual historical facts about Joplin! A good read "
— Melodye, 12/3/2013 -
" Do not remember what happen in this book. It has been a long time since I read it. However, the note I wrote in the book said that it was good. Therefore, I guess I will rate it as so. "
— Misty, 11/18/2013 -
" I loved this book. Haunting, chilling ghost story, romantic love story and rich musical history details. First few pages went slower for me, but I was enraptured by it. Look forward to reading it again. (Gift from my friend Mike, thanks, Mike!) "
— Diana, 11/2/2013 -
" This book is fantastic! It scared the living day lights out of me though. "
— Yashica, 10/17/2013 -
" Love, love, love this book! I do admit that I was uneducated when it came to Scott Joplin, but I feel that I have learned so much of his history as well as enjoyed a wonderfully written story. I had to listen to Joplin's music after reading this! "
— Kristy, 10/16/2013 -
" Storyline was interesting, but the dour inflections toward black history and culture made me sick. "
— Maurice, 10/15/2013 -
" Very, very good...plus phoebe returns in the blood colony series, DELIGHTFUL! "
— Tanisa, 10/6/2013 -
" She has the nack for rumbling in her books, that is the reason for the 4 stars. But I really enjoy her books. "
— Naptasticdiva, 10/6/2013 -
" Love it!!! My favorite book... "
— Natalie, 9/11/2013 -
" Rich in history!! This story weaves the life of Scott Joplin with the life of a contemporary R&B artist called Pheonix. This story will keep history buffs, romantics, and suspense seekers reading. Tananarive Due consistently keeps my mind open as a reader. "
— Vanessa, 8/16/2013 -
" Loved it. More to come. "
— Kristin, 10/15/2012 -
" Amazing! I could sing Ms. Due's praises all day and all night. She is a phenomenal writer. "
— Allison, 7/21/2012 -
" Due's The Good House and The Living Blood were much better in my opinion, but she is an excellent writer so I was equally absorbed by the parallel stories in this novel. What sticks in my mind the most is the scene in the opium den...whoa. "
— Kindra, 5/20/2012 -
" This book was interesting, somewhat fiction somewhat truth. It actually introduced me to a new genre of music. "
— Camelia, 10/24/2011 -
" I was scared. But was a very good read and historic facts were excellent "
— Cassandra, 5/11/2011 -
" I enjoy this author. She weaves a great spooky tale. Read it. It's good. "
— Joyqd, 12/15/2010 -
" heheh, a sexy encounter with the ghost of Scott Joplin.... what the???? and how did I come to read this? I forget. "
— Laurel, 10/9/2010 -
" Love, love, love this book! I do admit that I was uneducated when it came to Scott Joplin, but I feel that I have learned so much of his history as well as enjoyed a wonderfully written story. I had to listen to Joplin's music after reading this! "
— Kristy, 12/15/2009 -
" I was scared. But was a very good read and historic facts were excellent "
— Cassandra, 10/4/2009 -
" Storyline was interesting, but the dour inflections toward black history and culture made me sick. "
— Maurice, 7/31/2009 -
" Such a great writer much fun to read "
— Mish, 7/30/2009 -
" An excellent read combining the paranormal with romance, jazz and hip hop music, and history. It's never boring. "
— Karen, 7/29/2009 -
" Amazing! I could sing Ms. Due's praises all day and all night. She is a phenomenal writer. "
— Allison, 5/25/2009 -
" I enjoyed reading this book but I found it to be very slow<br/>in building up to the plot. I enjoyed how the author was able to weave two different musical genres into a situation that was prove to be entertaining and educational. "
— Murvin, 2/19/2009
About Tananarive Due
Tananarive Due is a former features writer and columnist for the Miami Herald. She has written two highly acclaimed novels, The Between and My Soul to Keep. Ms. Due makes her home in Longview, Washington.
About Lizan Mitchell
Lizan Mitchell has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration as well as nine Earphones Awards. She appears frequently on episodic television and more recently in the feature film The Human Stain.