Review by mairu -- Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse
Posted: 21 Jun 2020, 04:46
[Following is a volunteer review of "Mixed Blessings" by J.M. Muse.]
‘Mixed Blessings’ by J.M. Muse is narrated on the logic that America’s history did not have civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King or Malcolm X. The book revolves around quite a few characters, Kimberly Solberg and Kublai Khan, and their views and experiences regarding race in America. Kimberly, a young woman from a mixed Mexican and Jewish heritage who seeks a simple life of love and happiness. Kublai Khan, who is the minister of the house of Jeremiah, a group of people whose majority are of African descent, who have a mission to change the future of the next generations of the USA.
What I liked most was how the book covered a variety of backgrounds: Asian, Latin, and African as well as even going into the depths of religion from many angles. As a result of this, Muse has successfully built the complex character such as Kublai Khan, who has such a unique view of race and what is deemed as justice in the political world, as well as characters such as Ahmed, who is torn as to where his loyalty lies, to his wife, Kim? Or to the house of Jeremiah? And who will it come down to? Star, who, despite being Asian is tied to her African roots, leaving she twisted in a tangle of where she fits in.
What I disliked most was the lack of Kimberly’s character development which could’ve really enhanced the depth of the novel, whilst Kublai Khan’s character is well written and complex the same unfortunately cannot be said the same for Kimberly’s character. Kim has a background of such rich culture, yet remains oscillated from both parts of her identity, which is something many biracial individuals can relate to, and therefore many readers can connect to the book. Despite this possibility, Kim has a lack of depth to her character, she was a whining teenager most of the time, which leaves the reader forming no sort of connection with the character which to me was quite a let-down.
I rate this book a 3 out of 4 stars because it was well edited and a good thrilling read; however, I am not rating the book 4 stars because of the lack of depth to Kimberely’s character which could’ve made the book even more intriguing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest, understanding the different ideologies and experiences regarding race.
******
Mixed Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
‘Mixed Blessings’ by J.M. Muse is narrated on the logic that America’s history did not have civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King or Malcolm X. The book revolves around quite a few characters, Kimberly Solberg and Kublai Khan, and their views and experiences regarding race in America. Kimberly, a young woman from a mixed Mexican and Jewish heritage who seeks a simple life of love and happiness. Kublai Khan, who is the minister of the house of Jeremiah, a group of people whose majority are of African descent, who have a mission to change the future of the next generations of the USA.
What I liked most was how the book covered a variety of backgrounds: Asian, Latin, and African as well as even going into the depths of religion from many angles. As a result of this, Muse has successfully built the complex character such as Kublai Khan, who has such a unique view of race and what is deemed as justice in the political world, as well as characters such as Ahmed, who is torn as to where his loyalty lies, to his wife, Kim? Or to the house of Jeremiah? And who will it come down to? Star, who, despite being Asian is tied to her African roots, leaving she twisted in a tangle of where she fits in.
What I disliked most was the lack of Kimberly’s character development which could’ve really enhanced the depth of the novel, whilst Kublai Khan’s character is well written and complex the same unfortunately cannot be said the same for Kimberly’s character. Kim has a background of such rich culture, yet remains oscillated from both parts of her identity, which is something many biracial individuals can relate to, and therefore many readers can connect to the book. Despite this possibility, Kim has a lack of depth to her character, she was a whining teenager most of the time, which leaves the reader forming no sort of connection with the character which to me was quite a let-down.
I rate this book a 3 out of 4 stars because it was well edited and a good thrilling read; however, I am not rating the book 4 stars because of the lack of depth to Kimberely’s character which could’ve made the book even more intriguing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest, understanding the different ideologies and experiences regarding race.
******
Mixed Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon