Review by Zinda Lukman -- Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse
-
Loads Rails
- Posts: 32
- Joined: 07 Jun 2020, 08:17
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 10
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-zinda-lukman.html
- Latest Review: Worldlines by Adam Guest
Review by Zinda Lukman -- Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse
[Following is a volunteer review of "Mixed Blessings" by J.M. Muse.]
Racism which is currently one of the world's biggest problems is the main theme of the novel Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse. The plot of the novel is set up in an American society where one's social status is determined by his/her race.
Minister Kublai Khan is the leader of the house of Jeremiah church community, which comprises of African Americans. Khan attends a conference to discuss about ways to fight racism in America. He meets Les Solomon (who is a demographer) at the conference. Les gives Khan a plan which aims at increasing the social influence of Blacks in America . Reverend Tucker Dalton eavesdrops their conversation and decides with his Christian Covenant church community, which comprises of Whites, to stop this plan from succeeding by setting up the Christian Soldiers army. Kimberly is a biracial American. Her mother is an American of Jewish descent and her father belongs to the ruling family of Mexico. She meets Ahmed Reynolds who is an African American and they fall in love. The Christian Soldiers kill Franklin(Ahmed's brother) in an attempt to kill Holiday(the daughter of Ahmed and Kimberly) and Minister Kublai. This leaves the country in chaos. Star Mathews participates in the Gardena Beauty pageant, one of the judges cheats her because she is biracial. Marie Annie( Star's niece) takes vengeance for her niece by poisoning the judge of the pageant to death.
The things that I liked most about the book was that, the author shows the reader how religious leaders use holy scriptures to propagate their own ideas. Minister Kublai Khan uses the holy Bible to convince his church community that it was a religious duty to make Black people equal to the Whites and other people of color. He says that this equality is to be achieved through fornication by the Black men of his church community and virgin women, he continues that this is legal according to the Bible. Reverend Tucker Dalton also uses the holy Bible to convince the Christian Soldiers that it is their duty to keep the genes of the White race intact by killing mixed race babies.
The other thing that I liked about the novel was the "blacklikejeremy" campaign. This campaign shows the reader that one's race also depends on one's perception of him/herself. Some characters in the novel like Jeremy Talbert, look like the White race people but for them they believe that they belong to the Black race. I found the plot of the novel unpredictable which made it very interesting.
There is nothing that I disliked about the novel. It was professionally edited, the few errors that I came across while reading, did not distract me from enjoying the novel. Due to the above reasons I rate the novel 4 out of 4.
I recommend the book to everyone who is interested in learning more about racism. The profane words and erotic scenes included in the novel means it won't be suitable for children.
******
Mixed Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Racism which is currently one of the world's biggest problems is the main theme of the novel Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse. The plot of the novel is set up in an American society where one's social status is determined by his/her race.
Minister Kublai Khan is the leader of the house of Jeremiah church community, which comprises of African Americans. Khan attends a conference to discuss about ways to fight racism in America. He meets Les Solomon (who is a demographer) at the conference. Les gives Khan a plan which aims at increasing the social influence of Blacks in America . Reverend Tucker Dalton eavesdrops their conversation and decides with his Christian Covenant church community, which comprises of Whites, to stop this plan from succeeding by setting up the Christian Soldiers army. Kimberly is a biracial American. Her mother is an American of Jewish descent and her father belongs to the ruling family of Mexico. She meets Ahmed Reynolds who is an African American and they fall in love. The Christian Soldiers kill Franklin(Ahmed's brother) in an attempt to kill Holiday(the daughter of Ahmed and Kimberly) and Minister Kublai. This leaves the country in chaos. Star Mathews participates in the Gardena Beauty pageant, one of the judges cheats her because she is biracial. Marie Annie( Star's niece) takes vengeance for her niece by poisoning the judge of the pageant to death.
The things that I liked most about the book was that, the author shows the reader how religious leaders use holy scriptures to propagate their own ideas. Minister Kublai Khan uses the holy Bible to convince his church community that it was a religious duty to make Black people equal to the Whites and other people of color. He says that this equality is to be achieved through fornication by the Black men of his church community and virgin women, he continues that this is legal according to the Bible. Reverend Tucker Dalton also uses the holy Bible to convince the Christian Soldiers that it is their duty to keep the genes of the White race intact by killing mixed race babies.
The other thing that I liked about the novel was the "blacklikejeremy" campaign. This campaign shows the reader that one's race also depends on one's perception of him/herself. Some characters in the novel like Jeremy Talbert, look like the White race people but for them they believe that they belong to the Black race. I found the plot of the novel unpredictable which made it very interesting.
There is nothing that I disliked about the novel. It was professionally edited, the few errors that I came across while reading, did not distract me from enjoying the novel. Due to the above reasons I rate the novel 4 out of 4.
I recommend the book to everyone who is interested in learning more about racism. The profane words and erotic scenes included in the novel means it won't be suitable for children.
******
Mixed Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Worldlines by Adam Guest
