Review by NetMassimo -- Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 06 Dec 2019, 07:41

[Following is a volunteer review of "Mixed Blessings" by J.M. Muse.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse is a novel set in a world slightly different from ours because Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X never existed. Race is a big issue that creates divisions and fights. That can leave people with a mixed background isolated, for example Kim, who's half Jewish and half Mexican, and Star, who's half Japanese and half African-American. Minister Kublai Khan thinks that having more mixed-race people would solve the problem. Pastor Tucker Dalton is a white supremacist who's ready to use violence against non-white people.

This novel is an alternate history in which men who were important for the American civil rights movement such as Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X never existed. In this world racial inequality affects the USA in ways that are not completely different from our world. That leaves many people vulnerable, especially mixed-race people.

Different characters offer different points of view about race-related issues thanks to a diversity in backgrounds, opinions, and wishes for the future. The result forms a sort of mosaic that shows humanity using its diversity as its pieces.

Perception is a concept that appears frequently, showing the importance of what is literally the most superficial human feature for a lot of people. Culture and definitions can also be crucial in marking a person's life: they can be good when they offer a feeling of belonging, but can be bad when they're used to isolate someone who's a little different. The situation can be particularly difficult for mixed-race people when they're torn between two different cultures and end up being a part of none of them.

Those characters' stories get intertwined in various ways showing the complexities of human relationships when race is a crucial factor. Such relationships can be violent, and the various subplots include several murders. White supremacists are the worst, as they use religion as a weapon against other races. This novel can be disturbing for those actions and for the crude language, which includes slurs, used not only by white supremacists.

This is not an easy novel to read because J.M. Muse tells the characters' stories with crude realism. However, feeling that the characters are real and the events could happen is exactly why the novel is great. Considering the professional editing, with just a couple of little errors, my rating is 4 out of 4 stars. This is a novel I recommend to everyone because all the characters' reflections offer a lot of food for thought, something we really need in our world.

******
Mixed Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Maria Esposito · Post by **Maria Esposito** » 24 Jan 2020, 07:37

It was interesting to read your review on the book, as I found myself having a completely opposite opinion of this book to yours, rating it 1 out of 4. I think the book has great potential because the idea of imagining a world where the struggle for civil rights never existed is quite brilliant. However, I believe that the author could have done a much better job at intertwining the stories of the different characters, who seem to each stand in their own storyline. It almost felt as if I was reading three short stories and not a whole novel with an overarching narrative. I also was disappointed that Kimberly's character did not get as much attention as she deserved: the author could have gone into so much more detail about her relationship with her Mexican family and her "mocha" daughter.

I still liked that the author engaged with the topic of race, though, since it's something a lot of people don't wish to engage with. I also liked that he told the story from the perspective of people of color and mixed-race people. I appreciated your review, it made me look at the book in a more positive light! Thanks!

kdstrack · Post by **kdstrack** » 24 Jan 2020, 08:47

Your comments about perception really struck me! This author does a good job of stimulating your thinking on sensitive subjects. I loved your comment about the "human mosaic using its diversity as pieces!" Great writing! This looks intriguing.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 24 Jan 2020, 09:24

espo wrote: ↑24 Jan 2020, 07:37 It was interesting to read your review on the book, as I found myself having a completely opposite opinion of this book to yours, rating it 1 out of 4. I think the book has great potential because the idea of imagining a world where the struggle for civil rights never existed is quite brilliant. However, I believe that the author could have done a much better job at intertwining the stories of the different characters, who seem to each stand in their own storyline. It almost felt as if I was reading three short stories and not a whole novel with an overarching narrative. I also was disappointed that Kimberly's character did not get as much attention as she deserved: the author could have gone into so much more detail about her relationship with her Mexican family and her "mocha" daughter.

I still liked that the author engaged with the topic of race, though, since it's something a lot of people don't wish to engage with. I also liked that he told the story from the perspective of people of color and mixed-race people. I appreciated your review, it made me look at the book in a more positive light! Thanks!

In many ways the author seems to have used the characters to develop certain situations and ideas. The stories are indeed mostly parallel, I guess it's up to the readers to decide if they like that approach. Personally, I didn't feel the need for their stories to be intertwined to the point of merging.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 24 Jan 2020, 09:25

kdstrack wrote: ↑24 Jan 2020, 08:47 Your comments about perception really struck me! This author does a good job of stimulating your thinking on sensitive subjects. I loved your comment about the "human mosaic using its diversity as pieces!" Great writing! This looks intriguing.

Thank you for your appreciation. Yes, the author aimed to be thought-provoking.

xoxoAnushka · Post by **xoxoAnushka** » 16 Feb 2020, 21:08

It sounds like an interesting book, where we could know the situation about vulnerability of mixed-race people. Nice review!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 17 Feb 2020, 02:56

xoxoAnushka wrote: ↑16 Feb 2020, 21:08 It sounds like an interesting book, where we could know the situation about vulnerability of mixed-race people. Nice review!

Yes, that's one of the book's main themes. Thank your for your appreciation.

Damis Seres Rodriguez · Post by **Damis Seres Rodriguez** » 03 May 2020, 16:34

When I read the book, I found a great deal of descriptions that more than accurate investigation, looked like stereotypes built on popular myths of certain groups. For a book that is supposed to ignite social awareness, that detail was a bit of a let down. Great review though! It was nice to see it from your point of view.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 04 May 2020, 04:38

damis wrote: ↑03 May 2020, 16:34 When I read the book, I found a great deal of descriptions that more than accurate investigation, looked like stereotypes built on popular myths of certain groups. For a book that is supposed to ignite social awareness, that detail was a bit of a let down. Great review though! It was nice to see it from your point of view.

You offer an interesting assessment. It's possible that the author didn't want to burden the novel with long descriptions. In some bits I suspect some stereotypes were used to stress the issues as certain groups were seen in certain ways by other groups. Thank you for your comments!

Adrianna Melillo · Post by **Adrianna Melillo** » 05 Jul 2020, 14:46

"This is not an easy novel to read because J.M. Muse tells the characters' stories with crude realism. However, feeling that the characters are real and the events could happen is exactly why the novel is great."

I completely agree with this. While some parts were difficult (and very disturbing), it didn't seem completely unrealistic. Though I personally felt the stories could have been better developed, I loved the concept of this novel and found it highly thought provoking.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 06 Jul 2020, 01:52

Adrianna Melillo wrote: ↑05 Jul 2020, 14:46 "This is not an easy novel to read because J.M. Muse tells the characters' stories with crude realism. However, feeling that the characters are real and the events could happen is exactly why the novel is great."

I completely agree with this. While some parts were difficult (and very disturbing), it didn't seem completely unrealistic. Though I personally felt the stories could have been better developed, I loved the concept of this novel and found it highly thought provoking.

The author seems to have focused on what he felt necessary to make his point rather than write a long novel that developed all the stories. Thank you for commenting!

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 09 Jun 2025, 10:29

NetMassimo wrote: ↑06 Dec 2019, 07:41 [Following is a volunteer review of "Mixed Blessings" by J.M. Muse.]

4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review

Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse is a novel set in a world slightly different from ours because Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X never existed. Race is a big issue that creates divisions and fights. That can leave people with a mixed background isolated, for example Kim, who's half Jewish and half Mexican, and Star, who's half Japanese and half African-American. Minister Kublai Khan thinks that having more mixed-race people would solve the problem. Pastor Tucker Dalton is a white supremacist who's ready to use violence against non-white people.

This novel is an alternate history in which men who were important for the American civil rights movement such as Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X never existed. In this world racial inequality affects the USA in ways that are not completely different from our world. That leaves many people vulnerable, especially mixed-race people.

Different characters offer different points of view about race-related issues thanks to a diversity in backgrounds, opinions, and wishes for the future. The result forms a sort of mosaic that shows humanity using its diversity as its pieces.

Perception is a concept that appears frequently, showing the importance of what is literally the most superficial human feature for a lot of people. Culture and definitions can also be crucial in marking a person's life: they can be good when they offer a feeling of belonging, but can be bad when they're used to isolate someone who's a little different. The situation can be particularly difficult for mixed-race people when they're torn between two different cultures and end up being a part of none of them.

Those characters' stories get intertwined in various ways showing the complexities of human relationships when race is a crucial factor. Such relationships can be violent, and the various subplots include several murders. White supremacists are the worst, as they use religion as a weapon against other races. This novel can be disturbing for those actions and for the crude language, which includes slurs, used not only by white supremacists.

This is not an easy novel to read because J.M. Muse tells the characters' stories with crude realism. However, feeling that the characters are real and the events could happen is exactly why the novel is great. Considering the professional editing, with just a couple of little errors, my rating is 4 out of 4 stars. This is a novel I recommend to everyone because all the characters' reflections offer a lot of food for thought, something we really need in our world.

******
Mixed Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

This alternate-history angle is fascinating. Removing two pivotal civil rights figures really changes everything. I like how it doesn’t shy away from the hard truths; it makes them impossible to ignore.