Half Blood Blues, by Canadian author Esi Edugyan, was one of the most critically acclaimed novels of 2011. It won the Scotiabank Giller prize, which is the most prestigious literary award that can be given to a Canadian author.

It also was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize (British Commonwealth) and made many top novels of 2011 lists. With that level of critical acclaim, I was interested in reading this novel.
The first scene opens in Paris, shortly after the city fell to the Nazis. It begins with two jazz musicians, Sid Griffiths and Hieronymous Falk, sneaking out for a drink. That night, the Gestapo captures Falk, despite his half German heritage, while Griffiths hides from them.  

Fifty years later, Falk’s legend among jazz musicians has only grown. Griffiths is invited by former bandmate Chip to a festival in Germany, celebrating Falk’s life. The event will also screen a documentary about Falk that Chip participated in.  This trip brings out conflicted feelings in Griffiths, as he is forced to confront the events in the past that led to Falk’s disappearance.

The novel jumps back and forth between the ‘90s setting of the novel, and segments set in Europe during the Second World War. During that time many American jazz musicians, unappreciated in their own country, fled to Europe, where the audiences were receptive to their music. A rather famous musician (I won’t spoil the surprise by identifying this person) actually has an important role in the latter part of the novel.

Edugyan did her research while writing the novel, making the scenes feel authentic to the reader. The prose of the novel is written in a very conversational style, which is difficult to get a hold of at the beginning.

But soon, the language flows clearly and you feel like you’re a part of that world. The story of the novel concerns itself with emotions like betrayal, forgiveness and jealously. The ending packs an emotional punch that continues to affect the reader long after finishing.

In my opinion, Half Blood Blues was worthy of its Giller prize. It’s a unique novel, looking at a familiar period of time from a perspective not always told. I give it a high recommendation.