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Joplin's Ghost

By: Tananarive Due
Narrated by: Lizan Mitchell
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Publisher's summary

Bram Stoker Award finalist Tananarive Due crafts chilling tales of suspense.

In Joplin's Ghost, 24-year-old R&B phenomenon Phoenix Smalls is on the cusp of fame and fortune. But she is haunted by the spirit of Jazz legend Scott Joplin. After a series of sultry, erotic encounters with the ghost, and with the pressures of stardom closing in on her, Phoenix begins to fear for her life and career.

Check out more from Tananarive Due right here.
©2005 Tanarive Due (P)2005 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"The story is also a vehicle for Due's admirable illustration of the musician's dilemma: how to be true to a gift in the face of pressure to create what will sell. Authors face such dilemmas as well; fortunately, Due shows herself true to her own powerful gift." (Publishers Weekly)
"Haunting." (The Washington Post's Book World)

Featured Article: Authors Like Stephen King


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What listeners say about Joplin's Ghost

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a wonderful ghost story - I loved it!

Any additional comments?

Lizan Mitchell was such an amazing narrator that I had to go back and double-check that this wasn't a cast performance. Seriously, she is that good. This is one of those stories that I definitely think benefited from being listened to rather than read. I LOVED it!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Betty

Great at the start of the book, then just got too, long, too mushy. I thought The Good House was wonderful, was disapointed with Joplin's.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Book had potential

The narrative was a bit redundant and made reading and listening to a reading of it difficult at times. The story had great potential. Sometimes less is more.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not as good as I thought it would be.

What disappointed you about Joplin's Ghost?

The story moved very slowly and was very confusing at several parts of the book. It was also hard to connect with the characters.

What was most disappointing about Tananarive Due’s story?

Could not connect with the characters and when I finished reading I still didnt understand how or why the piano was evil.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Lizan Mitchell?

Maybe

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Joplin's Ghost?

The scene where the ghost was making love to her.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

NOT FOR ME

I'm pretty bummed I was really looking forward to hearing this book but seriously I'm 30 minutes in, I have no clue what they are saying or what is going on, I just cannot get into this book. I'm not a fan of this narrator

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Tedium

I loved The Good House but Joplin's Ghost was painful--too long and, quite frankly, too boring. The main character is an irritating twit...save yourself, listen to The Good House and pray that Audible adds her other books which I hear are very good.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

SEX With a touch of a ghost

Closed in book, meaning the story always takes place in a building or room or studio. Far to much attention paid to intricate explanation of what one person is doing to a ghost or visa a versa sexually. The author must think a lot about sex all the time.
Had trouble listening to this book as it seemed fractured into segments and then moved on to another scene and would repeat itself. Will definitely put you to sleep at night. I am returning this book with 8 hours left as it's not worth the credit and there are far better books to listen to.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Dead Guys Can't Sue Bad Authors

Ugh! Read on, if you like the idea of rapacious sex with a dead man. But, be prepared to never again enjoy Scott Joplin’s beautiful music without visions of him humping his way into eternity. Sadly, this dime store novel tarnishes Mr. Joplin's legacy by magnifying his human frailties solely to provide a vehicle for an otherwise dull story. This book left me wondering why it warranted even a passing mention in Ear to the Ground.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

What is with the piano music

Would you try another book from Tananarive Due and/or Lizan Mitchell?

I was looking forward to this after listening to the good house. OK, the story line would be good, and there were times I was lost in the book. For me the most annoying, not mentioned and WHY ...is the piano playing at the end of every chapter and the beginning of the next. Far too much Audible. Why did you allow this. It ruined my listening experience

Any additional comments?

Do away with the piano playing

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