Joplin's Ghost

By: Tananarive Due

Narrated by: Lizan Mitchell

Length: 21 hrs and 21 mins

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)

The payoff is worth it

I had a wildly uneven experience with this book. It has some of the same problems that I have with most novels that try to tell two interconnected stories, one historical, one contemporary. The historical story was easy to fall into, but I kept losing interest during the contemporary timeline. That might be all me, rather than the book, as I have very little interest in 1990's pop music or the lives of fictional 90's pop stars. I was also a little uncomfortable with (the mercifully few) explicit sex scenes and some dubious consent issues. The payoff toward the end was worth persevering for, though, and the prose lifted the story a little.

I think it was the audio performance by Lizan Mitchell that really made this book for me - her pace, her voices, her emotion, even the way she changed the whole persona of the narrator based on who's POV is being revealed - were all outstanding.

Could have been better

The premise of the story was interesting, but it could have used better editing to make the story build faster.

Joplin's ghost

Wow! what a journey this book took me on. racism and spirit channeling were discussed throughout the book creating sad situations and unusual experiences.

Great narrators

I loved the history lesson on Scott Joplin. The writing was great and so were the readers. I felt it wasn't a good ghost story though. However, I don't regret listening to it.

Meh...Hardly Rivals Stephen Kings Worst Stuff

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was an effective time killer. The premise was very interesting but the delivery fell flat, nothing spectacular. It's described as a 'paranormal thriller' when it's more of a vanilla ghost story written from an egocentric teenagers perspective that barely features anything really paranormal. At no point did it inspire goosebumps. The most exciting paranormal activity was lights going out and doors slamming. The story lacks the strong characters, depth of story, and spine tingling layers intrinsic to any King novel. There are some sexual undertones that don't seem to fit the actual plot. The story quickly became tiresome and tedious. I almost didn't follow it to the end but for the fact that I paid for it. The narrator was good at portraying a wide variety of characters except white people. They tended to sound like South Park characters.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Stephen King, Dean Koontz, or maybe Bernard Cornwell.

Which character – as performed by Lizan Mitchell – was your favorite?

Phoenix's mother. She sounded very wise with a calm and melodious voice.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Amazing!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Joplin's Ghost the most enjoyable?

It was not what I expected...in a good way. It is most definitely one of the best stories I've listened to recently.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the fact that it is original. It's not your ordinary ghost story. It's a long story, but because you are so into the story you don't realize the time.

Which scene was your favorite?

Honestly, there are too many good parts for me to choose one. There are sad ones, happy ones and even some sexy ones ;)

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not your average gohst story. Nothing you would expect. Mingled lives of the here and thereafter.

Any additional comments?

I was impressed. I think this will be one I listen to again.

I just Can't get enough!

This author has me craving her stories. I am about to have no money so that I can make sure that I get a call of her books. I wake up in the morning with her I go to sleep with her amazing Works of fiction. She is so descriptive that I actually feel and see and even sometimes feel that I can smell what she writes about. Prepare to be scared and Excited and happy End sad and tormented and bereaved and elated. Fabulous narrator! Thank you thank you thank you! !!!

One of my favorites!

What made the experience of listening to Joplin's Ghost the most enjoyable?

Learning about Joplin

What did you like best about this story?

The narrator - she was perfect!

Have you listened to any of Lizan Mitchell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No - but I will now!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was fabulous!

Any additional comments?

I've listened to it multiple times - LOVE Tananarive!

Surprised

I almost didn't listen to it because I thought it wouldn't be ghostly enough for my taste, but I loved every minute of it

Good Book-Didn't like the narrator

I realize that the characters in this book are African American and so is the narrator, but does she have to make all white people sound like idiots? Her voices for characters didn't match their description. Her accent for the cousin Gloria was terrible and made her sound like a cartoon character not a young jewish woman. I think the narration took away from the story line...and I love Tananarive Due Books.