The Scent of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule

The Scent of Burnt Flowers

Author: Blitz Bazawule

Genre: Fiction

Format: Physical Purchase

Publish Date: June 2022

Read: July 2024

Favorite Quote: Can you imagine the colonized fighting on behalf of the colonizer to protect the colonizer from being colonized?

Story Synopsis: In 1966, Melvin and Bernadette flee America for Ghana. When they arrive, Melvin’s mission is to find his college friend, now the president of Ghana. To get to the Ghanaian president, Melvin and Bern tag along with musician Kwesi. On their journey, they avoid Russians, learn about a coup plan, and work to change their future. Unfortunately, life—and Bernadette—have other plans.

Why does this book beguile? I picked this book up as a Blind Date with a Book at my local bookstore. Billed as magical realism, I immediately wanted to read it. Plus, it’s short, and I love a short, standalone book. Unfortunately, The Scent of Burnt Flowers didn’t tick all the boxes for me. I enjoyed the historical fiction premise: a young black couple fleeing the US to Ghana and the journey of rectifying the mistakes.

However, I got lost by the varying plots and subplots. There’s a magical guitar that blooms flowers when played. Why? When? What is the purpose of this? We never knew. There are mermaids? I don’t know… this book was wild.

Ultimately, I found the story a bit too jumpy and the ending was left wide open, but not so open that there will be a second book.

Rating: 3/5

Link*: The Scent of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule

If you’re interested in this, read*: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi