End of Mumbo Jumbo

Although at the very beginning I absolutely hated Mumbo Jumbo, I suppose I have come to terms with the novel as we finished it off. As the novel progressed, the story became less erratic (though still almost nonsensical at times) and the plot became more apparent. I was able to appreciate some of the humor that Reed subtly and not so subtly infuses in the story. I think what changed really changed my perception of the novel, upgrading my motivation from a "I never want to read this book" to an "I guess I could finish it" rating, was how the plot became more apparent. In the beginning all we are told is that there is a Jes Grew epidemic spreading and that was about it. Couple this with the chaotic speech and visualizing the plot as a 1920's gangster film and I was thoroughly uninterested.

After we meet Hinckle von Vampton, the story clears up, the speech becomes more understandable, and the plot clearer. Having read a critique of the novel by Roxanne Harde also helped clarify and shed new light on the novel. For example, I never would have figured out just how much Reed was criticizing literary journals and literary editors from just reading the novel. Additionally, I think Harde's interpretation of the Mumbo Jumbo Kathedral as being a detective agency definitely made more sense as the book ended. My original interpretation of the Mumbo Jumbo Kathedral as being an actual church plays into Harde's notion that you can't read this book too literally, though, you also can't read it too figuratively. While I enjoyed the end of the book, not just because the book was finally ending, I can't say I would pick it up again for a fun read.