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aproposofnathan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I was psyched to see that David Mitchell was releasing a new novel. Several of his previous books are amongst my all time favorites. I love the quirk-factor and the smart writing.
In this tale we follow a fictional 60's-era British rock band called Utopia Avenue. The book has plenty of cameos by real rockers from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and more. The book oozes with the vibe of the era. Some may compare this book to [b:Daisy Jones & The Six|40597810|Daisy Jones & The Six|Taylor Jenkins Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580255154l/40597810._SY75_.jpg|61127102] (loved it!) which also follows a rock band during roughly the same point in time. While there are similarities the feeling and style of both books are different. Utopia Avenue reads like straight up 1960's historical fiction but there is a sneaky thread of oddity running through in the story. We see all the tumult of the era with riots, anti-Vietnam sentiment, sex, drugs and rock & roll. There are the growing pains of achieving fame and how it impacts the group.
I enjoy music-themed stories and this one was no exception. I also like that the author has created a playlist for the novel, which you can find on Spotify. Mitchell is clearly a talented writer who has a knack for details that make stories come alive. I love the cleverness of the connections that he makes in his "David Mitchell Multi-verse". This will be a great read for Mitchell fans AND music fans alike.
What to listen to while reading...
This playlist compiled by the author: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/09SuXCtjHJiNdtEDfWh55e
Thank you to publisher for the review copy!
I was psyched to see that David Mitchell was releasing a new novel. Several of his previous books are amongst my all time favorites. I love the quirk-factor and the smart writing.
In this tale we follow a fictional 60's-era British rock band called Utopia Avenue. The book has plenty of cameos by real rockers from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and more. The book oozes with the vibe of the era. Some may compare this book to [b:Daisy Jones & The Six|40597810|Daisy Jones & The Six|Taylor Jenkins Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580255154l/40597810._SY75_.jpg|61127102] (loved it!) which also follows a rock band during roughly the same point in time. While there are similarities the feeling and style of both books are different. Utopia Avenue reads like straight up 1960's historical fiction but there is a sneaky thread of oddity running through in the story. We see all the tumult of the era with riots, anti-Vietnam sentiment, sex, drugs and rock & roll. There are the growing pains of achieving fame and how it impacts the group.
I enjoy music-themed stories and this one was no exception. I also like that the author has created a playlist for the novel, which you can find on Spotify. Mitchell is clearly a talented writer who has a knack for details that make stories come alive. I love the cleverness of the connections that he makes in his "David Mitchell Multi-verse". This will be a great read for Mitchell fans AND music fans alike.
What to listen to while reading...
This playlist compiled by the author: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/09SuXCtjHJiNdtEDfWh55e
Thank you to publisher for the review copy!
ellenclibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and intertwined reading with listening to the audio. It is a lot, and a bit chaotic, but that goes along with a theme of the story. I've always loved band stories because the dynamic of a rock band fascinates me, and I once thought I would combine my sociology degree with my passion for music for just this purpose. It may not be a great read for everyone, but I loved the Forrest Gump-like meetings with various musicians of the era coupled with the fascinating study of mental illness.
hannahkate's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
charlottewithjam's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
isabellyboo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maxxence's review against another edition
4.0
So, I clearly wasn't ready for this book to take an almost fantasy/ sci fi turn close to the end but I was here for it. I really liked the book but I like everything that has to do with music and the 60s so it wasn't complicated.
I think this book could've been a five stars if my slump wasn't slumping (not this book's fault i promise) and yet, here we are.
I think this book could've been a five stars if my slump wasn't slumping (not this book's fault i promise) and yet, here we are.
seanstarb's review against another edition
4.0
This was a weird one in many ways. Long but sometimes feeling insubstantial. Expect realism at your peril. Often cliched, with the cameos from some of the real people taking me out of the story and occasionally completely jarring, especially the Joni Mitchell reference. Ultimately I kept reading and actively craved going back, realised I cared more about the characters than I expected, and wasn't keen for the book to end.