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iceberg0's review against another edition
3.0
A bit meandering, it loses track of the story from time to time but the bits about the music are quite good.
lilacashes's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh, I cannot do this. DNF.
Seriously? A middle aged white dude dealing with his lost youth and the messed up relationship with his dad? All to the sound of boring 60s music (the most mediocre band, The Beatles', most boring album, Let It Be of all records) motivating the protagonist to supposedly profound thoughts. Who needs another one of this kind of book? Not me, that's for sure.
I've given this book (not peace, hur hur) a chance for a couple dozen more pages after that intro and momentarily I got interested in how it goes on, until the focus shifted from the whiny, racist and misogynist Beatles to the whiny child rapist Jim Morrison. Even if this book were written well (which it isn't, though it does have its moments), that would be too much for me.
If you're an aging white hetero dude pining after your youth you spent listening to mediocre music, this book might be for you. For me it's not.
Seriously? A middle aged white dude dealing with his lost youth and the messed up relationship with his dad? All to the sound of boring 60s music (the most mediocre band, The Beatles', most boring album, Let It Be of all records) motivating the protagonist to supposedly profound thoughts. Who needs another one of this kind of book? Not me, that's for sure.
I've given this book (not peace, hur hur) a chance for a couple dozen more pages after that intro and momentarily I got interested in how it goes on, until the focus shifted from the whiny, racist and misogynist Beatles to the whiny child rapist Jim Morrison. Even if this book were written well (which it isn't, though it does have its moments), that would be too much for me.
If you're an aging white hetero dude pining after your youth you spent listening to mediocre music, this book might be for you. For me it's not.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
4.0
It's good. Baby boomers and their rock gods, man. The Gen X perspective is a bit different. I wonder how I would have felt about it if I'd read when it came out, instead of almost twenty years after that.
boleary30's review against another edition
5.0
If you like classic rock and roll, more specifically the Beatles, the Beach Boys and Jimi Hendricks, along with the human emotions related to why your marriage is failing and your relationship with your parents, then this is the perfect book for you. I give it a 4.5. It would have been a 5, but the end was a little weak and did not really tie together or answer questions that the main character was seeking.
jennycazzola's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favourite books of all time! Spectacularly written, even if it is not perfect. The protagonist is rather whiny and I don't recommend it if you have daddy issues or are prone to nostalgia.
lottpoet's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
brandonjones05's review against another edition
5.0
When I originally read the description of this book it sounded like a light read that would be more fun than anything else. Combining the fantasy concept of time travel with famous musicians seemed enjoyable, but probably wouldn’t be “important” or even that memorable. Basically, I assumed it would be a book to pass the time and nothing else.
I was completely wrong. The time travel aspect is interesting and all of the musician sections are a blast. But, Ray is simply an amazing character. Much like Ray ended up missing Brian Wilson I’m going to miss Ray. He was so well written and his pain, loss, and confusion was incredibly relatable. Somehow this time travel rock and roll book made me take a deeper look at my own life and see some of my own junk in ways I hadn’t before. Ray couldn’t save the world, but he certainly helped me.
I was completely wrong. The time travel aspect is interesting and all of the musician sections are a blast. But, Ray is simply an amazing character. Much like Ray ended up missing Brian Wilson I’m going to miss Ray. He was so well written and his pain, loss, and confusion was incredibly relatable. Somehow this time travel rock and roll book made me take a deeper look at my own life and see some of my own junk in ways I hadn’t before. Ray couldn’t save the world, but he certainly helped me.
revslick's review
4.0
Lewis Shiner has written a great American Rock 'n Roll novel. Honestly, it was hard to get into as the pacing is a little awkward, but chalk this to the backbeat and keep pressing forward. Ray Shackleford has attained the ability to step back in time to music that was and tweak it to the greatness it deserved and could have been. He develops this ability shortly after a spiritual catharsis where he has to deal with his wounds and trauma of life - alcoholic abusive father, father's death, codependent mother, and more. It is a shamanic journey of messy spirituality in all the glory of Sex, Drugs and Rock'n Roll. . Only a healthy dash of The Beatles, The Doors, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, and Hendrix can push Ray to the spiritual transformation he so desperately needs.
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