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Summary
Summary
Eliza Caelum, a young music journalist, is finally getting her footing in New York when she meets Paul Hudson, a talented songwriter and lead singer of the band Bananafish. They soon realize they share more than a reverence for rock music and plunge headlong into love.
When Bananafish is signed by a big corporate label, and Paul is on his way to becoming a major rock star, Eliza's past forces her to make a heartbreaking decision that might be the key to Paul's sudden disappearance.
A layered and emotional look into the world of music, this raw summer read will resonate with readers who loved Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Author Notes
Tiffanie DeBartolo is the author of 'How To Kill a Rock Star' (2005) and 'God Shaped Hole' (2002), and is the writer and director of the Columbia Tristar movie 'Dream for an Insomniac' (1996). She is the Founder and CEO of SF Bay Area record label Bright Antenna Records and lives in Marin with her two dogs Dizzy and Dipsea and her husband Scott Schumaker.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
DeBartolo looks into the love affair between an aspiring rock journalist and a "spirited maverick" musician in her clunky, earnest sophomore outing (after God-Shaped Hole). When Eliza moves from Ohio to New York to work for a music magazine, she finds herself rooming with Paul, the lead singer in her brother Michael's band. Paul and Eliza hit it off immediately: both love the same singer/songwriter (who says things like "rock 'n' roll music is a dying man.... [i]t's a man being crucified"), both are orphans, and both think the other is hot stuff. It could be a decent romantic comedy, but DeBartolo aims for drama, and serves up uninspired prose and a skimpy plot. Paul and Eliza fall in love; he writes a song about her ("She is a virgin. She is a whore. She gives it all and I beg for more"); her fear of flying (her parents were killed in a plane crash) gets worse after September 11; Paul, on the brink of megastardom, refuses to tour unless she comes along; she sacrifices their relationship for the sake of his art. Complications (note the title) ensue. This is best read by younger adults, who might be more forgiving of the inelegant writing and the characters' classic concerns of waning adolescence. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
A rock journalist sacrifices her relationship with a brilliant rock musician when her fear of flying threatens to hold back his career. DeBartolo (The God-Shaped Hole, 2001) treats rock music as high art in this self-important romance. After landing an interview with her idol, legendary rocker Doug Blackman, fledgling journalist Eliza Caelum moves to Manhattan to take a job with a music magazine. She finds herself sharing an apartment with Paul Hudson, lead singer of the band Bananafish, who takes his music very seriously and loves the same Doug Blackman song as she: "The Day I Became a Ghost" (Blackman's no Dylan, or even Dave Mathews.) Soon, Paul and Eliza have fallen deeply in love. Paul's talent begins to bring the band attention both from an independent producer and from a mega-corporate record company. Drawn to the independent, Paul nevertheless signs with the corporate jerks for the sake of his fellow band members' financial interest. Despite his own misgivings about becoming a sellout, Eliza is thrilled for him. He, in turn, proposes marriage and wants her to accompany him on tour. Unfortunately, that would entail flying. Her airplane phobia began when her parents died in a plane crash and intensified after she witnessed the 9/11 attack. Not about to let her unwillingness to fly derail Paul's career, she lets Doug Blackman's son Loring, a handsome mainstream musician (i.e., sellout) with an obvious crush on her, kiss her when she knows Paul will see them. As expected, Paul assumes the worst. He goes on tour alone and sleeps with a groupie. Eliza moves in with Loring while pining for Paul and his pure rock-'n'-roll soul. Paul's album bombs because it isn't commercial enough. Paul and Eliza reunite and make love. Paul commits suicide. Or does he. Either DeBartolo's satire is very subtle or this is the most pretentious novel about rock music ever written. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
In her second novel, DeBartolo (God-Shaped Hole) introduces Eliza Caelum, who moves from Cleveland to New York City in her quest to become a music journalist. Passionate about rock'n'roll, Eliza finds herself in a potentially dangerous situation when she moves in with and falls for Paul, the womanizing lead singer of her brother's band, Bananafish. As their relationship develops and the band gains popularity, Eliza and Paul find themselves frequently enmeshed in conflict. Of course, fame-or near fame and a big advance-isn't all it's cracked up to be. This realization, however, does not come as tritely as it might in someone else's hands. DeBartolo delivers an unpredictable, engaging story with likable characters. Their missteps and ill-advised choices in the name of love and/or rock'n'roll make for an enchanting tale that readers will find difficult to put down. Though there are a few clich?s (particularly the Jesus imagery), music fans will love this gem. Recommended for all public libraries.-Amanda Glasbrenner, New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
