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Rock Fiction's Greatest Hits

 

The Best in Rock Fiction

The Best of Rock Fiction

The best in rock fiction, Sawyers J. S. (Eds.), Milwaukee, WI : Hal Leonard, c2005.

This is an excellent starting point for readers interested in rock fiction. In addition to short stories (including one by actual rock star Steve Earle), it contains excerpts from some of the best rock music novels. It also includes an annotated list of further reading, both novels and anthologies, as well as a rock filmography.

Location: Davis Library PS648.R63 B47 2005

 

The Commitments

The Commitments

Doyle, R. (1989, c1987). The Commitments. New York, N.Y.: Vintage Books.

Roddy Doyle's first novel tells the story of the creation and disintegration of a Dublin soul and R&B band forged from the poor working class. Manager Jimmy Rabbitte attempts to whip them into shape while juggling egos and tensions. The Commitments is the first novel in the author's "Barrytown Trilogy," followed by 1990's The Snapper and 1991's The Van. The Commitments was turned into a very successful 1991 film.

Locations: Davis Library PR6054.O95 C66 1989
Undergrad Library PR6054.O95 C66 1989 c. 3

 

High Fidelity

High Fidelity

Hornby, N. (1995). High fidelity. London: Gollancz.

High Fidelity is a popular novel by popular author Nick Hornby, which was turned into a successful film of the same name. The main character is a music-obsessed record store owner who obsessively makes music lists and arranges and rearranges his record collection while musing over his failed relationships. This novel notably paints a rich portrait of a rock and roll fan, rather than a rock and roll musician.

Locations: Davis Library PR6058.O689 H54 1995b
Davis Library PR6058.O689 H545 2000 c. 2

 

Great Jones Street

Great Jones Street

DeLillo, D. (1973). Great Jones Street. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

This early novel by Don DeLillo has grown in stature with the author's success since it was originally released in 1973. While by no means the first novel about rock and roll, it is one of the first to be taken seriously as a novel. It tells the tale of a Bob Dylan-esque rock star with the unfortunate name of "Bucky Wunderlick," who quits mid-tour and retreats from stardom to the address of the title.

Locations: Davis Library PS3554.E4425 G7
Undergrad Library PS3554.E4425 G7 c. 2

 

The Ground Beneath Her Feet

The Ground Beneath Her Feet

Rushdie, S. (1999). The ground beneath her feet: A novel. New York: Henry Holt.

In 1999, popular and acclaimed novelist Salman Rushdie, turned his hand to writing a rock and roll novel to mixed reviews. It retells the mythic story of Orpheus and his wife Eurydice with rock and roll replacing Orpheus' lyre. Set in an alternate universe, it relates the love triangle of singer Vina Apsara and her lovers singer Ormus Cama and photographer Rai Merchant.

Locations: Davis Library PR6068.U757 G76 1999
Davis Library PR6068.U757 G76 1999 c. 2
Undergrad Library PR6068.U757 G76 1999

 

Liverpool Fantasy

Liverpool Fantasy

Kirwan, L. (c2003). Liverpool fantasy. New York: Thunder Mouth Press.

An intriguing alternate history novel that has the Beatles breaking up in 1962, and imagines their separate lives, with only Paul going on to musical success. In 1987, he wants to get back together with the bitter band mates he hasn't seen in 25 years in a depressing alternate-world Britain on the verge of a fascist takeover. The author is a member of Irish band Black 42, and the novel started life as a stage play.

Location: Davis Library PS3611.I79 L58 2003

 

Kill Me Tender

Kill Me Tender

Klein, D M. (2000). Kill me tender: A murder mystery featuring the singing sleuth Elvis Presley. New York: St. Martin's Minotaur.

This combination of mystery novel and rock novel is a suspense-filed romp starring the actual king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. Elvis has just returned to the states from his service in the U.S. Army, and becomes embroiled in mystery attempting to find out who's murdering his fan club presidents. Unfortunately, the university library does not have the other three books in the series: Blue Suede Clues (2002), Such Vicious Minds (2003), and Viva Las Vengeance (2004) (This one is available at the Chapel Hill Public Library: Main Collection: M Kle)

Location: Davis Library PS3561.L344 K55 2000

Blue Suede Clues Viva Las Vengenance Such Vicious Minds