Chaos Reading discussion

Starting a shelf for music-related books, since people seem to have an interest. So post your most highly recommended books about music/musicians. Fiction and non-fiction welcome.

I'm going to nominate:
No One Here Gets Out Alive, since it was my "bible" when I was 17!

Another interesting one I recall was Don't Try This at Home: A Year in the Life of Dave Navarro. Mostly because it was an interesting format, using a photo booth to document a year in the life, and reflecting back on past experiences.

I loved Counterpoint by Anna Enquist. The story: a woman tries to get over the sudden death of her daughter by practising Bach's Goldberg Variations. The protagonist fears to lose the picture of her daughter but each variation evokes different memories. The book is brilliantly written and provides an musicological insight into Bach's work and the practise of piano playing. A must read for everyone who loves Bach.

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk is fantastic.

Howzabout:

"Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk" http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14...

"Before I Get Old"
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28...

"The New York Dolls: Too Much Too Soon"
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68...

A Visit from the Goon Squad would probably qualify, though it's not as directly focused on music as some of the others nominated here.

For non-fiction, Silence: Lectures and Writings and England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond.

For fiction, Spider Kiss.

I bought my partner a copy of Life by Keith Richards, and he has been raving about it ever since.

Adam wrote: "Ruby wrote: "I bought my partner a copy of Life by Keith Richards, and he has been raving about it ever since."

I'll bet he has some interesting stories to tell!"

What surprised my partner was the amount of small detail he recalled!

Almost any (fiction) work by George Pelecanos would at least tangentially qualify, but I'll go with Hard Revolution. It's set in Washington, DC with the Martin Luther King assassination and subsequent riots in 1968 as the focal point of the story.

It follows the main character from childhood in the early 1950s, with soul music as a constant backdrop - from Doo Wop to the Stax/Motown era. I was already a soul fan, but I learned a ton from reading this. Another character was a fan of Link Wray, which got me into his music as well.

Pelecanos cited Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom as a reference for the book, which could probably be added as well.

You must be psychic. I have been longing for this shelf and I nominate this great fantasy based on 60's rock. Glimpses

Karen wrote: "You must be psychic. I have been longing for this shelf and I nominate this great fantasy based on 60's rock. Glimpses"

That looks excellent!

Whitney wrote: "Karen wrote: "You must be psychic. I have been longing for this shelf and I nominate this great fantasy based on 60's rock. Glimpses"

That looks excellent!" It is one of my all time favorites. I know I have read it at least six times over the years. For me, it's one of those stories that just gets better each time.

The shelf is now up - feel free to keep adding the noms and I'll update the shelf from time to time..

Ruby wrote: "What surprised my partner was the amount of small detail he recalled!"

"He", I presume, being Keith, not your partner. Life is one of the few books about musicians that has ever intrigued me. Not enough to buy a copy, though :) It does seem surprising that he can remember much of it. otoh, Pete Townshend's Who I Am was panned by many as not remembering enough — or at least enough of the interesting bits.