A reviewer (almost all positive) who scolds us for too much Pet Shop Boy-ness in WHEN YOU DON’T SEE ME cracks me up. One of the good things about being a little further down the writing road and having Tim for a writing partner is that most criticism no longer wigs me out and if it does, he snaps me back to sanity. This time, however, I laughed even without Tim’s rational perspective. I can’t complain. The first reviews are for the most part very good (thank you, reviewers), and the reader mail that’s coming in ROCKS. Thank you to everyone who reads our books and writes us about them.
As you may have gathered from other posts, the Beatles are the theme band for my second Coventry book. I’m not only saturating my environment with Beatles music when I write, but the Beatles mean something to my character, too. (I wonder if I’ll get Beatle-bashed in a review some day?) Back when thirty-five was only some vague, meaningless number in the far-distant future, my friend Riley gave me George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, but I have been turntable-free for several years so I haven’t been able to listen to it.
Today, while writing, I really needed to hear a song from it, so I splurged and bought/downloaded the whole freaking album (all the original stuff plus whatever was added upon its thirtieth anniversary re-release) online. I am in GEORGE HARRISON HEAVEN. I only wish Riley were hanging out with me right now so we could listen to all these songs together, like the old days, while sandalwood and nag champa scent the air.
These flower child moments are ephemeral, however, as I was reminded when I had to divide up chicken necks for the dogs and EW, Rhonda, it happened to me, too. Tom tried to get me to take a photo, and I hope the Interwebs thank me for restraining myself. Rex’ll be enjoying chicken head sometime next week…
Previous posts about Riley:
December 27, 2006
June 24, 2006
December 8, 2005
September 30, 2005
But did you poke it?
I did not poke it.
Wimp. Blah.
Blah. (Blah.)
I am not a huge Beatles fan … I do love the song Here Comes the Sun though, which I have always heard that George Harrison wrote about how horrible things were with the band at the end … and how the impending breakup was going to be okay … but I’m not sure. If it is true, what a beautiful song to come out of it.
I confess that I don’t care for the Beatles, HOWEVER, there are many of their songs that I LOVE when done by someone else. Go figure. I am pretty much the same way with the Stones.
Same way with the Stones … classic example ..Beast of Burden When I hear the Stones it’s all “Whatever Mick” When I hear Bette Midler it’s “YEAH!”
I’ve explained a bit about my Beatles feelings here and
“>here.
I think most of us have music that’s intensely special to us because it evokes an infinite number of memories and associations, and that’s more what I’m trying to capture than forcing people to feel Beatles (or Pet Shop Boys, for that matter) love specifically. In any case, it’s a rather random thing for a reviewer to criticize, especially when someone Nick’s age very often views the world through the music he loves.
Well I look forward to learning more about the Beatles… and I think that is very true about people and their music… the bands that I listened to in my teens are always special to me – even if they aren’t doing much now except making the occasional Christmas album
I’ve always been quite fond of the Pet Shop Boys, and I’ve been noticing the good reviews showing up for WYDSM. And I’m just about ready to list it as my favorite TJB novel yet.
Yea! for the Beatles they were a blessed relief from all the girl groups mopping about lost teen loves.Do hampsters do chicken necks?
They are omnivores, but I wouldn’t give them something like that because they tend to store their food, which might turn their home into a salmonella factory. Their diet mainly consists of grains, certain fruits and vegetables, seeds, and nuts. I think they also like grasshoppers.
I’m so interested in your use of music as inspiration, or whatever you want to call it. But I don’t know how to form that interest into a question, really. I’ll be satisfied thinking it’s cool, I guess, because it is, to me.
I’ve been thinking lately a lot about that music from the ’70s in California, that you mentioned a while ago, only I can’t find that entry. : )
I gotcha covered right here.
Thank you! : )
You’re welcome. Anything for you.
Pet Shop Boy
I wondered about the music references, which seem to always come back to the Pet Shop Boys, but I don’t think I mentioned it in my review at rainbow-reviews.com. Hmm, I wonder why. Oh, well, it was too good of a book to worry about the characters music tastes. 😀
Ellen aka Fred Towers
I’m sorry, too much Pet Shop Boy-ness? There is no such thing. That’s like too much chocolate-ness.
And I’m still waiting for InsightOut to deliver my copy. Hrmph.
Jeffrey R.