Category: Historical Fiction
Review: Booklist got it right: “Mitchell’s readers can be excused if they greet a new novel by this unalloyed genius with both goose-pimply anticipation and tredpidation over meeting the challenge.” That was exactly my feeling when I saw that he had a new book, and that I would get to read an ARC. While reading, the trepidation over whether I would measure up to the book lasted to the very last page, but was joined by engagement, pure pleasure, and that broken-hearted feeling that only the very best writers can give you.
Meet Utopia Avenue, the band that mixes psychedelic with folk with much more and amazing results: Dean Moss on bass, trying to make his Gravesend roots proud; Elf Holloway on piano, who hates questions about being a woman in a band with three guys; Jasper de Zoet (yes, the same de Zoet family), guitar virtuoso with inner demons; and Peter Griffin on drums, who’s happy with his role sitting at the back of the band. With Dean, Elf, and Jasper each writing songs and doing vocals, the band’s albums have an eclecticism that propels the group up the charts and into company that includes the biggest names of the era.
For me, not knowing much about the music scene beyond being able to recognize the names in question, this book was much more about the people in the band than the band as a whole. Chapters tell the story from the perspective of each band member, plus their manager, Levon, and each character comes vividly to life, bringing with them the music industry, London’s SoHo, their families, and their own dreams and doubts.
Mitchell’s fans will understand the slightly mystical references, and while other readers might be put off by a certain chapter where horology takes the stage, I encourage them to push through it. The pay-off is well worth it.
For fan’s of Mitchell’s previous books, or anyone who likes a good rock ‘n’ roll story.