Very uncool, this book is. Each chapter focuses on a specific year in the 80s and a relevant song by an 80s band or artist. Normally, you would expect that the writer to relate the chapter's theme to the music being mentioned. But the connection is flimsy that it becomes so irrelevant to the text. You might be better off listening to the song itself.
Why did Rob Sheffield wrote Talking to Girls about Duran Duran? Because he can, that's why. The book just comes off as being overindulgent, even when he tackles specific points of his life that are less than flattering. The funny parts aren't even funny; they're just annoying.
We do get to see that Sheffield knows his music, but it's a passion that he shares unsuccessfully in the books. With his uninteresting description of 80s music in the book, you feel that you just wanna listen to Milli Vanilli or Vanilla Ice or just have a vanilla cupcake. If you love 80s music, you'd just end up disappointed.
Sheffield teases us with a few lines about his being a widow or how he was unemployed for a short time or when he became an editor/writer of Rolling Stone. I felt that it would have been better if he used more paper real estate to write about these personal stuff. When I started this novel, I didn't know a single thing about Sheffield. When I finished it, I didn't know any better.
Argh! I better stop before this entry becomes a full-on rant. Talking to Girls about Duran Duran, well, it just sucks big time. It sucks vacuum cleaners.
Read this book if:
- You love books with orange covers.
- You have spare time.
- Just don't.
8 comments:
I read Sheffield's Love is a Mixtape several years ago, and remember really enjoying it. That book focuses on his relationship with his deceased wife. I think that book's format worked because he did relate his music journey with his personal experiences. I haven't read this book but from what I've read about it, his focus isn't as clear. If you have a chance and aren't totally turned off by Sheffield after this book, I recommend his earlier one.
Hello, Mona! I will definitely be reading that as soon as I see a copy. Many thanks for the heads-up!
Hi Peter! Thank you for the heads up.
Will file a restraining order against this book. Is 500 ft away good enough? ❤
Not enough! LOL!
'It sucks vacuum cleaners.'
...
Looking for laughs at the moment - this did it for me just now!! Very good!
K
Hi, Kaz! I just had to get it out of my system. :-)
LOL at the last line! :))
I am not a big fan of the 80s, so I will definitely be staying away from this book. :D
Good idea, Lynai!
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