How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo
Published: Sept. 1, 2005 by Sourcebooks Landmark
Received: Purchased from B&N
Written in her wonderfully honest, edgy, passionate and often hilarious voice, Tiffanie DeBartolo tells the story of Eliza Caelum, a young music journalist, and Paul Hudson, a talented songwriter and lead singer of the band Bananafish. Eliza's reverence for rock is equaled only by Paul's, and the two fall wildly in love.
When Bananafish is signed by a big corporate label, and Paul is on his way to becoming a major rock star, Eliza must make a heartbreaking decision that leads to Paul's sudden disappearance and a surprise knock-your-socks-off ending. [goodreads]
I adore my YA books, I really really do. So when someone suggests I read an adult book, it's got to be something pretty amazing for me to gush about. THIS particular book is beyond amazing! I found myself gushing before, during, and after I read this story. Thanks to my friend Estelle, she recommended this lovely adult fiction piece to me. We had been talking one day about my love for music (surprise!) and so she thought I'd really enjoy a favorite book of her's that just so happened to be centered around the love of music. How to Kill a Rock Star took me by total surprise. I was already intrigued by the premise, but once I found myself emerged in the story, I could not put it down!
Tiffanie DeBartolo's writing reads very similar to a YA. It's quick paced, never lingering on one moment for too long. I think that's why I tend to shy away from a lot of adult books. Though the subject matter is more mature, when a topic is discussed for several pages my eyes tend to stray away from the pages. With this particular book, my eyes were glued to the pages!
Oh Paul Hudson, you completely stole my heart! This MAN is everything I dream about in a sexy musician. He knows his music and he isn't afraid to show it. His unique artistic flair is what caught Eliza's attention from their first meeting. You knew right away these two people were headed for something quite passionate. I enveloped myself in the delicious musings between Paul and Eliza. One moment they were bickering, fighting to be a part, yet struggling to stay together. Then the next they were so tragically lost in love with one another that my heart swelled as these two creatures finally made peace. And oh was that moment intense. Their relationship excelled at their highest moments, but it also crumbled at their lowest moments, too. I found myself so wrapped up in it that I felt my heart breaking, only to be put back together again.
Then there is the music. The way Paul's voice is described and how hypnotic his melodies are, engaging his audiences, left me feeling jealous that I could not hear it for myself. Oh how I wish this man was real. I need to hear his music. The storyline was one I ended up really liking. It covers a wide time frame, takes you on the journey of Eliza and Paul, and the world around them. The twist at the end was very carefully inserted, which I sort of anticipated, but it still caught me by a sweet surprise. If you're an avid YA reader, like myself, but want to dabble in more adult titles, I highly recommend reading this one. It's a story worth experiencing, no matter which genre you tend to lean towards.
Thank you Estelle for bringing this beauty to my attention. It will definitely become a favorite reread of mine!
This is one of my favorite authors of all time ♥ I loved this book, it was so great. Great review, I am glad you enjoyed it as well :)
ReplyDeleteWoo! Thanks for this recommendation! I also tempt to read mostly YA book, or Adult Paranormal but this one sounds actually too awesome to pass on!
ReplyDeleteThe summary reads like this could be a movie (which are some of my favourite books!) which is probably my less elegant way of saying exactly what you did, I like fast paced books.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely going to check this one out.
Ah! So happy to hear such a glowing review for a book that I have indulged in time and time again. Tiffanie is hands down one of my favorite authors, since I was 16 years old, and I hope that sometime in the future she writes again! Glad this book can get the recognition it deserves.
ReplyDeleteYou are on an awesome adult book kick! This book does sound right up your alley (Estelle sure knows your taste!) I like that it still reads like a YA book in that it's quick paced - must add to TBR!
ReplyDeleteLove this book!! It so made me cry but I absolutely loved it. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteE has been telling me to read this book and it's TOTALLY on my TBR list, but I just... haven't gotten to it yet. So so glad you loved it!
ReplyDeleteHey Ginger! After I saw you raving about this book on Twitter, I bought the Kindle version and read it within a few days. I have to admit, I don't share your passion for it.
ReplyDeleteMy three problems with it were a) there was way too much descriptive text. The book could have been edited down by a third and the story would have been just as effective. And b) Eliza wasn't that likable. To this day, I can't quite figure out what it was about her that made every man fall in love with her. She was childish, bitchy, self-righteous, self-absorbed, and rude. And, finally, c) the ending was rushed to the point where it was really hard to believe those events could take place. After countless pages of unnecessary description, we get to some actual action only to have it quickly unfold in the final pages.
While I was glad to finally reach the end of the novel, the payoff sucked.
Ginger, usually I totally respect your recommendations, but not this time.
Hooray! This sounds terrific, and since you and Estelle both recommended it, I'm definitely of a mind to go on and check it out. I haven't been reading too many adult books lately, so this might be a good one to try to start getting back into it :)
ReplyDeleteDude, I just read that summary and it sounds like such a YOU BOOK, Ginger. And I'm definitely going to be buying it for kindle cause I've been wanting to read more adultish stuff! Thanks for the review, G :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a good book! And her other one, God Shaped Hole is awesome too. This does seem like a very you book! Listen to Jeff Buckley while you read her other. Soooo good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this! Seeing I'm such a freak music lover myself... & write about it too, I'm so down down for this read! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteAlmost a year late but I just saw this because someone retweeted the link. I always feel giddy and elated whenever someone speaks so highly about this book. My favourite book of all time.
ReplyDeletex,
Charlie @ Letter Trails