If you’re tired of Dan Brown, Steven King, Danielle Steele and Robin Cook and need some escapist reading of a different sort, might I suggest a series of worthy rock-themed novels?
1. Platinum Logic, Tony Parsons (1981)
One of the first proper rock novels I ever read. Set in England and featuring so much coke I’m surprised that you can’t be busted for possession just by owning a copy, it’s a wonderfully sleazy and funny look at the music business.
2. Hard Core Logo, Michael Turner (1993)
If you haven’t seen the movie, you’re missing one of the best rock movies ever made. Rent it. Now. Then pick up the book upon which the 1996 movie was based. And for God’s sake, don’t let anyone tell you how it comes out. Brilliant.
3. High Fidelity, Nick Horby (1995)
Twenty minutes into the 2000 movie starring John Cusack, my wife elbowed me in the ribs. “Did someone rip off your autobiography?” It certainly felt like it. The book, however, is even more frightening, even though I wasn’t brought up in England. Any obsessive record collector geek will find much he (and they’re almost invariably male) will identify with. Required reading for anyone who has ever thought about filing their record collection chronologically along their own life’s timeline. (What? You haven’t?)
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