B-sides and Broken Hearts [Paperback]

Caryn Rose (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2011

Lisa Simon, age 37, still loves loud punk rock and hates Dave Matthews with an all-consuming passion. April 15, 2001 should have been just another Sunday night. But a news headline landing in Lisa's email inbox changes everything: "Joey Ramone is dead." The death of one of her teenage heroes serves as an long-overdue wake-up call causing Lisa to examine her life and how she's lived it, from her youth as a poet on the streets of the East Village to 10 years later, all grown up with a career and a fiance. Add to the mix Jake McDaniel, lead singer of million-selling, critically-regarded Seattle band Blue Electric, known better to Lisa as the starving renegades who lived next door to her when she first arrived in Seattle. In the midst of an unexpectedly heated argument with the fiance over the historical relevance (or not) of the Ramones - which forces Lisa to face the truth about her relationship - Jake writes and invites Lisa to LA. Throwing what seems like half her cd collection in the car, along with a wardrobe consisting of high heels, jeans and t-shirts, Lisa starts driving from Seattle to LA in the middle of the night, accompanied by music, memories, and the ghosts of the past. Arriving in LA, she finds refuge, but also collides with her past, present and future; decisions need to be made, and this time, Lisa stands her ground.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Caryn Rose's B-Sides and Broken Hearts is a rare book, one that incorporates music seamlessly into its core. Rose's debut novel is filled with characters whose love for music is great and relatable, their passion for '80s and '90s indie rock and punk jumps off the page in this absorbing novel. - David Gutowski, Largehearted Boy

If you've ever sat in a diner at 3 a.m. after a concert and hashed over the set list minute by minute, song by song -- or marked the events in your life by what tour was taking place at the time, or which record was just released -- or waited in line all night to buy concert tickets - or drove across the country to see a show -- then likely you will enjoy this book as much as I did...Rose is steeped in rock and roll history, this is her life blood, she walks the walk and talks the talk. - Great Rock & Roll Reads for the Fall, Huffington Post

What I loved about B-Sides was that unlike other punk novels to come out in the last year, Rose took what seemed to be a more personal, possibly semi-autobiographical story, and turned it into something very appealing. I appreciate the heavy research of some of the other novels that have a punk component to the story, but B-Sides and Broken Hearts was a no fluff, completely real, and highly enjoyable read. - Vol. 1 Brooklyn

B-Sides and Broken Hearts closely mirrored my own growing up process, my early days in New York City going to see bands in the late '70s/early '80s ....  Back then, we had no Internet, no social media, no cellphones to call friends from in front of the stage. Bands built an audience brick by brick, fan by fan. You really felt part of a secret society. Caryn Rose perfectly captures those days. - Paste Magazine

About the Author

Caryn Rose is a Brooklyn-based writer and photographer who documents rock-and-roll, baseball and urban life. She covers the ups and downs of the New York Mets at metsgrrl.com, reports on Bruce Springsteen for Backstreets Magazine and brucespringsteen.net, and ruminates about music at jukeboxgraduate.com. She lives in Greenpoint with her boyfriend and her cat, Jackie Wilson. B-Sides And Broken Hearts is her first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Till Victory Press (June 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0983502900
• ISBN-13: 978-0983502906
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,449,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Caryn Rose is a Brooklyn-based writer and photographer who documents rock-and-roll, baseball and urban life. She covers the ups and downs of the New York Mets at metsgrrl.com, reports on Bruce Springsteen for Backstreets Magazine and brucespringsteen.net, and ruminates about music at jukeboxgraduate.com. She lives in Greenpoint with her boyfriend and her cat, Jackie Wilson. 

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PRAISE FOR B-SIDES AND BROKEN HEARTS:

"Caryn Rose's B-Sides and Broken Hearts is a rare book, one that incorporates music seamlessly into its core. Rose's debut novel is filled with characters whose love for music is great and relatable, their passion for '80s and '90s indie rock and punk jumps off the page in this absorbing novel." - Largehearted Boy

"If you've ever sat in a diner at 3 a.m. after a concert and hashed over the set list minute by minute, song by song -- or marked the events in your life by what tour was taking place at the time, or which record was just released -- or waited in line all night to buy concert tickets - or drove across the country to see a show -- then likely you will enjoy this book as much as I did...Rose is steeped in rock and roll history, this is her life blood, she walks the walk and talks the talk." - Great Rock & Roll Reads for the Fall, Huffington Post

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for punk rock fans October 26, 2011

By Martin L. Davis II

Format:Kindle Edition

I would characterize B-Sides and Broken Hearts as primarily a niche novel. Appropriately titled, it weaves rock bands, albums and songs into a background and support network of the main protagonist, Lisa, who is a groupie and follower now entering middle-age. As a disclaimer, I spent my early adult years into jazz and classical, and many of the names, albums and tunes named in the book were unfamiliar to me. I suspect that familiarity would add another level of interest to readers from that background. The writing is well done, with liberal sprinklings of profanity that help convey the reality of the character interactions. There is not much of a storyline, but the reader is carried along by the fanatical enthusiasm of Lisa which makes the book hard to put down. While not great literature, this would be a must-read for anyone associated with or interested in, or just remembers the punk rock scene of the 1980's.

I received this as an eBook in exchange for an honest review.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Fun Read... July 30, 2011

By Wanda Dejesus

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed reading this book and felt a bit sad as it came to an end. The book is about Lisa, a 37 year-old music lover who experiences a series of changes sparked by the death of one of her favorite musicians, Joey Ramone. The book travels back in time to see what makes Lisa tick and we then get to see how she pulls herself out of the life she'd settled for. I loved the character of Lisa. She's the right balance of hard ass and good friend. Ms. Rose's description of her grief was very realistic and didn't feel maudlin or forced. I cared about Lisa and cared about wanted to see her be happy.

You can't talk about this book and not talk about the music. I was of course familiar with most of the bands named in the book. However, I'm not well-versed in rock and roll so I didn't feel the musical connection to the songs Lisa played. That didn't detract from the point that music can heal, can be our best friend, can make us feel things nothing else on earth can ever make us feel. I know what's it's like to feel that way to other types of music. There will always be songs that take us back to that moment when we fell in love with the music, with the singer, with the band. There will be music that we soundtrack our lives to; the only difference between me and Lisa is that her soundtrack is a hell of lot cooler than mine!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Relaxed Fun Read April 15, 2012

By Steven C. Toy

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book! What will standout for any fan of great rock music is how often the author uses references to great songs to trigger emotions and memories for the reader, not just words. As a New Yorker the local references also triggered memories and feelings that seemed very in tune with the main character, Lisa. I imagine a similar experience would be felt by someone from Seattle. Having said that you need not be a New Yorker or a fan of Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones to enjoy every page of this book. If you are looking for a great relaxed story to enjoy "B-Sides and Broken Hearts" fits the bill.