2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this book! Very Funny!, March 20, 2005
GOOD NIGHT STEVE MCQUEEN by Louise Wener
January 25, 2005
Danny (Steve) McQueen is dreaming of becoming a big music super star in GOOD NIGHT STEVE MCQUEEN, the debut novel by Louise Wener. Danny (as he prefers to be called) is almost 30 and is still working part time at the local video store while he tries to make a go at it in the world of music. His bandmates Vince and Matty are also dreaming of that day when the three of them, as the band DAKOTA, hit it big and make their way to the Top of the Pops.
Danny's girlfriend, Alison, loves him but she's tired of having to support the both of them. She wishes that he would realize that this dream of his is just that, a childish dream, and that he'll never make it big. She gives him an ultimatum, to either make a big effort to score big, or quit music altogether and get a "real" job. She gives him six months to shape up. Danny takes her threat to heart and tells Vince and Matty that they have six months to change their careers for the better, and soon the three of them are plotting and planning their way to the top.
In the mean time, Danny is also working in a "specialty" video store owned by Mr. and Mrs. Kostas, chatting it up with the elderly Sheila, their most loyal customer. Sheila, as well as the other characters in this book, is such a hoot. She's in her 80s, but just loves those martial arts movies. If he's not working, Danny is hanging out with Matty and Vince, either rehearsing or getting drunk. In between the main story line, we learn about Danny's "pathetic" life, told with a humorous twist, as he narrates the story of his start in life (he actually believed his father WAS Steve McQueen), his discovery of music, and how he met the love of his life (Alison).
I found GOOD NIGHT STEVE MCQUEEN to be a surprise winner, and laughed quite a bit as Danny told his tale. Although some American readers may get confused with some of the British dialog, I found myself laughing out loud, and read this one pretty fast. I think that most American readers should be able to get past the British English, and will enjoy this debut effort by Louise Wener. Wener has another book coming out this summer, which I intend to read. This is a new author to watch for!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
hmmm..., September 2, 2006
don't get me wrong, i am a huge sleeper fan and will probably buy all of louise wener's books, but did anyone else notice she begins both "goodnight steve mcqueen" and "the perfect play" with "do you remember the _____?"
huh.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun British fiction for both men and women, March 22, 2005
This book was quite reminiscent of High Fidelity: a 20s-something music fan avoids getting a "real" job by working in a video store, resulting in a lack of progress in both his life in general and his relationship with his girlfriend in particular. The main character in question, Steve McQueen--or Danny, as he's more commonly known--is not always likeable, yet you can't help but root for him when he tries to give his nearly-dead music career one last shot. Although I felt frustrated with Danny at times, I enjoyed many of the other characters, including wise Vince, gullible Matty, quirky Kostas, and of course lovable Sheila. In addition, there were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments throughout, and thus I was thoroughly entertained. I would recommend this book, especially to anyone who has ever taken a risk to make their "dream" job a reality.
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