Cover: I think the cover was absolutely appropriate for the story. It also really grabs the attention of the reader with its simplicity and uniqueness.
Author: Brian Joyce
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Goodreads Blurb: Rory is only seventeen years old and six months removed from his friends in Nashville, Tennessee when he receives the news that his best friend Christopher has died—and worse yet, he has been hand selected to deliver Christopher’s eulogy. Over the course of one weekend Rory must confront his fears of public speaking, falling in love, growing up, and losing a sense of what he calls home. Wrought with emotion, and fueled by teenaged doubt, friendship, and punk rock music—The B-Side Diaries unravels the truths about not only what it means to lose a close friend, but also the truths about what it means to be a teenager. Told through diary-like confessions from Rory’s perspective, The B-Side Diaries is written in a faux-memoir style, that pulls the reader into the mind of a teenager sorting out his life, and coming to grips with his loss of innocence.
Think “The Big Chill” for teenagers meets Fat Kid Rules the World.
Published/ing: October 31, 2013 Brian Joyce (self-published)
Rating: 4/5
Review:
I loved this book from start to finish.
First of all, the setting was probably my favorite part of the whole story. I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee and as Rory, the grieving main character, explained the many special places and details of Nashville, I related to him. He always called it home, even though he had moved to Florida, as I do now, even though I don't live in Nashville any more.
Another aspect of the setting I liked was the "punk scene." Rory talked about his love for the music and his deceased friend's love and appreciation for the punk genre. That aspect of the story really made it unique. How the author described the music's feel and movement completed the setting of the story.
Moving on, the characters in the story were very individual. Each of the friends had a different back story; a different way they had been affected by Christopher. I actually wouldn't have minded if this story had been told in multiple points of views, because the characters were so easy to tell apart.
I just adored learning about this one character from all the other character's experiences and relationship with him. It was different and new.
The only con I had with the book is that at some points it was a bit slower than I would've preferred, but that was completely minor in spite of the magnificent writing.
Overall, this story was well thought out. The story that was told was perfectly balanced between thought-provoking metaphors and witty colloquialism. The characters were detailed and well rounded. The words you read in this book make you feel like Christopher was your friend too. It makes you want to be there to mourn with Rory.
Future News:
There should be a post on this blog containing an interview with the author in the next few days.
~Monty
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