Kerouac & Presley by André Pronovost

I was intrigued to read Kerouac & Presley, given my fondness for iconic writers, musicians, and mavericks. I suspect, without previously encountering the author, that he’s an “everyman” free spirit. He’s done more than visit literary and musical pilgrimages and has lived, loved, and lost on the journey. He dares to put it in writing.  …

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Czech Techno & Other Stories of Music by Mark Anthony Jarman

If you like your stories to follow a straight line, this quintuplet may give you whiplash. Each one invites you into an introspective world of intense emotions, whether for a woman, 4-track cassette, California in the 90s, or disdain for accordions and addiction aftermath. Plenty of play on wordplay suggest that these stories are best …

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Crafting Arts

Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the …

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One Good Reason: A Memoir of Addiction and Recovery, Music and Love by Séan McCann and Andrea Aragon

I’m a fan of Séan McCann. Bought his music. Saw him perform with Great Big Sea. Had a joyous time, singing myself hoarse. Now I’ve read One Good Reason – his collaborative memoir – enticingly structured, chapters alternating between spouse-authors McCann and Andrea Aragon.