EBN A Book with Music in It: The Day the Music Died by Ed Gorman

I seem to be doing okay with this challenge. I have a good sized list of books to read that can be applied to the various categories. About three of them are on hold at the library, but the rest I have actual copies (I raided my parent's library over the weekend). Now I just need to make sure I make the time to read all these books. I think I'll be fine, though I've got a couple of heavy duty bricks in that pile.

I really enjoyed this book; I didn't think much of it at first but by the end I really liked it. It takes place right after Buddy Holly's plane crashed, hence The Day the Music Died. It's a straight forward murder mystery with pretty natural feeling plot devices and an semi-unresolved but still satisfying ending. The characters were all terrible reprobates and charming (Judge Whitney was especially fun). The voice had a strange rhythm to it (reminiscent of those old smokey private I movies with all those stellar one liners). It took me a little time to jive with it, but once I did I really liked it.

So, amongst images that make me think of American Graffiti, and Mad Men, a really great story of death and change is told. The shift of life played out by the characters is a type for the shift that American culture underwent at about the same time. The Utopia that those who survived WWII created for themselves is becoming disillusioned and challenged and that brought about change (on all levels of life) and death. There is a small part where the main character is reveling in the beauty and happiness of life, in the vitality of youth and all its promise, and then in an instant he is filled with an overwhelming sadness. Life isn't all sunshine and daisies and never can be. Teenagers grow up and become adults with all the pain and confusion real life can produce. The "perfect" American family always has sorrow and difficulties. As prosperous as the economy can be, there will always be those who are oppressed by poverty. This story portrays the death of a dream that comes clear, for the main character any way, after the death of a rock and roll singer.

This story certainly wasn't without its faults. It could have been twice as long as it is, but it was still very good. And I appreciated the short chapters.