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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Over the course of a concert tour we get to know Johnny Valentine, an 11- year-old pop star (à la Justin Bieber) whose time in the tween spotlight might just be in its final stretch. He filters all he sees and experiences -– the screaming fans, the packed concert halls, the studio execs, other musicians-- through his skewered reality, while he tries to get in touch with his father who disappeared many years ago. At times he sounds wise beyond his years on fame and its pitfalls, yet his cynicism absorbed from those around him, especially his mother/manger, makes you feel bad enough for him that you hope he comes out alright on the other side. An engaging read, if just for the pop-cultural immediacy of the subject.
I won this book as a FirstRead.
Jonny Valentine is an 11-year-old pop singer in the middle of his second national tour. His mom is also his manager and keeps strict control over almost every facet of his life. His best friends are Walter, his bodyguard, and Nadine, his tutor, due to the fact that they are some of the only people he gets to hang out with on a regular basis. The story follows Jonny on his tour as he tries to live up to his label's demands and to find out about his father, who walked out on the family when Jonny was 5.
Most of the story was all right, but as a 29-year-old woman, I felt extremely awkward reading the multiple scenes where Jonny was masturbating. I was definitely not expecting that in a story about an 11-year-old and wish I had known about it ahead of time. Also, the book didn't use proper grammar, which I believe was done to be in a style you might expect an 11-year-old to write or talk, but occasionally sentences would last the entire paragraph, and the endless sentences or incorrect grammar would distract me from the story.
Jonny Valentine is an 11-year-old pop singer in the middle of his second national tour. His mom is also his manager and keeps strict control over almost every facet of his life. His best friends are Walter, his bodyguard, and Nadine, his tutor, due to the fact that they are some of the only people he gets to hang out with on a regular basis. The story follows Jonny on his tour as he tries to live up to his label's demands and to find out about his father, who walked out on the family when Jonny was 5.
Most of the story was all right, but as a 29-year-old woman, I felt extremely awkward reading the multiple scenes where Jonny was masturbating. I was definitely not expecting that in a story about an 11-year-old and wish I had known about it ahead of time. Also, the book didn't use proper grammar, which I believe was done to be in a style you might expect an 11-year-old to write or talk, but occasionally sentences would last the entire paragraph, and the endless sentences or incorrect grammar would distract me from the story.
Well written, but sad. I'm not in the mood to read about child exploitation.
I had just finished Barbarian Nurseries when I picked this up and at first I was really disappointed after reading such beautiful prose in Nurseries, this seemed, well, sophomoric, but the further in I got the more I began to appreciate it Love Song on it's own. I mean it's not really fair to compare the two, they are two totally different books. I actually really enjoyed this once I switched gears. I mean I almost felt like I was reading Justin Beibers real biography, if he were allowed to say what his life was really like.
A lot of the story really rang true to me, comparing most situations to that video game, Zeldon (or whatever) because he had no regular life experienced while at the same time having the most extraordinary life experiences. What rang most true to me was the enormous amount of pressure put on the back of 1 eleven year old. Not just his diet and being the money maker of the family but the number of jobs that are there becasue of him and if he doesn't preform or transition into older fans all of these people will be unemployed because of him, an 11 year old, or if he was in school a forth grader.
I really felt we saw the beginning of the cracks start to show and if Wayne were to write a novel set in 10 years time I have to wonder if we'd be reading about the new Taylor Beats (LOVE that name :) or some skid row junkie. I mean really it could either way.
A lot of the story really rang true to me, comparing most situations to that video game, Zeldon (or whatever) because he had no regular life experienced while at the same time having the most extraordinary life experiences. What rang most true to me was the enormous amount of pressure put on the back of 1 eleven year old. Not just his diet and being the money maker of the family but the number of jobs that are there becasue of him and if he doesn't preform or transition into older fans all of these people will be unemployed because of him, an 11 year old, or if he was in school a forth grader.
I really felt we saw the beginning of the cracks start to show and if Wayne were to write a novel set in 10 years time I have to wonder if we'd be reading about the new Taylor Beats (LOVE that name :) or some skid row junkie. I mean really it could either way.
I think I would have liked this better had Jonny been 13 instead of 11 - he seemed too informed for even an 11 year old pop star.
But, an interesting read.
But, an interesting read.
I'm having trouble putting words to how much I enjoyed this book. It's darkly funny, even harrowing. The voice of the narrator, child-pop star Jonny Valentine, is so well-realized and so...twisted. Telling the story in Jonny's innocent, unquestioning voice makes the indictment of celebrity culture all the more trenchant. I couldn't put this book down.
I learned about this book from a review posted by Jon Katz, although I purchased it for my Kindle rather than in person as he usually recommends. The story appears simple at first glance - a few weeks in the life of a young pop star and the troubles he lives with - but has a lot of depth and layers to it that are revealed over the course of the novel. Many of the situations that Jonny is dealing with are way over his head, and it is despicable that any child is living in this sort of life, although I know it is not uncommon in Hollywood or in the music business.
Jonny is on the tour for his second album, at age 11-almost-12, managed by his mother Jane, guarded by his bodyguard Walter, and further taught and managed by a host of tutors, choreographers, and general crew. He spends his free time escaping into a video game called Zenon, trying to find his long-lost father, and dreaming of the day he hits puberty and can finally do something with his newly-discovered boners. Too much of his time is spent worrying about what he eats and how much he exercises, all to avoid getting "chub" at the grand size of 86 pounds, and the continued focus on body size (even to the description of a nurse in the hospital as "a Latina with chubby arms") is saddening even if accurate. Many people are relying on Jonny, as he can spout off just how many people are employed by his tour and he feels personally responsible for several, and it's all too great a burden to bear for such a young man.
This isn't a "coming of age" story, for the protagonist is too young to be considering that phase of his life despite the world he's exposed to, but it is a growing up story. Jonny's progress in the game mirrors the progress in his life, and he's starting to really grasp the concept of consequences for himself and others with relation to his actions, sometimes with too much of a reliance on him as a result. His mother's fear of child predators keeps Jonny away from the internet, yet she's perfectly happy to go out drinking and leave him in the hotel alone, which is just one facet of a very strange dynamic between the two of them.
I think everyone should read this book, even if they think they know what sorts of things are done in the name of publicity and popularity, as it's rather disturbing to see things packaged from the backstage. This isn't a happy book, but it's not a disturbing one, and it will make you think twice about accepting what you see in a glossy magazine and what you think when you look in the mirror.
Jonny is on the tour for his second album, at age 11-almost-12, managed by his mother Jane, guarded by his bodyguard Walter, and further taught and managed by a host of tutors, choreographers, and general crew. He spends his free time escaping into a video game called Zenon, trying to find his long-lost father, and dreaming of the day he hits puberty and can finally do something with his newly-discovered boners. Too much of his time is spent worrying about what he eats and how much he exercises, all to avoid getting "chub" at the grand size of 86 pounds, and the continued focus on body size (even to the description of a nurse in the hospital as "a Latina with chubby arms") is saddening even if accurate. Many people are relying on Jonny, as he can spout off just how many people are employed by his tour and he feels personally responsible for several, and it's all too great a burden to bear for such a young man.
This isn't a "coming of age" story, for the protagonist is too young to be considering that phase of his life despite the world he's exposed to, but it is a growing up story. Jonny's progress in the game mirrors the progress in his life, and he's starting to really grasp the concept of consequences for himself and others with relation to his actions, sometimes with too much of a reliance on him as a result. His mother's fear of child predators keeps Jonny away from the internet, yet she's perfectly happy to go out drinking and leave him in the hotel alone, which is just one facet of a very strange dynamic between the two of them.
I think everyone should read this book, even if they think they know what sorts of things are done in the name of publicity and popularity, as it's rather disturbing to see things packaged from the backstage. This isn't a happy book, but it's not a disturbing one, and it will make you think twice about accepting what you see in a glossy magazine and what you think when you look in the mirror.
I really enjoyed this. The author gets into the head of an 11 year old pop star and tells a great compelling story. I could hear the kid's voice in my head. Great read.
Jonathan Valentino, aka Jonny Valentine, is a 12 year old pop star with a controlling single mother pushing him into things like fake dates to take advantage of a sexuality he has yet to have, let alone understand; he's just a kid in the marketing machine. But, the real great thing about it is that his story is great at focusing on him-all those little moments that leave him hopeful amidst being confused and jaded, all in the jargon he grew up on.
If you liked "Election" and similar books, you're going to like this one a lot.
If you liked "Election" and similar books, you're going to like this one a lot.