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219 reviews for:
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran: One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut
Rob Sheffield
3.54 AVERAGE
219 reviews for:
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran: One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut
Rob Sheffield
3.54 AVERAGE
As a child of the 80s and a huge consumer of music in the 80s and 90s (and a huge fan of Sheffield's first unfortuntately titled book, Love is A Mix Tape), I was excited to read this exploration of memories in tune with the music of the 80s. It doesn't exactly live up to "Love Is...", but if you remember what it was like to have a slumber party in honor of a music video premier, then you will enjoy this book.
Merged review:
While I didn't enjoy this book as much as his first (Love is a Mixtape), as a person whose teen identity was absolutely wrapped up music, I enjoyed Sheffield's way of talking about the music of the era. We don't necessarily share the same taste, but in all, it was a fun read, especially for lovers of music and the pop culture of the 80s.
Merged review:
While I didn't enjoy this book as much as his first (Love is a Mixtape), as a person whose teen identity was absolutely wrapped up music, I enjoyed Sheffield's way of talking about the music of the era. We don't necessarily share the same taste, but in all, it was a fun read, especially for lovers of music and the pop culture of the 80s.
"You could argue the 1980s officially ended the day [John Oates] shaved his mustache in 1991"
This really felt like Chuck Klosterman-lite. I've enjoyed Rob Sheffield's writing and he goes much more personal than Klosterman's ironically detached perspective but ultimately it'd didnt keep me as hooked. Perhaps it was cause I am juuust too young for most of the songs in the book (also cause, other than Hall & Oates, even when I became musically aware I was never much for New Wave) so I lacked the attachments that would've drawn me in more. This possibility is likely given how much I enjoyed the chapter on H&O.
Still, any book that gives you that line and provides a pleasant after dinner read deserves some credit.
This really felt like Chuck Klosterman-lite. I've enjoyed Rob Sheffield's writing and he goes much more personal than Klosterman's ironically detached perspective but ultimately it'd didnt keep me as hooked. Perhaps it was cause I am juuust too young for most of the songs in the book (also cause, other than Hall & Oates, even when I became musically aware I was never much for New Wave) so I lacked the attachments that would've drawn me in more. This possibility is likely given how much I enjoyed the chapter on H&O.
Still, any book that gives you that line and provides a pleasant after dinner read deserves some credit.
Although I didn't recognize all the songs in the book, I enjoyed a trip down memory lane of life in the eighties. Besides, anybody that loved 'Buffalo Stance', 'Hangin' Tough', and 'Kiss Me Deadly,' can't be too wrong.
My rating is a little misleading, because I think to really appreciate Sheffield's work you have to A) be a child of the 80's, and B) be a music (and especially new wave) junkie. I'm both of those things, and, temperamentally, Sheffield and I have a lot in common – awkward and socially useless – so I could absolutely relate to these essays about being a teenager in thrall to the power of music and girls. As with his longtime work for Rolling, Sheffield is almost painfully funny, but, as befits a man whose wife died when he was in his early 30's, there's an undercurrent of sadness here, too. Highly recommended for people on a similar wavelength.
Maybe it was because I was a child of the 80's and not a teenager in the 80's, but to me this book was just ok. Every chapter was centered around a different song that evoked a memory for Sheffield, and every chapter had one line that made me laugh out loud (yes - only one line). The chapter on cassingles made me laugh more than once though (because who didn't love a cassingle! And my sisters and I shared quite a few of the cassingles he owned. I still own them as a matter of fact!), so for that I give this book 3 solid stars.
When I was in college, I took a class called contemporary democratic theory. I still remember the first day of that class. I was completely out of my element, surrounded by people who spoke with passion about the theories of democracy, using words that completely baffled me. Prior to taking this class, I felt quite knowledgeable, and yet one hour reduced me to a "we're not worthy" moment.
This is exactly what happened to me when reading Talking to Girls About Duran Duran. I entered this book feeling knowledgeable about 80's music. I lived it, breathed it, loved it, obsessed over it, and continue to play the heck out of it. But when I began to read Rob Sheffield's version of the 80's, I was suddenly out of my element. His writing is outstanding, and yet it didn't speak to me because perhaps my love for 80's music isn't as deep or meaningful as his. There were a couple of chapters that spoke to me more than others simply because I was more familiar with the music he was discussing (especially when he talks about Pretty in Pink since I still long for that alternate ending where Duckie gets the girl), but overall, this just didn't rock my world as much as I'd hoped it would.
This is exactly what happened to me when reading Talking to Girls About Duran Duran. I entered this book feeling knowledgeable about 80's music. I lived it, breathed it, loved it, obsessed over it, and continue to play the heck out of it. But when I began to read Rob Sheffield's version of the 80's, I was suddenly out of my element. His writing is outstanding, and yet it didn't speak to me because perhaps my love for 80's music isn't as deep or meaningful as his. There were a couple of chapters that spoke to me more than others simply because I was more familiar with the music he was discussing (especially when he talks about Pretty in Pink since I still long for that alternate ending where Duckie gets the girl), but overall, this just didn't rock my world as much as I'd hoped it would.
Perfect for the writing, the pop culture references.
The whole chapter on Joey McIntire worship, that was a bit weird.
The whole chapter on Joey McIntire worship, that was a bit weird.
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2021/11/talking-to-girls-about-duran-duran.html
Talking to Girls about Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield is like a long conversation with someone I'd never met, but who loves music like I do and uses it define his entire life. I love music, and I like to consider myself an eclectic listener, but in truth, I love rock, pop, hard rock, oldies, and the eighties. Because I grew up in the 1980s, so many songs have pivotal memories associated with them. Jesse by Carly Simon was the first song I fell in love with through no influence of my parents. Take it on the Run by REO Speedwagon was the song we all wanted to rollerskate to during the Starlight Dance with a cute guy at the skating rink. I had a love/hate relationship with Madonna - I loved My Isla Bonita and I decided Live to Tell was my theme song. I played Bon Jovi's self-titled debut until I had to buy a new cassette. And I did love Duran Duran; Roger, the drummer, was my major crush, and while I do feel a little ashamed at the amount of time I spent listening to them, studying their videos, and discussing who was the cutest with my best friends (Aileen loved Simon, Amy loved John), Sheffield reminds me just how glorious their music was, and how it is still incredibly popular today. Listening to 80s flashback weekends on the radio is like watching a home video of my teenage years, the good and the bad. So reading this book felt like returning home. Each chapter is titled by a song by a specific artist, and Sheffield uses that song to discuss the everything from dating to the rules to what girls require from boys, to how teens listen to lyrics and decide that the writer is their musical soulmate with the answer to all of life's questions. Sheffield is both incredibly smart and unbelievably funny, and the combination of the two allow him to reveal great truths. His discussion on Paul McCartney really does explain his huge success as well as his polarizing effect on fans. In his chapter about his obsession with David Bowie, Sheffield says, " I yearned to become the Thin White Duke, yet I was stuck being a Thin White Douche." His essay about John Hughes' films and their impact on teens for the last twenty years should be required reading for anyone wanting to understand teenagers and/or the 80s and/or great films. Sheffield must be the only person left on Earth who has such fond memories for cassingles, other than me. My children and husband (who is a bit younger than me) can't even believe these 99 cent wonders existed, but Sheffield gives a list of the thirty best cassingles in history (although he missed my fave: Martika's Toy Soldiers). If you grew up in the 80s or even just love the music, this book is pure joy somehow magically condensed into 270 pages. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go listen to Duran Duran singing Rio.