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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
I really, really loved this book. I liked the writing style and look forward to reading more by this author.
Don't be fooled by the title -- this is a warm and funny biography of sorts that uses 80's song titles for each chapter/life lesson. Author Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) writes with great admiration for the music of the 80's, even while acknowledging that a lot of it was pretty trashy. If you remember listening to cassingles on your walkman, you will enjoy reliving your music memories too -- and don't be surprised that you head to youtube frequently to see the forgotten videos from your youth. Highly recommended.
Brought back some good memories - but saying New Order is disco pissed me off...
"What I don’t get, they are more than willing to teach. I am always learning new rules from them. Giving compliments, for example – always a good idea, but there are rules for doing it right. My sisters taught me to start with the shoes, and then keep the compliments coming. Never compliment her eyes, because that means she thinks you think she’s plain. Always compliment something else before you compliment the hair, but always compliment the hair. If you’re giving a compliment you don’t mean, which is often advisable, sandwich it between a couple that you do mean. My sisters had a lot of rules."
Amid childhood memories and fumblings in love, there is a brilliant chapter on the cassette single and on the titular band, with good essays on Morrissey and McCartney sharpened by Rob's critical faculties. To learn what is and what is not 'new wave', it's worth a read. A fine prequel to the seminal Love Is A Mixtape and Turn Around Bright Eyes.
I assumed this book was about music, but it isn't really. I mean, it's on in the background. But these are mostly stories (or annecdotes) that maybe bring to mind a song that was prominent to him at at the time. Most ohese chapters weren't terribly good: most lacked a real point, and the writing was kinda lazy. Lots of Gen X humor that uses gender and sexuality as a punchline. That said, is a chapter named for The Smiths and his love for Morrissey. Of course.
This book's cuteness is wearing me a little slick. I seldom say this of books, but I am not sure I can finish it....
I tried very hard to get into this book, but really couldn't. Perhaps I'm a little too young. What I really think is that Sheffield works a little to hard at connecting certain songs and artists to specific times in his life, and I never really believed in any of it. I writes very well, which is why I was drawn to this after reading his first memoir. The concept just didn't work for me.
I like Love is a Mix Tape better, but if you were around to remember the music of the 80's, you might like it!
The term guilty pleasure seems to be completely lost on Rob Sheffield. That's what I loved so much about this book (as well as Love is a Mix Tape). While I wouldn't have to the nerve to admit my love of certain artists, he has no shame. It's really quite endearing. Though, I would like to discuss why he thinks Zooropa is better than The Joshua Tree. That just seems like an unforgivable sin in my book. He redeemed himself slightly by writing about the evolution of David Bowie and redeemed himself even further by comparing Paul McCartney to a bossy Irish girl. So, I suppose all is forgiven and we can agree to disagree on U2.
I assume that I would have had a greater respect for this book had I actually grown up in the 80s, but in spite of that it was still quite charming and one of those books that I will insist my friends read. Oddly enough, I did the same with Love is a Mix Tape. I suppose this officially makes me a fan.
I assume that I would have had a greater respect for this book had I actually grown up in the 80s, but in spite of that it was still quite charming and one of those books that I will insist my friends read. Oddly enough, I did the same with Love is a Mix Tape. I suppose this officially makes me a fan.