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Tony Parsons writes for the first time about his rock and roll years in a touching novel about friendship and growing up.This is the UK of the summer of 1977 - in the midst of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, a generation are trying to grow up and discovering the limits of freedom. It is 16th August 1977 - the night Elvis died - and for the heroes of STORIES WE COULD TELL, this night is where their adult lives begin.Terry has returned from Berlin glowing in the light of his friendship with ageing rock star Dag Wood, the only man to be booed off stage at Woodstock.But when Dag turns up in London, he sets his sights on a photographer called Misty, the young woman who Terry plans to have children with. Will Terry's relationship survive the night?Ray is the only writer on The Paper who refuses to cut his hair and stop wearing flares. He still believes in peace, love and the Beatles. But JohnLennon is in town for one night, en route to Yoko and Japan, and Ray believes that if he can interview the reclusive Beatle, he can save his job.Can John Lennon really change a young man's life?And Leon has annoyed the group of fans you do not want to annoy - the Dagenham Dogs, a bunch of hooligans who follow a group called the Sewerrats, who have just been given a right royal slagging by young Leon. Hiding out in a disco called the Goldmine, Leon meets the girl of his dreams. Will true love find Leon before the Dagenham Dogs?… (more)
User reviews
I loved the reminders of my youth, and am glad to say my memories have more of a rosy glow than the punk-glamour of drugs and violence that Parsons evokes.
But it brought back how important music was for me then, both as a companion and something to identify with. And yes, I do remember how I felt my life was over, having met the one (and where is he now?). Funny, sharp, sad, and beautifully overlaid with the benefit of hindsight from a middle-aged man looking back on his glory years.
They love music and girls, they all kind of come of age one crazy summer night.
This book was very far fetched I wanted to enjoy it more but was disappointed with it.
There is an elegiac feel to the book as each of the writers come to appreciate the changes taking place not only nationally, but also in their personal lives as they move from their late teens to their twenties and face up to a lost innocence and start to take on new responsibilities and gain some new understanding for the contributions of their parents.