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- I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
14+
Release Date
July 08, 2008
ISBN
1416562699
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Editor reviews
2 reviews
The Ravages of Punk Rock
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Emily Black never knew her mother, Louisa. She left when Emily was an infant, apparently to follow the newest sounds in punk rock. Emily was raised by her dad, Michael, a musician turned factory worker, in the small town of Carlisle, Wisconsin. Louisa was always a rebel. She met Michael at Rivers Edge, the barn turned concert stage when Michael was playing with his band. Two years later Louisa left Carlisle on the back of Michaels motorcycle, throwing her stiletto heels at store windows. That certainly got the neighbors talking. Shes been roaming ever since, sporadically keeping in touch with her childhood best friend, Molly.
Now Emily seems to be facing the same childhood. Dressing punk rockish, she has few friends. Mollys daughter Regan and Emily have started a band, Shes Laughing, named after a bad incident with a boy. Along with Tom, Regan and Emily try to make the best punk rock music available, trying to dispel the girl band label. As they gain a following, they begin touring and becoming, sad to say, the stereotypical punk band, involved in sex, drugs, and alcohol. But, unknown even to herself, Emily is searching for something more&the truth about Louisas departure and the mother she never knew.
In I Wanna be Your Joey Ramone, Stephanie Kuehnert has created interesting, edgy, caring and unique characters. Emily is forever the rebel, following in her mothers footsteps. Regan and Tom, who become a couple, are the former rebels who become stable grownups. Michael is the always caring father and husband who loves his daughter regardless of what she does and loves his wife regardless of how long shes been away. And Louisa is the waylaid woman searching for the unobtainable, away too long to go home.
The first person narrative tells Emilys story but not in a vulgar, tell-all way; the music, the sex, the booze, the stalker, leaving nothing out. The third person narrative describes Louisas travels, the friendships she makes, the fear she has of never seeing her daughter again but afraid to show up at her door, the search for something she most probably will never have. Kuehnerts writing is descriptive, crisp, addictive. Her characters are real. The locales, such as Rivers Edge are tangible, you can see them. There are scary moments, wrenching moments, heart warming moments. Anyone who likes a good story and anyone who likes to read about rock stars will like this book.
Now Emily seems to be facing the same childhood. Dressing punk rockish, she has few friends. Mollys daughter Regan and Emily have started a band, Shes Laughing, named after a bad incident with a boy. Along with Tom, Regan and Emily try to make the best punk rock music available, trying to dispel the girl band label. As they gain a following, they begin touring and becoming, sad to say, the stereotypical punk band, involved in sex, drugs, and alcohol. But, unknown even to herself, Emily is searching for something more&the truth about Louisas departure and the mother she never knew.
In I Wanna be Your Joey Ramone, Stephanie Kuehnert has created interesting, edgy, caring and unique characters. Emily is forever the rebel, following in her mothers footsteps. Regan and Tom, who become a couple, are the former rebels who become stable grownups. Michael is the always caring father and husband who loves his daughter regardless of what she does and loves his wife regardless of how long shes been away. And Louisa is the waylaid woman searching for the unobtainable, away too long to go home.
The first person narrative tells Emilys story but not in a vulgar, tell-all way; the music, the sex, the booze, the stalker, leaving nothing out. The third person narrative describes Louisas travels, the friendships she makes, the fear she has of never seeing her daughter again but afraid to show up at her door, the search for something she most probably will never have. Kuehnerts writing is descriptive, crisp, addictive. Her characters are real. The locales, such as Rivers Edge are tangible, you can see them. There are scary moments, wrenching moments, heart warming moments. Anyone who likes a good story and anyone who likes to read about rock stars will like this book.
User reviews
5 reviews
Overall rating
4.6
Plot
4.6(5)
Characters
N/A(0)
Writing Style
N/A(0)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Gritty Coming of Age
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by danielle
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is one of my favorite books of the year. It's about a girl who, years after her mother left her and her father, tries to find the one song that will bring her mother back. I liked it because it's very easy to relate to the characters; they all have their flaws and their problems, and the author pulls it off with amazing wit and grace.
The musical undertones are what sold me, and what kept me reading the entire three hundred pages. This book is perfect for anyone with even a remote interest in music. The rock n' roll background adds to a beautifully different coming of age tale set to a soundtrack all its own. I cannot reccomend I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone enough.
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is one of my favorite books of the year. It's about a girl who, years after her mother left her and her father, tries to find the one song that will bring her mother back. I liked it because it's very easy to relate to the characters; they all have their flaws and their problems, and the author pulls it off with amazing wit and grace.
The musical undertones are what sold me, and what kept me reading the entire three hundred pages. This book is perfect for anyone with even a remote interest in music. The rock n' roll background adds to a beautifully different coming of age tale set to a soundtrack all its own. I cannot reccomend I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone enough.
One word: AMAZING!
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by sammyjones57
Honestly, I don't think I can even tell you all the reasons why I loved this book. It's just one of those that suck you and won't let you go, even after it's done.
But here's my spill....
The fact that I'm a complete music freak is what first perked my interest in this book. Plus take a look at the cover! Once I started reading it, I wasn't able to put it down. Stephanie Kuehnert knows good music and it shows.
This isn't a simple read. There's something very real and raw about it. Emily Black is a girl with one dream. Scratch that - she's got two dreams. She's going to get out of the small town of Carlisle. And she's going to do it by being a rock star.
I loved Emily instantly. She's edgy as hell, in your face, and damn do I wish I had the guts she had. There were so many things that I could identify with in this book. Espeically when it came to Emily and her best friend Regan. So many moments where I stopped, almost baffled and eventually called up my best friend and rambled some passages out because it sounded like us. (Even weirder my goddaughter name is Regean).
Even the issues that Emily goes through that I couldn't identify with - I felt them. There were moments I was laughing, got teary eyed, and sometimes even wanted to shake the crap out Emily for some choices she made. But hey, that's what a good book does to you, right?
There is more than one side to this story. It's not just about Emily wanting to be a rock star for the pure passion of music, but to find her mother. Find out what was so speical about it that made her leave without saying goodbye. While you read, you get to see what her mother had went through since the day she left that small town. And just like Emily, you feel her pain as well.
One thing I really loved about this book was the dream. Sure I wanted to be a rock star when I was like five, listening to my own dad's records and pretending to play the guitar with a duster. But in this story you see the dream that Emily, Regan, and drummer boy Tom create with their band She Laughs. Once you get sucked into this world of punk rock and teenage angst and the need for closure, I promsie you, you won't be dissapointed.
Terrific Read
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Reader Rabbit 1
Headstrong Emily Black's dream is to start her own punk band. Emily has grown up motherless, and has been raised by her father who has always told Emily that her mother, Louisa, left to follow the music. Clearly, music plays a great role in the family. Emily's life revolves around music, playing it, listening to it and feeling it. Emily and her best friend Regan spend their nights at the local club listening to music and hooking up with the musicians.
Eventually, Emily figures out that if she wants the music, she has to stop messing around and actually do something about it. Regan and Emily start up their band, She Laughs (and they will eventually find a third member, Tom) Underlying Emily's love of the music, has always been the desperate hope that the music will bring her mother back to her. Of course, nothing is clearcut and the music leads Emily, her band and her mother on a path that they never expected to take.
As most of you probably remember, earlier this year, I Wanna be Your Joey Ramone was the book du jour. Everyone loved it and everywhere I looked, people were gushing about this book.
And I finally know why.
Before I read this book, I thought it'd be more lighthearted. Instead, it was one of the most powerful books that I've read this year. The story revolves around Louisa and Emily, tracing them as they live their lives apart and yet it is evident that the two are connected, despite not having known each other and despite their distance.
The book is jampacked. Every word in the novel has a meaning and so much is crammed into such few pages (around 340?). The book starts the summer before Emily's freshman year and concludes years later when Emily's band has finally become successful. Yet, even as the years go by, it doesn't feel rushed at all. The whole story just flows. ~F-L-O-W-S~
Characterization? It's done perfectly. I have almost nothing in common with most of the characters and yet I still loved the characters. I understood them, rooted for them and enjoyed reading about them. Honestly, what more can a girl ask for?
The plot works out well too, all of it is interconnected and riveting. Music is clearly what joins the entire book together. Fans of punk rock will enjoy the novel and so will fans of pop, techno...you name it. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is universal and I reccommend it to everyone. Or at least anyone who doesn't mind a bit of risque material. Be sure, if you haven't already, to check it out.
Headstrong Emily Black's dream is to start her own punk band. Emily has grown up motherless, and has been raised by her father who has always told Emily that her mother, Louisa, left to follow the music. Clearly, music plays a great role in the family. Emily's life revolves around music, playing it, listening to it and feeling it. Emily and her best friend Regan spend their nights at the local club listening to music and hooking up with the musicians.
Eventually, Emily figures out that if she wants the music, she has to stop messing around and actually do something about it. Regan and Emily start up their band, She Laughs (and they will eventually find a third member, Tom) Underlying Emily's love of the music, has always been the desperate hope that the music will bring her mother back to her. Of course, nothing is clearcut and the music leads Emily, her band and her mother on a path that they never expected to take.
As most of you probably remember, earlier this year, I Wanna be Your Joey Ramone was the book du jour. Everyone loved it and everywhere I looked, people were gushing about this book.
And I finally know why.
Before I read this book, I thought it'd be more lighthearted. Instead, it was one of the most powerful books that I've read this year. The story revolves around Louisa and Emily, tracing them as they live their lives apart and yet it is evident that the two are connected, despite not having known each other and despite their distance.
The book is jampacked. Every word in the novel has a meaning and so much is crammed into such few pages (around 340?). The book starts the summer before Emily's freshman year and concludes years later when Emily's band has finally become successful. Yet, even as the years go by, it doesn't feel rushed at all. The whole story just flows. ~F-L-O-W-S~
Characterization? It's done perfectly. I have almost nothing in common with most of the characters and yet I still loved the characters. I understood them, rooted for them and enjoyed reading about them. Honestly, what more can a girl ask for?
The plot works out well too, all of it is interconnected and riveting. Music is clearly what joins the entire book together. Fans of punk rock will enjoy the novel and so will fans of pop, techno...you name it. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is universal and I reccommend it to everyone. Or at least anyone who doesn't mind a bit of risque material. Be sure, if you haven't already, to check it out.
Amazingly Wonderful Debut!!!!
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Bookluver-Carol
A raw, edgy, emotional novel about growing up punk and living to tell.
The Clash. Social Distortion. Dead Kennedys. Patti Smith. The Ramones.
Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?
This is one of the best books I've ever read! It was so raw, heartbreaking, funny at times, and so real. I heard some great stuff about this book and it was dead on. I was not disappointed it.This book was amazing. Emily uses music to try to find her mom and get some closure to get on with her life. I literally couldn't put this book down. I finished it all in one sitting. I really enjoyed reading this book. Emily is smart, headstrong, and loves music. All the characters were amazing. I even found myself caring about Louisa, Emily's mom.She felt real and I found myself caring for her, wondering if she was going to have a happy ending. This is a MUST read! You MUST buy or get a copy when it comes out July 8,2008.
A raw, edgy, emotional novel about growing up punk and living to tell.
The Clash. Social Distortion. Dead Kennedys. Patti Smith. The Ramones.
Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?
This is one of the best books I've ever read! It was so raw, heartbreaking, funny at times, and so real. I heard some great stuff about this book and it was dead on. I was not disappointed it.This book was amazing. Emily uses music to try to find her mom and get some closure to get on with her life. I literally couldn't put this book down. I finished it all in one sitting. I really enjoyed reading this book. Emily is smart, headstrong, and loves music. All the characters were amazing. I even found myself caring about Louisa, Emily's mom.She felt real and I found myself caring for her, wondering if she was going to have a happy ending. This is a MUST read! You MUST buy or get a copy when it comes out July 8,2008.
You can find your inner punk rocker...or you can read this awesome book!
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by the book muncher
For Emily Black, music is everything. Its what made her parents fall in love way back when. Its what her mother Louisa was following when she left baby Emily. Its what Emily has to stay in control of her life. Music draws her from her dreary life in Carlisle, Iowa to Rivers Edge, an abandoned warehouse where rock bands play. Rivers Edge is where Emily got her fill of sex, drinking, and rock n roll, and where her dreams of being a punk rock goddess began. So she and her best friend Regan form a punk band named She Laughs, and Emily cant help but hope that by playing music, shell bring her mother home.
Soon, her band is swept up in the dangerous world of rock music. Her band has a lot of talent, but so many ups and downs in Emilys life lead her away from the music. There are the bad boyfriends, the death of her grandparents, the involvement with drugs and self-medication, and a year wasted searching for her mother. But eventually Emily finds her way back on track, and her friends are still waiting for her to come back and pick up her guitar. And so she does, because music is all she has.
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is a beautiful coming-of-age story that I will never forget. Reading along from both Emilys and Louisas points-of-views was heartbreaking at times, because theyve both experienced so much pain in their lives. The story that Stephanie Kuehnert has woven has lessons on everything from friendship, family, love, drugs, and learning to love, or at least accept, the person you are. The story is filled with so much raw emotion, and I nearly cried at the ending because I didnt want the story to be over.
I have to admit that I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is like no other book Ive ever read, and that is definitely a good thing. Ive learned so much from this novel that I never wouldve expected from first glance. It made me want to find my inner punk rocker and scream along to deafening punk music. I highly recommend everyone buy this book when it comes out this July or pre-order it now; I promise you wont regret picking up this unforgettable novel. I definitely look forward to more amazing novels from Stephanie Kuehnert.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/
For Emily Black, music is everything. Its what made her parents fall in love way back when. Its what her mother Louisa was following when she left baby Emily. Its what Emily has to stay in control of her life. Music draws her from her dreary life in Carlisle, Iowa to Rivers Edge, an abandoned warehouse where rock bands play. Rivers Edge is where Emily got her fill of sex, drinking, and rock n roll, and where her dreams of being a punk rock goddess began. So she and her best friend Regan form a punk band named She Laughs, and Emily cant help but hope that by playing music, shell bring her mother home.
Soon, her band is swept up in the dangerous world of rock music. Her band has a lot of talent, but so many ups and downs in Emilys life lead her away from the music. There are the bad boyfriends, the death of her grandparents, the involvement with drugs and self-medication, and a year wasted searching for her mother. But eventually Emily finds her way back on track, and her friends are still waiting for her to come back and pick up her guitar. And so she does, because music is all she has.
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is a beautiful coming-of-age story that I will never forget. Reading along from both Emilys and Louisas points-of-views was heartbreaking at times, because theyve both experienced so much pain in their lives. The story that Stephanie Kuehnert has woven has lessons on everything from friendship, family, love, drugs, and learning to love, or at least accept, the person you are. The story is filled with so much raw emotion, and I nearly cried at the ending because I didnt want the story to be over.
I have to admit that I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is like no other book Ive ever read, and that is definitely a good thing. Ive learned so much from this novel that I never wouldve expected from first glance. It made me want to find my inner punk rocker and scream along to deafening punk music. I highly recommend everyone buy this book when it comes out this July or pre-order it now; I promise you wont regret picking up this unforgettable novel. I definitely look forward to more amazing novels from Stephanie Kuehnert.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/
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