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Naked
London, 1976: a summer of chaos, punk, love . . . and the boy they called Billy the Kid.
It was the summer of so many things. Heat and violence, love and hate, heaven and hell. It was the time I met William Bonney - the boy from Belfast known as Billy the Kid.
I've kept William's secrets for a long time, but now things have changed and I have to tell the truth. But I can't begin until I've told you about Curtis Ray. Hip, cool, rebellious Curtis Ray. Without Curtis, there wouldn't be a story to tell.
It's the story of our band, of life and death . . . and everything in between.
It was the summer of so many things. Heat and violence, love and hate, heaven and hell. It was the time I met William Bonney - the boy from Belfast known as Billy the Kid.
I've kept William's secrets for a long time, but now things have changed and I have to tell the truth. But I can't begin until I've told you about Curtis Ray. Hip, cool, rebellious Curtis Ray. Without Curtis, there wouldn't be a story to tell.
It's the story of our band, of life and death . . . and everything in between.
390 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
1337 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Brooks
75 books878 followersKevin Brooks was born in 1959 and grew up in Exeter, Devon, England. He studied Psychology and Philosophy at Birmingham, Aston University in 1980 and Cultural Studies in London in 1983. Kevin Brooks has been in a variety of jobs including: musician, gasoline station attendant, crematorium handyman, civil service clerk, hot dog vendor at the London Zoo, post office clerk, and railway ticket office clerk.
Kevin Brooks's writing career started with the publication of Martyn Pig in 2002 through The Chicken House which won the Branford Boase Award 2003 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He also wrote Lucas (2002) which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2003 also winning the North East Book Award in 2004.
In 2004 he published Kissing the Rain and Bloodline and I See You, Baby and Candy in 2005. In 2006 he published 3 books including: Johnny Delgado Series - Like Father, Like Son and Private Detective as well as The Road of the Dead; a standalone novel. In February 2008 he published the standalone book Black Rabbit Summer.
As a child, Kevin Brooks enjoyed reading detective novels. He writes most plots of the various books he has written around crime fiction. He likes mystery and suspence and enjoys putting both of those components into each and every story he writes in some shape or form.
Kevin Brooks's writing career started with the publication of Martyn Pig in 2002 through The Chicken House which won the Branford Boase Award 2003 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He also wrote Lucas (2002) which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2003 also winning the North East Book Award in 2004.
In 2004 he published Kissing the Rain and Bloodline and I See You, Baby and Candy in 2005. In 2006 he published 3 books including: Johnny Delgado Series - Like Father, Like Son and Private Detective as well as The Road of the Dead; a standalone novel. In February 2008 he published the standalone book Black Rabbit Summer.
As a child, Kevin Brooks enjoyed reading detective novels. He writes most plots of the various books he has written around crime fiction. He likes mystery and suspence and enjoys putting both of those components into each and every story he writes in some shape or form.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 17, 2019
“You can’t make them unhappen. You can’t just leave them behind, because once they’ve happened, they’re part of you, part of your past, and their memories become part of your present, and their consequences become part of your future.
Things that happen become you.
And you can never leave yourself behind.”
I don’t think I can sufficiently made you understand how impressive the writing was: it was infused with emotions. How Kevin Brooks (who was totally obscure to me before picking this up!) wrote about music was just so visceral. And to think that normally, I actively avoid reading novels about bands since I usually find it hard to “hear” the music! In the case of Kevin Brooks and Naked, the writing was so good, I found myself rereading sentences I just read because I felt my heart moved by them.
“It was called ‘Heaven Hill’. It started off quietly, with Curtis singing sorrowfully over a single haunting guitar line, and gradually it built up into a swirling echo of bittersweet harmonies over a mesmerizing heartbeat of throbbing bass and drums. Again, I’d never heard anything like it before, and if someone had asked me what kind of music it was, I wouldn’t have known what to say.
It was, quite simply, unforgettable.”
And this has one of the best female voices that was written by male authors. There’s really nothing to jar me out of my conviction that yes, she is a girl. Amazing feat indeed.
May 29, 2012
Some of the best books I read are the ones I stumble on accidentally. I can’t even remember why I decided that I might like this book. I’m not a huge fan of the 70s. I have an aversion against bands in YA fiction. I’d never even heard of Kevin Brooks.
So why would I read this YA book about a fictional band in the 70s… written by Kevin Brooks?
Maybe I was feeling particularly crazy that day.
I don’t know, but I did and it was brilliant. Seriously, it was brilliant.
If I could sum up what this book was about in one word it would be ‘passionate’. Every single character in this book is passionate about something. Well, OK, not Stan but I’m passionate about Stan so that’s OK; we’ll kind of balance each other out. Whether it’s music, drugs, punk, sex, - it seeps from the page and it’s practically impossible not to be drawn into it whether you care about it or not. This book is everything that YA should be- breathless, messy, funny, heart breaking, intriguing.
OK, I was going sum up this book with one word wasn’t I? Whoops.
I loved everything about Mr Brooks’ writing. I found myself underlining so many paragraphs it got a bit daft, especially when I found that my favourite quote ended up coming pretty early on in the book. And when I say early I mean the first paragraph.
Isn’t that one of the best openings ever? I could wax lyrical about how brilliant his writing is and how it really transported you to exactly where he wanted you but well, we don’t have all day, do we?
I have quite an eclectic taste in music but I’m not the hugest fan of punk music, which is basically what this book is about. The closest thing I am to being a punk is having a nose piercing and that one time I ripped my skirt and had to use a safety pin to save myself from an awkward situation.
Punk rocker, thy name is not Jo.
But it honestly didn’t matter to me because I was too busy loving this story and the characters to care. I think that’s one of Mr Brooks’ main talents. Not many YA readers could honestly say that they are true, true, true fans of punk music (and no, wearing a Ramones t-shirt from Topshop doesn’t count) but he makes sure that you’re never out of your depth. Mr Brooks has this great way of telling a story that heavily relies on the setting and the culture of the 70s without coming across as one of those pretentious music fans.
You know the ones… the ones who corner you at a party and they know everything and they heard of that obscure band before you did and omg they’re so retro and how have you never heard of them? You know the ones…. The ones you want to thump?
Mr Brooks is as far from that as you can get. Which, um, is good because I like to think that I’m not the kind of girl who would attack bestselling authors and also I can’t throw a punch to save my life.
Let’s talk about Naked. Normally I find fictional bands, YA or not, completely horrendous. They seem to be so cringey and fake and terribly unrealistic. But Naked?
I’d definitely go and see them and stand at the front and be doused in the blood/spit/bodily fluids of the nearest tattooed punk rock-…..
Hahahaha, I’m totally kidding. I’d be at the back because I’m a delicate girl who values her limbs and face. Also, I find only a certain kind of person can truly look good in a leather bra and swastika tattoos.
If, however, you aren’t too fussed about punk music please stop backing away from this book slowly. It’s not all punk and swastikas and Johnny Rotten. Do you like David Bowie? Of course you do, because who doesn’t? The Buzzcocks? Velvet Underground? Pink Floyd? THE WURZELS? Yep. This book comes with one of the best readymade soundtracks I know.
See? I’m not a complete dunce in 70s music. But if I had been alive in the 70s, I like to think that I would be cool enough to be looking upwards… a bit more…. Northern. Things were happening up there. I dunno, you may have heard of them?
And while I’m talking about awesome things from the 70s that came from my neck of the woods…
Dame Vivienne Westwood.
Need I say more? Northern England sure produces the most excellent of artists… *cough*
I think this book would be perfect for anyone who is interested in reading something that is a bit different from the norm. This isn’t a book set in a high school and it’s not set in a dystopian world. It is truly sex, drugs androck ‘n’ roll punk rock. But the glorious thing about this book is that it won’t just interest people who are interested in the 70s or music but anyone who is interested in British and Northern Irish history as a whole. Mr Brooks sets the scene perfectly and it’s rough and it’s uncomfortable and it’s so, so good.
Anyway, enough with the setting. I think we’ve established that Mr Brooks knows his stuff. My favourite thing about this book were the characters. I absolutely loved Lili, our narrator. She was such a gorgeous, vibrant and clever heroine. I loved how she held her own in a very masculine world. She was such a caring character who, even though I didn’t always agree with the things she did, always tried to do the right thing and stand by the people she cared about no matter how close they were to crashing and burning.
She was also hilarious.
:D
Also she plays the guitar like an absolute beast!
While I’m talking about Lili, I have to talk about something else….
Slight spoiler
I also loved the relationship between William and Lili so much. As much as I loved Curtis Ray in all his tragedy and beauty and I appreciated how magnificent he is as a character, William Bonney takes the biscuit. I just loved how he treated Lili.
*girly sigh*
I’m not going to talk about these two too much because I think it’s best to meet them on your own terms but I will say one thing, something that I think will sum up their relationship. On one of their ‘dates’ they walk around London discussing the genius of David Bowie and whether it was Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane who had the orange stripe across their face.
If you can give me an example of a more perfect date, consider my reviewer’s bonnet eaten.
End of slight spoiler.
The only problem I had was this book was the ending. Not the ‘just before the ending’ ending which I really loved, but the proper ending. I was OK up until then. Then things got a little too neat and tied up and lovely.
BUT…. After the angst Mr Brooks had put us through, a nice ending was a bit of a reprieve.
Hey, I’m a Brit- I like my endings messy… don’t judge me.
Perhaps a little unrelated, I read this book on my Kindle which is such a shame because I would have LOVED to have seen the faces of my fellow commuters as they saw what I was reading.
Live fast. Play dirty. GET NAKED.
LOL.
Anyway, this book is spectacular and you should be reading it.
You can read this review and other exciting things on my blog, Wear the Old Coat.
So why would I read this YA book about a fictional band in the 70s… written by Kevin Brooks?
Maybe I was feeling particularly crazy that day.
I don’t know, but I did and it was brilliant. Seriously, it was brilliant.
If I could sum up what this book was about in one word it would be ‘passionate’. Every single character in this book is passionate about something. Well, OK, not Stan but I’m passionate about Stan so that’s OK; we’ll kind of balance each other out. Whether it’s music, drugs, punk, sex, - it seeps from the page and it’s practically impossible not to be drawn into it whether you care about it or not. This book is everything that YA should be- breathless, messy, funny, heart breaking, intriguing.
OK, I was going sum up this book with one word wasn’t I? Whoops.
I loved everything about Mr Brooks’ writing. I found myself underlining so many paragraphs it got a bit daft, especially when I found that my favourite quote ended up coming pretty early on in the book. And when I say early I mean the first paragraph.
“My heart was born in the long hot summer of 1976; my life was made, my love was sealed, my soul was lost and broken. It was the summer of so many things – heat and violence, love and hate, dreams and nightmares, heaven and hell- and when I look back on it now, it’s hard to tell the good from the bad.
It was all good and bad.
Altogether, all at once.
It was everything.”
Isn’t that one of the best openings ever? I could wax lyrical about how brilliant his writing is and how it really transported you to exactly where he wanted you but well, we don’t have all day, do we?
I have quite an eclectic taste in music but I’m not the hugest fan of punk music, which is basically what this book is about. The closest thing I am to being a punk is having a nose piercing and that one time I ripped my skirt and had to use a safety pin to save myself from an awkward situation.
Punk rocker, thy name is not Jo.
But it honestly didn’t matter to me because I was too busy loving this story and the characters to care. I think that’s one of Mr Brooks’ main talents. Not many YA readers could honestly say that they are true, true, true fans of punk music (and no, wearing a Ramones t-shirt from Topshop doesn’t count) but he makes sure that you’re never out of your depth. Mr Brooks has this great way of telling a story that heavily relies on the setting and the culture of the 70s without coming across as one of those pretentious music fans.
You know the ones… the ones who corner you at a party and they know everything and they heard of that obscure band before you did and omg they’re so retro and how have you never heard of them? You know the ones…. The ones you want to thump?
Mr Brooks is as far from that as you can get. Which, um, is good because I like to think that I’m not the kind of girl who would attack bestselling authors and also I can’t throw a punch to save my life.
Let’s talk about Naked. Normally I find fictional bands, YA or not, completely horrendous. They seem to be so cringey and fake and terribly unrealistic. But Naked?
“The sound was electrifying, stunning, the crash of chords ripping through the air like a thunderous shot of adrenalin, and when I started playing […] and the stage erupted in a blaze of lights, it all felt so good that I thought for a moment my heart was going to explode. The sound was almost too good to believe. We were so loud, so fast, so tight…. We were so there.. .it was incredible.”
I’d definitely go and see them and stand at the front and be doused in the blood/spit/bodily fluids of the nearest tattooed punk rock-…..
Hahahaha, I’m totally kidding. I’d be at the back because I’m a delicate girl who values her limbs and face. Also, I find only a certain kind of person can truly look good in a leather bra and swastika tattoos.
If, however, you aren’t too fussed about punk music please stop backing away from this book slowly. It’s not all punk and swastikas and Johnny Rotten. Do you like David Bowie? Of course you do, because who doesn’t? The Buzzcocks? Velvet Underground? Pink Floyd? THE WURZELS? Yep. This book comes with one of the best readymade soundtracks I know.
See? I’m not a complete dunce in 70s music. But if I had been alive in the 70s, I like to think that I would be cool enough to be looking upwards… a bit more…. Northern. Things were happening up there. I dunno, you may have heard of them?
And while I’m talking about awesome things from the 70s that came from my neck of the woods…
“The shop was called Sex, and over the years it came to be known as the birthplace of the sex pistols. When Curtis first took me there, in August 1975, it already had a growing reputation as the place to be. It was owned and run by Malcolm McClaren and Vivienne Westwood.”
Dame Vivienne Westwood.
Need I say more? Northern England sure produces the most excellent of artists… *cough*
I think this book would be perfect for anyone who is interested in reading something that is a bit different from the norm. This isn’t a book set in a high school and it’s not set in a dystopian world. It is truly sex, drugs and
Anyway, enough with the setting. I think we’ve established that Mr Brooks knows his stuff. My favourite thing about this book were the characters. I absolutely loved Lili, our narrator. She was such a gorgeous, vibrant and clever heroine. I loved how she held her own in a very masculine world. She was such a caring character who, even though I didn’t always agree with the things she did, always tried to do the right thing and stand by the people she cared about no matter how close they were to crashing and burning.
She was also hilarious.
“I bought most of my clothes from jumble sales and charity shops, and – as far as I remember- my hair at the time was a failed attempt at a Suzi Quatro-style layered cut, which might not have looked all that bad if I hadn’t recently attacked it myself with a pair of blunt scissors… an exercise that resulted in me resembling a slightly deranged medieval waif.”
:D
Also she plays the guitar like an absolute beast!
While I’m talking about Lili, I have to talk about something else….
Slight spoiler
I also loved the relationship between William and Lili so much. As much as I loved Curtis Ray in all his tragedy and beauty and I appreciated how magnificent he is as a character, William Bonney takes the biscuit. I just loved how he treated Lili.
“It made me feel how I was supposed to feel at my age.
Excited and stupid…
But stupid in a good way.”
*girly sigh*
I’m not going to talk about these two too much because I think it’s best to meet them on your own terms but I will say one thing, something that I think will sum up their relationship. On one of their ‘dates’ they walk around London discussing the genius of David Bowie and whether it was Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane who had the orange stripe across their face.
If you can give me an example of a more perfect date, consider my reviewer’s bonnet eaten.
End of slight spoiler.
The only problem I had was this book was the ending. Not the ‘just before the ending’ ending which I really loved, but the proper ending. I was OK up until then. Then things got a little too neat and tied up and lovely.
BUT…. After the angst Mr Brooks had put us through, a nice ending was a bit of a reprieve.
Hey, I’m a Brit- I like my endings messy… don’t judge me.
Perhaps a little unrelated, I read this book on my Kindle which is such a shame because I would have LOVED to have seen the faces of my fellow commuters as they saw what I was reading.
Live fast. Play dirty. GET NAKED.
LOL.
Anyway, this book is spectacular and you should be reading it.
You can read this review and other exciting things on my blog, Wear the Old Coat.
April 2, 2019
Un autore che scrive di adolescenti e con protagonisti adolescenti.
Lettura, per me, dunque, totalmente inadatta se non fosse che qui domina la musica punk e un punto di congiunzione lo trovo.
La voce narrante è quella della sedicenne Lil che assieme al fidanzato Curtis suona nella band dei “Naked”.
“Naked” significa nudo.
Siamo a Londra nel 1976: un luogo e un tempo in cui la nudità potremmo rapportarla a quel nascente movimento in cui i giovani vogliono spogliarsi della mentalità benpensante.
Gli eccessi sono la nuova morale e la musica deve riflettere questo ritmo esistenziale incalzante.
Dunque, Brooks inserisce questa band immaginaria in un reale contesto.
Per me è stata una lettura piacevole per le atmosfere storiche che ci riportano da un lato questa rivoluzione musicale e sociale dall’altra un contesto storico-politico altrettanto incisivo in terra irlandese.
Mi rimane un dubbio: un libro per quali adolescenti?
Quelli attempati e filonostalgici, credo.
Se facessi leggere il libro ad una delle mie figlie non saprebbe né cos’è stato uno squat né cosa succedeva al 430 di King's Road. Ma pensandoci meglio. Credo che anche molti adulti non sanno di cosa io stia parlando.
Insomma un libro d’intrattenimento con una musica non adatta a tutti.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Euw...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCW7A...
Lettura, per me, dunque, totalmente inadatta se non fosse che qui domina la musica punk e un punto di congiunzione lo trovo.
La voce narrante è quella della sedicenne Lil che assieme al fidanzato Curtis suona nella band dei “Naked”.
“Naked” significa nudo.
Siamo a Londra nel 1976: un luogo e un tempo in cui la nudità potremmo rapportarla a quel nascente movimento in cui i giovani vogliono spogliarsi della mentalità benpensante.
Gli eccessi sono la nuova morale e la musica deve riflettere questo ritmo esistenziale incalzante.
Dunque, Brooks inserisce questa band immaginaria in un reale contesto.
Per me è stata una lettura piacevole per le atmosfere storiche che ci riportano da un lato questa rivoluzione musicale e sociale dall’altra un contesto storico-politico altrettanto incisivo in terra irlandese.
Mi rimane un dubbio: un libro per quali adolescenti?
Quelli attempati e filonostalgici, credo.
Se facessi leggere il libro ad una delle mie figlie non saprebbe né cos’è stato uno squat né cosa succedeva al 430 di King's Road. Ma pensandoci meglio. Credo che anche molti adulti non sanno di cosa io stia parlando.
Insomma un libro d’intrattenimento con una musica non adatta a tutti.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Euw...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCW7A...
September 17, 2011
I’d never read a Kevin Brooks book before this one but I know a lot of people rave about his writing so when I got the review request, even though it didn’t totally look like my kind of thing, I decided to give it a chance!
Each character in this book was so unique and different from the next and that was something I really loved. The main character, Lili, is quite sweet and innocent at the beginning and a massive contrast to Curtis, the boy who takes her under his wing. In one way, I kind of think that Curtis corrupted Lili a little bit, showing her a completely different way of life and introducing her to drugs and drink but then on the other hand, I think maybe she might have turned out the same way anyway due to the era and what was going on. I liked Lili though, she brought a softer side to a very hard story and gave it the feminine edge that it needed.
Curtis and Billy were the most interesting characters though. Curtis is a complete wild child and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him. He just wants to live his life his own way and not have people telling him what he should and shouldn’t do. Although this gets him into a heap of trouble at time, I admired him for his bravery and determination. As crazy as Curtis was, he had a softer side to him that was rarely seen as it only came out when he and Lili were alone but it was good to see that he wasn’t totally wild. Billy was nearly the complete opposite to Curtis. Yes, he still drinks, sometimes does drugs and has a good time at parties but he was a much quieter and subdued character. Billy had a lot of hidden depths and it was great to hear his story being revealed at small intervals, always leaving me wanting more about him.
As Naked is about the story of a band in the late ‘70s, there are a lot of references to drugs, sex and drinking. Because of these things, Naked is definitely not a book for younger readers. I didn’t mind these things in the book at all though because they were so fitting with the setting of the book. I wasn’t even born in the ‘70s but I felt like all of these aspects helped to add to the atmosphere of the punk era and to make it possible for me to feel like I was actually there. Brooks’ writing was so vivid and intense that I could picture every skanky bar and party extremely well. The whole punk aspect of the book was something that interested me greatly as I had never read anything about it before, nor did I know anything about it beforehand. Another big issue which is brought up is the IRA and problems in Ireland during the time and again, I didn’t really know much about this so it really fascinated me and I think these things made Naked intense, interesting and complex.
The pacing in Naked is a bit hit and miss and felt all over the place at times. Just when it began to get really exciting, it would slow down completely for a large amount of pages and I thought this transition could have been a lot smoother. All of a sudden, the action stopped and the story would change to being dreary. Even so, these slower parts of the book really gave me a chance to get to know the characters better and to pay attention to the smaller things that they did or said which wouldn’t have been included I guess if there had been a lot more action and excitement.
I loved Kevin Brooks’ writing and how he is able to bring an era I wasn’t alive for to life. I am really glad I started with this book and because I loved it so much, I am desperate to get my hands on more of his books now.
Each character in this book was so unique and different from the next and that was something I really loved. The main character, Lili, is quite sweet and innocent at the beginning and a massive contrast to Curtis, the boy who takes her under his wing. In one way, I kind of think that Curtis corrupted Lili a little bit, showing her a completely different way of life and introducing her to drugs and drink but then on the other hand, I think maybe she might have turned out the same way anyway due to the era and what was going on. I liked Lili though, she brought a softer side to a very hard story and gave it the feminine edge that it needed.
Curtis and Billy were the most interesting characters though. Curtis is a complete wild child and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him. He just wants to live his life his own way and not have people telling him what he should and shouldn’t do. Although this gets him into a heap of trouble at time, I admired him for his bravery and determination. As crazy as Curtis was, he had a softer side to him that was rarely seen as it only came out when he and Lili were alone but it was good to see that he wasn’t totally wild. Billy was nearly the complete opposite to Curtis. Yes, he still drinks, sometimes does drugs and has a good time at parties but he was a much quieter and subdued character. Billy had a lot of hidden depths and it was great to hear his story being revealed at small intervals, always leaving me wanting more about him.
As Naked is about the story of a band in the late ‘70s, there are a lot of references to drugs, sex and drinking. Because of these things, Naked is definitely not a book for younger readers. I didn’t mind these things in the book at all though because they were so fitting with the setting of the book. I wasn’t even born in the ‘70s but I felt like all of these aspects helped to add to the atmosphere of the punk era and to make it possible for me to feel like I was actually there. Brooks’ writing was so vivid and intense that I could picture every skanky bar and party extremely well. The whole punk aspect of the book was something that interested me greatly as I had never read anything about it before, nor did I know anything about it beforehand. Another big issue which is brought up is the IRA and problems in Ireland during the time and again, I didn’t really know much about this so it really fascinated me and I think these things made Naked intense, interesting and complex.
The pacing in Naked is a bit hit and miss and felt all over the place at times. Just when it began to get really exciting, it would slow down completely for a large amount of pages and I thought this transition could have been a lot smoother. All of a sudden, the action stopped and the story would change to being dreary. Even so, these slower parts of the book really gave me a chance to get to know the characters better and to pay attention to the smaller things that they did or said which wouldn’t have been included I guess if there had been a lot more action and excitement.
I loved Kevin Brooks’ writing and how he is able to bring an era I wasn’t alive for to life. I am really glad I started with this book and because I loved it so much, I am desperate to get my hands on more of his books now.
June 26, 2016
"I would have looked good, in an elegantly wasted kind of way... I would of looked cool, like I didn't care... I would of looked rock 'n' roll. But I wasn't."
Lila is quiet, pretty and plays the piano. At school, shes the loner and doesn't bother with people much.
Curtis is the school god. Everyone knows him, they want to be him and all the girls want a piece of what he's offering. Not only does he look good, but he's in a band. Girls always want what others want and can't have.
While practicing the piano, Curtis is watching Lila and enjoying every swift note. They start chatting about what other instruments she plays and invites her to his band practice.
And that's how Curtis and Lila come to be. A coincidence can bring people together and it can tear down the world.
At practice, Curtis shows her a few things and they start jamming. Lila is in and is now part of the band and dating Curtis....
The rhythm guitarist starts his shit and now they are on the hunt for someone who fits. Not coming up with much, that is until William shows up and acts not interetsted and blows them all away.
Lila is struck by how he looks and his eyes that are so intense that shes smitten.
They are now the one and only Naked! They start playing gigs with huge bands like The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks and even The Clash.
But something about William is throwing off the balance of the band. From missing practices and being secretive, Curtis is envious of this mystery guitar player.
If anyone can break him it's Lila and thats exactly what she does. He spills just enough about his life that she feels for him and also worries herself into a panic at times.
Curtis the jealous creature that he is.. accuses Lila of being unfaithful and sleeps with the known slut Charlie Brown. He's falling deeper and deeper into drugs and booze. That's what bands do, right? He can't handle himself and goes off the deep end.
Not only does Lila have to deal with his shit, the secretive life of Billy The Kid, but she has a crazy life to deal with... (Read the book suckers and find out)
Love blossoms between Lila and William, it's a love way different than what she had with Curtis.
The bigger shows they play, the more publicity and record contracts are being offered. And that's when William starts backing away. (Nope nope nope... Im not giving that one away neither) Pfft! Spolied.
We all have secrets, but nothing like whats in this book. Major mind blowing secrets.
I applaud Brooks for all the extensive research he did for this book. There are so many intricate details to this story that I had to always look this up to make sure that this wasn't nonfiction and I'm still shocked that it's not. It throws huge names around and with this story it could have happened.
It's raw and very powerful. There are so many different sides to being in a band and this is the side no one wants to believe. It's dirty and provocative.
Really great book for people who want to go back in time and relive the greatest musical time of our lives. It's so much more than music, it has hate and war of the 70s and brings it all together. A definite read.
Lila is quiet, pretty and plays the piano. At school, shes the loner and doesn't bother with people much.
Curtis is the school god. Everyone knows him, they want to be him and all the girls want a piece of what he's offering. Not only does he look good, but he's in a band. Girls always want what others want and can't have.
While practicing the piano, Curtis is watching Lila and enjoying every swift note. They start chatting about what other instruments she plays and invites her to his band practice.
And that's how Curtis and Lila come to be. A coincidence can bring people together and it can tear down the world.
At practice, Curtis shows her a few things and they start jamming. Lila is in and is now part of the band and dating Curtis....
The rhythm guitarist starts his shit and now they are on the hunt for someone who fits. Not coming up with much, that is until William shows up and acts not interetsted and blows them all away.
Lila is struck by how he looks and his eyes that are so intense that shes smitten.
They are now the one and only Naked! They start playing gigs with huge bands like The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks and even The Clash.
But something about William is throwing off the balance of the band. From missing practices and being secretive, Curtis is envious of this mystery guitar player.
If anyone can break him it's Lila and thats exactly what she does. He spills just enough about his life that she feels for him and also worries herself into a panic at times.
Curtis the jealous creature that he is.. accuses Lila of being unfaithful and sleeps with the known slut Charlie Brown. He's falling deeper and deeper into drugs and booze. That's what bands do, right? He can't handle himself and goes off the deep end.
Not only does Lila have to deal with his shit, the secretive life of Billy The Kid, but she has a crazy life to deal with... (Read the book suckers and find out)
Love blossoms between Lila and William, it's a love way different than what she had with Curtis.
The bigger shows they play, the more publicity and record contracts are being offered. And that's when William starts backing away. (Nope nope nope... Im not giving that one away neither) Pfft! Spolied.
We all have secrets, but nothing like whats in this book. Major mind blowing secrets.
I applaud Brooks for all the extensive research he did for this book. There are so many intricate details to this story that I had to always look this up to make sure that this wasn't nonfiction and I'm still shocked that it's not. It throws huge names around and with this story it could have happened.
It's raw and very powerful. There are so many different sides to being in a band and this is the side no one wants to believe. It's dirty and provocative.
Really great book for people who want to go back in time and relive the greatest musical time of our lives. It's so much more than music, it has hate and war of the 70s and brings it all together. A definite read.
October 28, 2016
Bellissimo! Consigliatissimo a chi come me vuole una romanzo ambientato nel mondo reale e che abbia verosimiglianza, personaggi davvero ben caratterizzati e perciò indimenticabili, e perché no?, una buona dose di citazioni e conoscenze musicali. Qui c'è tutto questo e anche qualcosa in più.
I protagonisti sono liceali solo all'apparenza, perché la loro "testa" e la loro esperienza vanno ben oltre la scuola frequentata (a cui si accenna pochissimo) e la data anagrafica di nascita. Sono uomini e donne con volontà e capacità decisionali ben definite, caratterizzati nella loro psicologia dai comportamenti tenuti in situazioni più o meno drammatiche.
Ho sorriso, mi sono emozionata, è scesa anche qualche lacrima e... Ho anche scoperto cose che non sapevo. Un piccolo oscuro capolavoro scoperto grazie ad un'amica per la comune passione per la musica. Ma una chicca da non perdere, per chiunque abbia voglia di leggere una bella storia.
Grazie all'autore e complimenti vivissimi.
I protagonisti sono liceali solo all'apparenza, perché la loro "testa" e la loro esperienza vanno ben oltre la scuola frequentata (a cui si accenna pochissimo) e la data anagrafica di nascita. Sono uomini e donne con volontà e capacità decisionali ben definite, caratterizzati nella loro psicologia dai comportamenti tenuti in situazioni più o meno drammatiche.
Ho sorriso, mi sono emozionata, è scesa anche qualche lacrima e... Ho anche scoperto cose che non sapevo. Un piccolo oscuro capolavoro scoperto grazie ad un'amica per la comune passione per la musica. Ma una chicca da non perdere, per chiunque abbia voglia di leggere una bella storia.
Grazie all'autore e complimenti vivissimi.
November 27, 2014
This is the best book I have read in a long time. The Troubles (the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century) may be living memory for any of us over 30 but for teenagers they are history and a new book is needed to replace the likes of Joan Lingard's excellent Across the Barricades. Naked fills this space brilliantly with a narrative seen through the eyes of naive teenage girl experiencing sex, first love and painful loss of innocence during a blazing summer.
It is 1976, London and Lili is 17, practicing Debussy in the school music room when Curtis Ray, the boy everyone loved, hated, wanted to be or be with, comes in and asks her to join his band. She says yes and finds punk and love, their band feeding into the burgeoning Kings Road punk scene in London around Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's controversial shop Sex. Brooks never forces the issue by name dropping, Curtis' band Naked fits naturally against a backdrop of the Ramones and Sex Pistols. And when they need a new rhythm guitarist brilliant Irish musician William Bonney appears as if from nowhere and is promptly nicknamed Billy the Kid after his namesake. As Curtis spirals out of control through alcohol and drugs Lili learns more about William and his life growing up as a Catholic in violently polarised Belfast and loses her innocence.
What Brooks does brilliantly in this is two fold. Firstly, he writes convincingly in the voice of a 17 year old girl who is affluent but emotionally bereft, charting her growing awareness of a larger world and her own sense of self. And secondly by putting the point of view behind her eyes he shows the horror of the Troubles and the UK bombings in a completely fresh light, as she learns so do we and what we learn is heartbreaking, of shattered families, brutality and fear. It makes for an achingly melancholic book, and the way I would like my 10 year old to learn about this vital aspect of British history that made a generation what it is.
It is 1976, London and Lili is 17, practicing Debussy in the school music room when Curtis Ray, the boy everyone loved, hated, wanted to be or be with, comes in and asks her to join his band. She says yes and finds punk and love, their band feeding into the burgeoning Kings Road punk scene in London around Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's controversial shop Sex. Brooks never forces the issue by name dropping, Curtis' band Naked fits naturally against a backdrop of the Ramones and Sex Pistols. And when they need a new rhythm guitarist brilliant Irish musician William Bonney appears as if from nowhere and is promptly nicknamed Billy the Kid after his namesake. As Curtis spirals out of control through alcohol and drugs Lili learns more about William and his life growing up as a Catholic in violently polarised Belfast and loses her innocence.
What Brooks does brilliantly in this is two fold. Firstly, he writes convincingly in the voice of a 17 year old girl who is affluent but emotionally bereft, charting her growing awareness of a larger world and her own sense of self. And secondly by putting the point of view behind her eyes he shows the horror of the Troubles and the UK bombings in a completely fresh light, as she learns so do we and what we learn is heartbreaking, of shattered families, brutality and fear. It makes for an achingly melancholic book, and the way I would like my 10 year old to learn about this vital aspect of British history that made a generation what it is.
January 27, 2015
Naked is one of those books by a well established author that you just know is going to be huge. While not entirely for me as I'm not sure I'm into the topic it covered I enjoyed reading it and I'm sure someone far more into music than me (or someone who can remember those early days of Punk) will devour and love it.
The thing that struck me most about this book is that the main characters voice is so brilliantly realistic. Reading this is actually like reading the diary of a teenage girl (granted without all the soppiness -Lili is in a punk band you know). I loved learning about the early punk scene through her eyes.
There were several elements to the story that I enjoyed.
I liked seeing the relationships Lili built up with both Curtis and with William and enjoyed seeing how completely different those relationships were. I will admit now to being a William fan and therefore this meant I spend a vast amount of the book hoping he and Lili would get it together.
Those people who are looking to get this for school libraries younger teens I would certainly advise caution with younger children as there are a lot of drug / sexual references / swearing which might not be entirely appropriate for very young teenagers although I imagine this will be the entire reason why older ones would love it.
As I said enjoyed learning about the early punk scene through Lili and loved the edginess it brought to the book.
This book also added an interesting storyline involving the IRA troubles in the 1970s which is one part of the book which I personally found fascinating especially as it gave a lot of insight both into the political situation at the time for ordinary people but also into the mind set of people fighting on either side.
All in all a book which I think is going to be highly successful and earn many fans both young and old.
The thing that struck me most about this book is that the main characters voice is so brilliantly realistic. Reading this is actually like reading the diary of a teenage girl (granted without all the soppiness -Lili is in a punk band you know). I loved learning about the early punk scene through her eyes.
There were several elements to the story that I enjoyed.
I liked seeing the relationships Lili built up with both Curtis and with William and enjoyed seeing how completely different those relationships were. I will admit now to being a William fan and therefore this meant I spend a vast amount of the book hoping he and Lili would get it together.
Those people who are looking to get this for school libraries younger teens I would certainly advise caution with younger children as there are a lot of drug / sexual references / swearing which might not be entirely appropriate for very young teenagers although I imagine this will be the entire reason why older ones would love it.
As I said enjoyed learning about the early punk scene through Lili and loved the edginess it brought to the book.
This book also added an interesting storyline involving the IRA troubles in the 1970s which is one part of the book which I personally found fascinating especially as it gave a lot of insight both into the political situation at the time for ordinary people but also into the mind set of people fighting on either side.
All in all a book which I think is going to be highly successful and earn many fans both young and old.
February 25, 2016
This is the first Kevin Brooks book I've read but it will definitely not be the last. This was a raw, exciting novel set in the burgeoning world of punk. The main character is Lili, a young classically trained musician who finds herself swept into this dirty, unglamorous music scene that began sweeping its way through 70's-era England. She finds herself becoming the bassist of a group called 'Naked' but is never really sure if she fits into this world.
The characters are at the heart of this novel and Lili is a likeable and relatable protagonist. Her relationships with Curtis (the lead singer in the group) and William (the mysterious new rhythm guitarist) are what drive the narrative. I found both characters to be very interesting. Curtis, with all his self-destructive ways, is a heart-breaking character and William (or 'Billy the Kid' as he becomes known) is simply a fascinating character. The only downside of the book is you never really feel you get to know him as well as you would like. William was easily my favourite character.
Anyone familiar with the early punk scene will enjoy all the references, from Malcolm McLaren (and his infamous boutique 'Sex') to various bands that would soon be taking the country by storm such as The Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks etc. There is also a subplot revolving around the IRA conflict in Northern Ireland which ends up playing a really big role in the story as it unfolds.
The story is at times beautiful and heart-breaking. Brooks writes as someone very familiar with the setting and the events. I wasn't even born during the time the book is set in (although I am at least passingly familiar with punk as a social movement though prefer post-punk music personally) but I really felt swept up in the events.
Five stars *****
The characters are at the heart of this novel and Lili is a likeable and relatable protagonist. Her relationships with Curtis (the lead singer in the group) and William (the mysterious new rhythm guitarist) are what drive the narrative. I found both characters to be very interesting. Curtis, with all his self-destructive ways, is a heart-breaking character and William (or 'Billy the Kid' as he becomes known) is simply a fascinating character. The only downside of the book is you never really feel you get to know him as well as you would like. William was easily my favourite character.
Anyone familiar with the early punk scene will enjoy all the references, from Malcolm McLaren (and his infamous boutique 'Sex') to various bands that would soon be taking the country by storm such as The Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks etc. There is also a subplot revolving around the IRA conflict in Northern Ireland which ends up playing a really big role in the story as it unfolds.
The story is at times beautiful and heart-breaking. Brooks writes as someone very familiar with the setting and the events. I wasn't even born during the time the book is set in (although I am at least passingly familiar with punk as a social movement though prefer post-punk music personally) but I really felt swept up in the events.
Five stars *****
March 27, 2017
This young adult novel is set in 1976, against the backdrop of London's growing punk rock scene.
Lili is a 16-year-old bass player in a flourishing punk band. I love her matter-of-fact point of view, and what feels like an insider's look at the beginnings of punk rock.
Lili is a 16-year-old bass player in a flourishing punk band. I love her matter-of-fact point of view, and what feels like an insider's look at the beginnings of punk rock.
March 19, 2018
This book was stupid, boring, and pointless. Maybe someone who was really into the origins of the punk music scene would enjoy it. I honestly don't know. I considered giving it one star, but I have this odd feeling about how no-one forced me to read it, and I could have stopped at any time, so it couldn't have been that bad, right? And it didn't offend and the ending didn't ruin it or anything so . . .
July 27, 2016
Naked ’76 is about a group of kids coming together during the infancy stage of punk rock. I have never heard of this author before but I will read anything that has to do with rock bands. This was quite a bit different than the norm for me but I have to admit that it was pretty good for a change of pace. There was a lot of name dropping of various punk celebs who were trying to make it with this new music which started over in England but this helped pull some of the music aspect into the story. This book wasn’t just about the music, it was about some kids and the lives they lead trying to find their way around in the changing music scene and the world they lived in. Just by saying that these kids were special because they weren’t afraid what others thought and stayed true to creating the kind of music they wanted to make.
Curtis was that boy in school that wasn’t afraid to act the part of the good looking bad boy who could write music and play a great guitar. Of course girls wanted to be with Curtis if even in secret because of what he stood for. Lili was a well-trained pianist who had eyes for Curtis but didn’t think anything would ever come of it because she sees herself as different and plain. It was her music skills that drew Curtis to Lili at first. Stan was the drummer in the band Naked and he was very good at what he did but it was his quiet demeanor that kept him in the thick of it as things kept changing and happening for Naked. It was when Billy the Kid aka William, who was from Ireland, came in to the picture that things took off. He was a great musician who could sing but did not want the spotlight. William needed to stay in the background and as long as that happened he loved playing the music.
This was during the time that the IRA was very strong and with William being from Ireland you knew there would be a connection at some point. Is this the reason he didn’t want to be in the spotlight? Curtis wasn’t willing to let anyone take the front man position of him either. He was made for music and he and Lili had become a thing over the time that Lili joined the band; that is until William came into the picture. Who would win out the battle for the music direction of the band and for Lili herself? Curtis was into the drug scene and many times he was hanging on by a thread and William had so many secrets that no one really knew anything about him other than he was a great musician. Would that be enough to keep William in the band and would this band ever be able to break into the big times? Where would Lili be when everything came to a head? For me, being from this era, things fell into place and it made it very interesting. It was a book about what was happening not only in the world in general but in the music business as well.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
Curtis was that boy in school that wasn’t afraid to act the part of the good looking bad boy who could write music and play a great guitar. Of course girls wanted to be with Curtis if even in secret because of what he stood for. Lili was a well-trained pianist who had eyes for Curtis but didn’t think anything would ever come of it because she sees herself as different and plain. It was her music skills that drew Curtis to Lili at first. Stan was the drummer in the band Naked and he was very good at what he did but it was his quiet demeanor that kept him in the thick of it as things kept changing and happening for Naked. It was when Billy the Kid aka William, who was from Ireland, came in to the picture that things took off. He was a great musician who could sing but did not want the spotlight. William needed to stay in the background and as long as that happened he loved playing the music.
This was during the time that the IRA was very strong and with William being from Ireland you knew there would be a connection at some point. Is this the reason he didn’t want to be in the spotlight? Curtis wasn’t willing to let anyone take the front man position of him either. He was made for music and he and Lili had become a thing over the time that Lili joined the band; that is until William came into the picture. Who would win out the battle for the music direction of the band and for Lili herself? Curtis was into the drug scene and many times he was hanging on by a thread and William had so many secrets that no one really knew anything about him other than he was a great musician. Would that be enough to keep William in the band and would this band ever be able to break into the big times? Where would Lili be when everything came to a head? For me, being from this era, things fell into place and it made it very interesting. It was a book about what was happening not only in the world in general but in the music business as well.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
July 6, 2016
Filled with a very appealing look into the music world of the rock 'n' roll of the 70s, it seems fairly well researched and even reads like a chaotic mess of drugs, sex, and rock and roll. En point. But, who is the audience? I am not sure the average teen reader would pick up this story without a bit of prodding. It's also a bit on the long side. But I can see a few fans of it. Those musician types that would understand the passion to play alongside the grittiness of band life, performing, etc.
I also found it engaging that this is reflective, the main character is looking back on their life, rather than living in the moment, which is rarer in YA lit (if we're going to call it that). I'm going to classify this more as the new adult genre though you pick up with the characters as pre-teens, yet the content does lean heavy into the drama of the life.
I'm undecided about the purchase because I don't know that I'd have the audience for it, though I'll tuck it away as a wild card for a reader, likely male though with Lili playing a key role, I'd say equal readership.
I also found it engaging that this is reflective, the main character is looking back on their life, rather than living in the moment, which is rarer in YA lit (if we're going to call it that). I'm going to classify this more as the new adult genre though you pick up with the characters as pre-teens, yet the content does lean heavy into the drama of the life.
I'm undecided about the purchase because I don't know that I'd have the audience for it, though I'll tuck it away as a wild card for a reader, likely male though with Lili playing a key role, I'd say equal readership.
September 22, 2018
Oh mio dio, non ero per niente pronta alla tristezza di questa storia.. Pensavo di leggere qualcosa di spensierato e allegro, invece mi sono trovata tra le mani un libro intenso e tanti kleenex...
September 30, 2019
This was very different to the other books of Kevin Brooks I have read. I kept forgetting it was one of his books I was reading, apart from the classic Kevin Brooks darkness and sadness. But it was good. It was really good. One of his best, even.
December 5, 2017
3,5/5
August 18, 2011
The story begins with a women reminiscing to a time in 1976. The year she came across both William and Curtis. Both would change her life, forever. Curtis has always been the cool, rebellious, bad boy in school. Both boys and girls adore and admire him, so when he catches her playing on the piano and gazing at her with his intense eyes she can't help but feel her heart flutter. She's ordinary and nothing special in her opinion so when he asks her to audition for his band "NAKED" she's shocked but pleased. And from there it all begins. The beginning to an end. An end to a new beginning. As Lili tells us her story there's a lot keep in mind. Her mother lost a part of herself the moment her partner left her and she's been waiting for him to return ever since. They have money but Lili feels unloved and completely alone. It's what drives her towards the band in the first place. The need to belong somewhere.
I loved that each characters was so distinct and had their own traits that defined them. They were flawed, yes, but real. Lili on one hand wants to be loved and latches on to the one thing that gives her affection even though he doesn't do much for her, or satisfy her in any way - that's sad. Curtis starts to loose himself when he surrounds himself around bad company and immerses himself in making money and other not - so - great things, Stan doesn't care about anything, and William has a whole other agenda altogether. The four of them couldn't be more different but all share one thing in common; they have all been through a lot. The whole Rock n Roll/band thing really isn't what I'm into but I was able to see it in another light as well as the beauty of it through Lili's eyes.
Towards the middle the pace did tend to slow down from time to time but it picked up again and stuck with it throughout the remainder of the novel. Regarding Stan. Although there's a lot that we don't know about some characters - which is perhaps what attracts us to them; their mysteriousness. I wish I could have gotten to know Curtis more and Stan a whole lot more who I knew nothing about. He was described as someone who didn't care much for anything but I'd like to believe there's more to him than just that. I thought it was a shame that we didn't get to explore these two characters more in particular, and that somewhere down the line Stan was left in the background. I understand that Lili is telling the story, so we only know as much as she does, but still, it was something that disappointed me a little.
NAKED was an engrossing read in typical Kevin Brooks fashion, but what I enjoyed most was how real it all seemed. I liked how it was honest in a way. Sex happens, drugs are taken, you experience love, relationships are broken, someone dies, and someone is left behind, but isn't that life? The cruel thing about life where everything doesn't work out the way you expected it to?
This is no light and fluffy read, and the ending is a little tough to digest and accept. I can't say that NAKED is for everyone, but it certainly was for me. Gritty, mysterious and relatable NAKED is another addition to Kevin brooks must read books.
I loved that each characters was so distinct and had their own traits that defined them. They were flawed, yes, but real. Lili on one hand wants to be loved and latches on to the one thing that gives her affection even though he doesn't do much for her, or satisfy her in any way - that's sad. Curtis starts to loose himself when he surrounds himself around bad company and immerses himself in making money and other not - so - great things, Stan doesn't care about anything, and William has a whole other agenda altogether. The four of them couldn't be more different but all share one thing in common; they have all been through a lot. The whole Rock n Roll/band thing really isn't what I'm into but I was able to see it in another light as well as the beauty of it through Lili's eyes.
Towards the middle the pace did tend to slow down from time to time but it picked up again and stuck with it throughout the remainder of the novel. Regarding Stan. Although there's a lot that we don't know about some characters - which is perhaps what attracts us to them; their mysteriousness. I wish I could have gotten to know Curtis more and Stan a whole lot more who I knew nothing about. He was described as someone who didn't care much for anything but I'd like to believe there's more to him than just that. I thought it was a shame that we didn't get to explore these two characters more in particular, and that somewhere down the line Stan was left in the background. I understand that Lili is telling the story, so we only know as much as she does, but still, it was something that disappointed me a little.
NAKED was an engrossing read in typical Kevin Brooks fashion, but what I enjoyed most was how real it all seemed. I liked how it was honest in a way. Sex happens, drugs are taken, you experience love, relationships are broken, someone dies, and someone is left behind, but isn't that life? The cruel thing about life where everything doesn't work out the way you expected it to?
This is no light and fluffy read, and the ending is a little tough to digest and accept. I can't say that NAKED is for everyone, but it certainly was for me. Gritty, mysterious and relatable NAKED is another addition to Kevin brooks must read books.
November 4, 2011
This review was originally posted on Fluttering Butterflies
Oh how much did I adore Naked by Kevin Brooks?! If I'm honest, I was slightly worried about it beforehand. Even though I'm becoming an increasingly bigger fan of Kevin Brooks with each of his novels that I read, I was still a little bit wary about reading a book set in the late 1970s AND a book about punk rock. Mostly because I wasn't born in the late 70s and have almost no knowledge of punk rock.
Even so, I loved this book to bits. Kevin Brooks knows enough about the punk music scene in the summer of 1976 and has enough passion for telling this story that his enthusiasm for it has seeped into these pages, into these characters and into the story to make it irrelevalent that I knew nothing about punk beforehand. The characters of Lili and Billy the Kid, and of Curtis and their band felt fully formed. As I was reading Naked it really felt like *I* was there, that I became part of this wonderful story, sharing these personal moments between Lili and Curtis in the early part of their relationship, or the beginning days of Lili joining this punk band. Getting to know Billy the Kid. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Before all that, we have Lili. This sort of weird and quirky girl who has an interest in music, mostly classical music. And as she's playing the piano,Curtis walks into her life. Of course she's known OF Curtis for ages, he's cool and good-looking and she didn't think that he would ever have noticed her. But he did, and he thinks she'd be great as the new bass player in his band, Naked. And while Curtis helps Lili learn to play bass guitar as well as the band's songs, it feels inevitable that the chemistry between the two turns into something more. I loved read about this part of the book the most. When Lili's new relationship with Curtis and her introduction into the band feels so new exciting and special.
Because it doesn't always feel that way. While Kevin Brooks always delivers these wonderful descriptive passages about the atmosphere and how it feels to be playing punk music at gigs all over London, how people respond to Curtis' lyrics and behaviours and the giddiness and excitement of playing live-music, there's also the downward spirals of drug-taking and alcohol. There's violence and unreliability. Curtis seems to throw himself into this new punk scene where The Sex Pistols and other bands and leading figures are becoming more controversial and extreme. And then there's Billy the Kid. This mysterious boy who walks into Lili's life, joins the band, plays the guitar beautifully and changes Lili's life forever.
This is really such a brilliant book. I can't stress enough how much I loved it. There was such a great energy and passion about it. I felt very strongly about the characters right from the start, and was even starting to feel a little bit anxious as Curtis revels more and more in this dangerous and destructive lifestyle. While there's this sense of impending doom, I still so desperately wanted everything to work out OK. Especially for Lili.
I love, love, loved this book. And I cannot recommend it enough.
Oh how much did I adore Naked by Kevin Brooks?! If I'm honest, I was slightly worried about it beforehand. Even though I'm becoming an increasingly bigger fan of Kevin Brooks with each of his novels that I read, I was still a little bit wary about reading a book set in the late 1970s AND a book about punk rock. Mostly because I wasn't born in the late 70s and have almost no knowledge of punk rock.
Even so, I loved this book to bits. Kevin Brooks knows enough about the punk music scene in the summer of 1976 and has enough passion for telling this story that his enthusiasm for it has seeped into these pages, into these characters and into the story to make it irrelevalent that I knew nothing about punk beforehand. The characters of Lili and Billy the Kid, and of Curtis and their band felt fully formed. As I was reading Naked it really felt like *I* was there, that I became part of this wonderful story, sharing these personal moments between Lili and Curtis in the early part of their relationship, or the beginning days of Lili joining this punk band. Getting to know Billy the Kid. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Before all that, we have Lili. This sort of weird and quirky girl who has an interest in music, mostly classical music. And as she's playing the piano,Curtis walks into her life. Of course she's known OF Curtis for ages, he's cool and good-looking and she didn't think that he would ever have noticed her. But he did, and he thinks she'd be great as the new bass player in his band, Naked. And while Curtis helps Lili learn to play bass guitar as well as the band's songs, it feels inevitable that the chemistry between the two turns into something more. I loved read about this part of the book the most. When Lili's new relationship with Curtis and her introduction into the band feels so new exciting and special.
Because it doesn't always feel that way. While Kevin Brooks always delivers these wonderful descriptive passages about the atmosphere and how it feels to be playing punk music at gigs all over London, how people respond to Curtis' lyrics and behaviours and the giddiness and excitement of playing live-music, there's also the downward spirals of drug-taking and alcohol. There's violence and unreliability. Curtis seems to throw himself into this new punk scene where The Sex Pistols and other bands and leading figures are becoming more controversial and extreme. And then there's Billy the Kid. This mysterious boy who walks into Lili's life, joins the band, plays the guitar beautifully and changes Lili's life forever.
This is really such a brilliant book. I can't stress enough how much I loved it. There was such a great energy and passion about it. I felt very strongly about the characters right from the start, and was even starting to feel a little bit anxious as Curtis revels more and more in this dangerous and destructive lifestyle. While there's this sense of impending doom, I still so desperately wanted everything to work out OK. Especially for Lili.
I love, love, loved this book. And I cannot recommend it enough.
June 9, 2012
Really this is the story of Lili Garcia, and her coming of age during the beginnings of the Punk scene in London. Lili- the classical pianist- falls for sexy cool-kid Curtis, and is invited to play bass in his band, Naked. What follows is the progression of the band and its members, all told from Lili's point of view.
I really struggled to get into this book, and was distracted throughout by issues such as the reliability of the narrator: at times the narration sounded phoney, and I found it difficult to believe that she could remember such details from 34 years ago.
Some elements of the storyline seemed a bit far-fetched and the ending a bit rushed and convenient. There was a very strong sense of the author tying up the loose ends, rather than bringing the book to its natural end. It just felt forced.
There were moments when the writing was effective, really drawing me into the storyline, but they were few and far between.
Not being alive at the start of the punk scene, I can only experience it through Brooks' description which created a believable enough, if repetitive, picture of that environment. The constant name dropping, however, began to get annoying. I could totally understand it, had Curtis been the narrator, but telling the story from Lili's perspective didn't sit well with me. Curtis is the one with the dreams and the desire to make the contacts and know all the movers and shakers of the industry, not Lili.
The involvement of William was an interesting development in the story, and I think some of the interactions between Lili and William, and Lili and William's family are the highlights of the book. Although, at times, I think Brooks was trying too hard to include far too many of the issues: social, political, of the 1970s. Perhaps he should've just focussed on the punk movement.
On a plus side, I think the characters that Brooks does choose to develop are given interesting and maintained traits and personalities.
This book was recommended to me as an example of gritty, teenage fiction. I think if you are a teenager, especially one who's interested in the punk scene, then this book will be right up your street. Or, if you're a teenager looking for something a bit different: a bit of old-school, teenage rebelliousness, then you'll also enjoy it.
I really struggled to get into this book, and was distracted throughout by issues such as the reliability of the narrator: at times the narration sounded phoney, and I found it difficult to believe that she could remember such details from 34 years ago.
Some elements of the storyline seemed a bit far-fetched and the ending a bit rushed and convenient. There was a very strong sense of the author tying up the loose ends, rather than bringing the book to its natural end. It just felt forced.
There were moments when the writing was effective, really drawing me into the storyline, but they were few and far between.
Not being alive at the start of the punk scene, I can only experience it through Brooks' description which created a believable enough, if repetitive, picture of that environment. The constant name dropping, however, began to get annoying. I could totally understand it, had Curtis been the narrator, but telling the story from Lili's perspective didn't sit well with me. Curtis is the one with the dreams and the desire to make the contacts and know all the movers and shakers of the industry, not Lili.
The involvement of William was an interesting development in the story, and I think some of the interactions between Lili and William, and Lili and William's family are the highlights of the book. Although, at times, I think Brooks was trying too hard to include far too many of the issues: social, political, of the 1970s. Perhaps he should've just focussed on the punk movement.
On a plus side, I think the characters that Brooks does choose to develop are given interesting and maintained traits and personalities.
This book was recommended to me as an example of gritty, teenage fiction. I think if you are a teenager, especially one who's interested in the punk scene, then this book will be right up your street. Or, if you're a teenager looking for something a bit different: a bit of old-school, teenage rebelliousness, then you'll also enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2015
Review by Arthur 8:8
I was completely engrossed from the very first page: The story starts off with a woman, Lili, looking back on the year 1967 and what later followed. This is the time where she met two people that changed her life: Will and Curtis. Curtis was always known to be the rebellious bad boy at school. Everyone loved him, wanted to be like him or be with him. And so, it came a great surprise to Lili, when she got asked to audition for his band 'NAKED' even though she had no prior experience in Punk/Rock bands. From here on, the real story unfolds as we get dragged through Lili's life through her eyes.
Lili is a realistic character. I really like her. She does have flaws and so do the other characters but, that's what really defines them and makes them who they are. When Lili first saw Curtis, he seemed like a pretty decent guy. I don't like him at all! I have to say I love his band and music. The lyrics are okay. But, sometimes they do get pretty weird. They all do drugs (apart from Lili) which is rather off putting and in the story they treat doing drugs and living on road as a good thing and that could encourage people who have read this to pursue the same way in life as Curtis. I really don't care (much) especially when Will came into the picture. Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it up. He's plain awesome!
What I really really loved about Naked was how something interesting was always going on making it entirely engrossing. It's like one thing after another. You're tossed and turned into this fabulous world. Ideally, Naked is not your average read. It's tough, gritty and very edgy. Like, the ending! What can I possibly say? I knew it was coming, you could just tell but I didn't want to accept it.
I was completely engrossed from the very first page: The story starts off with a woman, Lili, looking back on the year 1967 and what later followed. This is the time where she met two people that changed her life: Will and Curtis. Curtis was always known to be the rebellious bad boy at school. Everyone loved him, wanted to be like him or be with him. And so, it came a great surprise to Lili, when she got asked to audition for his band 'NAKED' even though she had no prior experience in Punk/Rock bands. From here on, the real story unfolds as we get dragged through Lili's life through her eyes.
Lili is a realistic character. I really like her. She does have flaws and so do the other characters but, that's what really defines them and makes them who they are. When Lili first saw Curtis, he seemed like a pretty decent guy. I don't like him at all! I have to say I love his band and music. The lyrics are okay. But, sometimes they do get pretty weird. They all do drugs (apart from Lili) which is rather off putting and in the story they treat doing drugs and living on road as a good thing and that could encourage people who have read this to pursue the same way in life as Curtis. I really don't care (much) especially when Will came into the picture. Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it up. He's plain awesome!
What I really really loved about Naked was how something interesting was always going on making it entirely engrossing. It's like one thing after another. You're tossed and turned into this fabulous world. Ideally, Naked is not your average read. It's tough, gritty and very edgy. Like, the ending! What can I possibly say? I knew it was coming, you could just tell but I didn't want to accept it.
April 18, 2014
This book is now a new favourite of mine, which is a bit of a shame considering that I've gotten it from the library. The main reason for my real and genuine love of this book was how real it felt. I genuinely felt, even though it's horribly over-done, like I was there, living it. I almost wish I did. Kevin Brooks captured the punk scene in the early days perfectly. It wasn't romanticised, people weren't portrayed as immediate geniuses. It showed the violence, the chaos, the pointless rebelliousness, the drugs but it also showed the hope, the thrill the realisation that something special, something cool, something new and exciting was starting to happen. It showed the good times, the bad times and the times that were not really either. The times that made people feel alive and the times that made them wish they weren't.
The characters felt so real in this book. I could believe in them and their endings were so realistic as well. Curtis felt real, Kenny felt real and Lili and William I almost wished were real. Things didn't always go well but they didn't always go wrong either.
So yeah, in the most cliched way, I liked this book because I believed in it.
It had to be five stars.
The characters felt so real in this book. I could believe in them and their endings were so realistic as well. Curtis felt real, Kenny felt real and Lili and William I almost wished were real. Things didn't always go well but they didn't always go wrong either.
So yeah, in the most cliched way, I liked this book because I believed in it.
It had to be five stars.
December 5, 2017
A student asked me for a tragic romance list recently, and this would fit the bill. But it's also great for those interested in the origin of punk music, not to mention that it also deals with conflict in Ireland and the IRA. I devoured this book, although the writing was a little...removed? I'm not sure I can explain it but it's basically a look-back at this year from the life of a girl in a punk band.
July 29, 2017
I absolutely loved The Bunker Diary, one of the best books I've ever read, so I was excited to try this one. It was okay. I think I would've liked it a lot more had 50 pages been trimmed, because a lot of scenes seemed unnecessary or too long and boring. Maybe less descriptions of the band and more IRA stuff?
January 28, 2014
"William Bonney - the boy from Belfast known as Billy the Kid..."
September 5, 2013
its the awesome story i have ever read
May 22, 2017
2.5/5 ⭐️, only because of William's storyline (which was the only thing that kept me interested enough to finish the book).
July 7, 2016
3,5 stelline.
RECENSIONE A CURA DEL BLOG CAMMINANDO TRA LE PAGINE: http://camminando-tra-le-pagine.blogs...
“Naked – brucia ancora, rompi le regole” di Kevin Brooks è un romanzo young adult pubblicato dalla Piemme ad aprile di quest’anno. Ammetto con tutta onestà che questa uscita l’ho notato appena, in libreria lo avevo visto appoggiato sugli scaffali, ma sono sempre passata oltre senza degnarlo di uno sguardo attento e senza leggere la trama per vedere se potesse interessarmi. Poi qualche giorno fa la Piemme me lo ha spedito un po’ a sorpresa. Dopo aver sbirciato la trama mi sono immediatamente immersa nella lettura e ho scoperto una storia piacevolissima che sul finale mi ha anche lievemente commossa. Ringrazio di cuore la Piemme per avermi dato la possibilità di leggerlo!
“Naked – brucia ancora, rompi le regole” è un libro un po’ diverso da quelli che sono solita leggere, chi legge le mie recensioni sa bene che il mio genere preferito è il romance, che sia rosa puro, dark o paranormale tutte le mie letture sono caratterizzate dal denominatore comune di epiche storie d’amore. E in questo libro pur essendoci una love story, o meglio due, l’amore non è il perno fondamentale attorno cui ruota la storia, ma il tema principale è la musica, e il modo in cui è cambiata nel corso degli anni.
Il romanzo è ambientato in una Londra negli anni settanta, nell’estate del 1976 per l’esattezza. Chi conosce la storia musicale sa perfettamente che in quegli anni si stava scrivendo una nuova pagina della storia della musica mondiale. In quegli anni a Londra e negli USA nacque il movimento punk con la sua musica sporca, rumorosa e quasi rozza. Nella seconda metà degli anni’70 videro la luce gruppi di fama mondiale, noti ancora oggi, come per esempio i Sex Pistol, The Clash e i Ramones, e insieme a loro nella realtà dipinta da Kevin Brooks ci sono anche i Naked. E grazie al racconto di Lili, protagonista e voce narrante, possiamo conoscere la loro storia.
Lili ha diciassette anni è una ragazza per bene e studentessa modello, sebbene sia cresciuta con una madre completamente sballata con una vita sessuale promiscua e consumatrice abituale di droghe. Lily è cresciuta con la musica, con le dolci melodie suonate al pianoforte, e proprio la musica segna per sempre la sua vita.
Tutto ha inizio una mattina mentre Lily, nell’aula di musica, si sta esercitando al piano e viene notata da Curtis Ray.
Curtis il ragazzo biondino con i capelli lunghi sempre spettinati, il ragazzo ribelle e sfrontato, a tratti, persino, arrogante. Il ragazzo che suona la chitarra come un Dio e canta come un angelo nella band punk in cui lui è il frontman, i Naked.
Curtis Ray, il ragazzo per cui tutte le ragazze della scuola hanno una cotta, nota Lily e rimane affascinato dal suo modo di suonare e dal modo in cui le sue mani si muovo veloci e sicure sulla tastiera, ne rimane tanto affascinato da proporre a Lily un posto nella band.
E così lei accetta seppur riluttante, e si trova ad essere l’unica ragazza in una band tutta al maschile,
non solo diventa un componente fondamentale del gruppo, ma diventa anche la ragazza di Curtis.
Grazie ai preziosi consigli del suo ragazzo impara a suonare il basso e diventa una bassista eccellente.
I Naked poco a poco iniziano a farsi notare, vengono invitati a sempre più serata e il loro nome inizia ad essere conosciuto nel panorama punk inglese, ma iniziano davvero a sfondare quando nella band arriva William Booney, sopranominato Billy the Kid.
William è un ragazzo costantemente avvolto in un alone di mistero, di lui non si sa nulla a parte il fatto che è Irlandese e che ha un senso musicale grandioso, riesce a suonare ogni strumento con facilità riuscendo a riprodurre qualsiasi melodia ad orecchio e il suo stile alla chitarra si fonde perfettamente a quello di Curtis. Insieme sono grandi, con lui con lui nella band i Naked arriveranno, di certo, in vetta alle classifiche e si faranno conoscere a livello mondiale.
E così insieme a Billy the Kid arrivano i primi ingaggi seri, le prime serate con la sala al completo, e persino un apparizione a top of the pop, un noto programma musicale televisivo, ma il suo ingresso nella band porta anche parecchi scompigli.
I contrasti tra lui è Curtis sono all’ordine del giorno, Curtis è abituato a primeggiare, ad essere la stella più luminosa e accetta con fatica l’attenzione che i fan, e i giornali danno al misterioso e taciturno chitarrista. E poi c’è Lili, la ragazza di Curtis, la stessa ragazza che lui trascura di continuo, la ragazza che tradisce continuamente con le groupies.
Lily ha instaurato con il nuovo arrivato un legame speciale, William si apre con lei rivelandole segreti che nessuno al mondo deve conoscere e poco a poco si insinua profondamente nel suo cuore...
“Naked – brucia ancora, rompi le regole” anche se un romanzo young adult, e quindi pensato per un pubblico giovane, è un romanzo che tratta tematiche importanti e che quindi, può essere apprezzato anche da un pubblico più adulto e maturo, come la sottoscritta.
Siamo negli anni settanta, e l’autore è bravissimo a dipingere perfettamente quell’epoca. Fin dalla primissima pagina mi sono trovata catapultata in quel periodo e in ogni singola pagina si riesce a vivere, e si respira, il cambiamento che sta trasformando il mondo.
Quelli sono gli anni della trasformazione, gli anni degli hippy, gli anni del motto Sesso, Droga e Rock’nRoll – e proprio questa credo che sia la descrizione più adatta per Curtis Ray, perché lui abbraccia quello stile di vita in tutto per tutto.
Ma questo tema non è il solo che viene affrontato qui, perché la storia che ci narra Brooks non parla solo di sballo, musica e folle divertimento, ma parla anche di terrorismo e della situazione dell’Irlanda di quel tempo e lo fa attraverso William.
Questo libro mi è piaciuto davvero tantissimo, e ho trovato davvero interessantissimi gli argomenti trattati. Il sessantotto, gli anni settanta mi hanno sempre affascinata, al liceo addirittura avevo fatto la tesina su questo argomento, ed è stato bello leggere questa storia.
Sono certa che vi starete chiedendo perché, se ho amato tanto questo libro, abbia dato 3.5 stelline – che per me è un ottimissimo voto – e non il punteggio pieno. La risposta è semplice, non sono riuscita ad apprezzare a pieno lo stile narrativo di Kevin Brooks, il problema è solo mio perché in realtà il suo stile narrativo è scorrevolissimo e fa si che il romanzo si legga in un soffio, ma è narrato quasi come si trattasse di un diario, dove Lili ci racconta gli avvenimenti uno dopo l’altro, ci sono molti pensieri e pochi dialoghi e io personalmente amo i libri più dialogati, dove possiamo leggere continui scambi di opinioni tra i protagonisti che interagiscono tra di loro. È un mio limite ne sono consapevole, ma non riesco ad immedesimarmi completamente in una storia con una narrazione di questo tipo e non riesco a provare al 100% le emozioni che l’autore vuole trasmette anche se qui, devo ammettere, che Brooks è riuscito a farmi versare qualche lacrima.
Vi consiglio questo libro? Assolutamente sì, soprattutto se amate la musica punk, o se semplicemente, volete saperne qualcosa di più su come gli anni '70 hanno cambiato il mondo rendendolo quello che è oggi.
RECENSIONE A CURA DEL BLOG CAMMINANDO TRA LE PAGINE: http://camminando-tra-le-pagine.blogs...
“Naked – brucia ancora, rompi le regole” di Kevin Brooks è un romanzo young adult pubblicato dalla Piemme ad aprile di quest’anno. Ammetto con tutta onestà che questa uscita l’ho notato appena, in libreria lo avevo visto appoggiato sugli scaffali, ma sono sempre passata oltre senza degnarlo di uno sguardo attento e senza leggere la trama per vedere se potesse interessarmi. Poi qualche giorno fa la Piemme me lo ha spedito un po’ a sorpresa. Dopo aver sbirciato la trama mi sono immediatamente immersa nella lettura e ho scoperto una storia piacevolissima che sul finale mi ha anche lievemente commossa. Ringrazio di cuore la Piemme per avermi dato la possibilità di leggerlo!
“Naked – brucia ancora, rompi le regole” è un libro un po’ diverso da quelli che sono solita leggere, chi legge le mie recensioni sa bene che il mio genere preferito è il romance, che sia rosa puro, dark o paranormale tutte le mie letture sono caratterizzate dal denominatore comune di epiche storie d’amore. E in questo libro pur essendoci una love story, o meglio due, l’amore non è il perno fondamentale attorno cui ruota la storia, ma il tema principale è la musica, e il modo in cui è cambiata nel corso degli anni.
Il romanzo è ambientato in una Londra negli anni settanta, nell’estate del 1976 per l’esattezza. Chi conosce la storia musicale sa perfettamente che in quegli anni si stava scrivendo una nuova pagina della storia della musica mondiale. In quegli anni a Londra e negli USA nacque il movimento punk con la sua musica sporca, rumorosa e quasi rozza. Nella seconda metà degli anni’70 videro la luce gruppi di fama mondiale, noti ancora oggi, come per esempio i Sex Pistol, The Clash e i Ramones, e insieme a loro nella realtà dipinta da Kevin Brooks ci sono anche i Naked. E grazie al racconto di Lili, protagonista e voce narrante, possiamo conoscere la loro storia.
Lili ha diciassette anni è una ragazza per bene e studentessa modello, sebbene sia cresciuta con una madre completamente sballata con una vita sessuale promiscua e consumatrice abituale di droghe. Lily è cresciuta con la musica, con le dolci melodie suonate al pianoforte, e proprio la musica segna per sempre la sua vita.
Tutto ha inizio una mattina mentre Lily, nell’aula di musica, si sta esercitando al piano e viene notata da Curtis Ray.
Curtis il ragazzo biondino con i capelli lunghi sempre spettinati, il ragazzo ribelle e sfrontato, a tratti, persino, arrogante. Il ragazzo che suona la chitarra come un Dio e canta come un angelo nella band punk in cui lui è il frontman, i Naked.
Curtis Ray, il ragazzo per cui tutte le ragazze della scuola hanno una cotta, nota Lily e rimane affascinato dal suo modo di suonare e dal modo in cui le sue mani si muovo veloci e sicure sulla tastiera, ne rimane tanto affascinato da proporre a Lily un posto nella band.
E così lei accetta seppur riluttante, e si trova ad essere l’unica ragazza in una band tutta al maschile,
non solo diventa un componente fondamentale del gruppo, ma diventa anche la ragazza di Curtis.
Grazie ai preziosi consigli del suo ragazzo impara a suonare il basso e diventa una bassista eccellente.
I Naked poco a poco iniziano a farsi notare, vengono invitati a sempre più serata e il loro nome inizia ad essere conosciuto nel panorama punk inglese, ma iniziano davvero a sfondare quando nella band arriva William Booney, sopranominato Billy the Kid.
William è un ragazzo costantemente avvolto in un alone di mistero, di lui non si sa nulla a parte il fatto che è Irlandese e che ha un senso musicale grandioso, riesce a suonare ogni strumento con facilità riuscendo a riprodurre qualsiasi melodia ad orecchio e il suo stile alla chitarra si fonde perfettamente a quello di Curtis. Insieme sono grandi, con lui con lui nella band i Naked arriveranno, di certo, in vetta alle classifiche e si faranno conoscere a livello mondiale.
E così insieme a Billy the Kid arrivano i primi ingaggi seri, le prime serate con la sala al completo, e persino un apparizione a top of the pop, un noto programma musicale televisivo, ma il suo ingresso nella band porta anche parecchi scompigli.
I contrasti tra lui è Curtis sono all’ordine del giorno, Curtis è abituato a primeggiare, ad essere la stella più luminosa e accetta con fatica l’attenzione che i fan, e i giornali danno al misterioso e taciturno chitarrista. E poi c’è Lili, la ragazza di Curtis, la stessa ragazza che lui trascura di continuo, la ragazza che tradisce continuamente con le groupies.
Lily ha instaurato con il nuovo arrivato un legame speciale, William si apre con lei rivelandole segreti che nessuno al mondo deve conoscere e poco a poco si insinua profondamente nel suo cuore...
“Naked – brucia ancora, rompi le regole” anche se un romanzo young adult, e quindi pensato per un pubblico giovane, è un romanzo che tratta tematiche importanti e che quindi, può essere apprezzato anche da un pubblico più adulto e maturo, come la sottoscritta.
Siamo negli anni settanta, e l’autore è bravissimo a dipingere perfettamente quell’epoca. Fin dalla primissima pagina mi sono trovata catapultata in quel periodo e in ogni singola pagina si riesce a vivere, e si respira, il cambiamento che sta trasformando il mondo.
Quelli sono gli anni della trasformazione, gli anni degli hippy, gli anni del motto Sesso, Droga e Rock’nRoll – e proprio questa credo che sia la descrizione più adatta per Curtis Ray, perché lui abbraccia quello stile di vita in tutto per tutto.
Ma questo tema non è il solo che viene affrontato qui, perché la storia che ci narra Brooks non parla solo di sballo, musica e folle divertimento, ma parla anche di terrorismo e della situazione dell’Irlanda di quel tempo e lo fa attraverso William.
Questo libro mi è piaciuto davvero tantissimo, e ho trovato davvero interessantissimi gli argomenti trattati. Il sessantotto, gli anni settanta mi hanno sempre affascinata, al liceo addirittura avevo fatto la tesina su questo argomento, ed è stato bello leggere questa storia.
Sono certa che vi starete chiedendo perché, se ho amato tanto questo libro, abbia dato 3.5 stelline – che per me è un ottimissimo voto – e non il punteggio pieno. La risposta è semplice, non sono riuscita ad apprezzare a pieno lo stile narrativo di Kevin Brooks, il problema è solo mio perché in realtà il suo stile narrativo è scorrevolissimo e fa si che il romanzo si legga in un soffio, ma è narrato quasi come si trattasse di un diario, dove Lili ci racconta gli avvenimenti uno dopo l’altro, ci sono molti pensieri e pochi dialoghi e io personalmente amo i libri più dialogati, dove possiamo leggere continui scambi di opinioni tra i protagonisti che interagiscono tra di loro. È un mio limite ne sono consapevole, ma non riesco ad immedesimarmi completamente in una storia con una narrazione di questo tipo e non riesco a provare al 100% le emozioni che l’autore vuole trasmette anche se qui, devo ammettere, che Brooks è riuscito a farmi versare qualche lacrima.
Vi consiglio questo libro? Assolutamente sì, soprattutto se amate la musica punk, o se semplicemente, volete saperne qualcosa di più su come gli anni '70 hanno cambiato il mondo rendendolo quello che è oggi.
July 22, 2024
“‘You won’t regret it.’
As it turned out, he was both right and wrong about that… but I wasn’t to know that then. And neither was he.”
I still remember picking up this book for the first time. It was freshly published, and I spotted it at one of my local bookstores. I hadn’t intended on buying a book that day, but something about this one drew me in. Little did I know that this book would become one I always hold close to my heart. It’s been years since my first read, and my love for it has never faded. Kevin Brooks' writing is just something else. There is something about his style that just gets to me—so poetic, so tangible.
What I love most about this book are the threads of historic realism woven throughout. Learning about William’s life in Belfast during the 70s was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. His story is deeply poignant, a reminder of the real suffering endured by many in Ireland during that tumultuous time. Kevin Brooks portrays society beautifully yet heartbreakingly, with subtle critiques that resonate deeply. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into the punk rock scene of the 70s—the writing was so vivid that it felt like I was living in that era.
“Because that's how it is… that's how it's always been. You're either this or that—Protestant or Catholic, Rangers or Celtic, punk or skinhead, black or white, orange or green… it doesn't matter what any of it means, what any of it stands for, all that matters is which side you're on.”
Now, as I turn the last pages, I understand why this book will always be in my heart—as it ripped out a piece of mine years ago. It’s one of those rare books that lingers long after you’ve finished it, inflicting a pain as real as any heartbreak.
“His eyes I noticed were traced with tears. But his smile was a good one—a smile from the heart.”
“There is more to the world than empty dreams.”
As it turned out, he was both right and wrong about that… but I wasn’t to know that then. And neither was he.”
I still remember picking up this book for the first time. It was freshly published, and I spotted it at one of my local bookstores. I hadn’t intended on buying a book that day, but something about this one drew me in. Little did I know that this book would become one I always hold close to my heart. It’s been years since my first read, and my love for it has never faded. Kevin Brooks' writing is just something else. There is something about his style that just gets to me—so poetic, so tangible.
What I love most about this book are the threads of historic realism woven throughout. Learning about William’s life in Belfast during the 70s was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. His story is deeply poignant, a reminder of the real suffering endured by many in Ireland during that tumultuous time. Kevin Brooks portrays society beautifully yet heartbreakingly, with subtle critiques that resonate deeply. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into the punk rock scene of the 70s—the writing was so vivid that it felt like I was living in that era.
“Because that's how it is… that's how it's always been. You're either this or that—Protestant or Catholic, Rangers or Celtic, punk or skinhead, black or white, orange or green… it doesn't matter what any of it means, what any of it stands for, all that matters is which side you're on.”
Now, as I turn the last pages, I understand why this book will always be in my heart—as it ripped out a piece of mine years ago. It’s one of those rare books that lingers long after you’ve finished it, inflicting a pain as real as any heartbreak.
“His eyes I noticed were traced with tears. But his smile was a good one—a smile from the heart.”
“There is more to the world than empty dreams.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews