Suzy, 'Led Zeppelin' and Me

by martin-millar

Glasgow, 1972. All the coolest kids in town are lining up for Led Zeppelin tickets. Overhead, a Zeppelin approaches. Its passengers—Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Hank Williams—think it’s worth leaving heaven to see the greatest rock band in the world. Even the fairies are fans. Meanwhile, nerdy Martin and his equally nerdy best friend Greg have overactive imaginations. When they aren’t fighting the monstrous hordes of Xotha, they are competing for the attentions of a popular (read: unattainable) girl named Suzy. She’s not likely to ditch Zed, the hippest boy in the school, for the likes of them, is she? Then again, with Led Zeppelin on the way, it feels like anything can happen. Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me takes readers on a ride through Martin’s angsty and fumbling youth, when Led Zeppelin comes to Glasgow and rocks Martin’s world, and through his angstridden and fumbling adult years, when he learns what can’t be denied: love may break your heart, but Led Zeppelin will never let you down.

Genres: Fiction, Music, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Humor, Realistic Fiction

203 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Katy-Del · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was an enjoyable quick read. I was amused that Martin Millar would assure the reader on the first page that, "No part of this novel is longer than a rew hundred words. Even with a short attention span, you'll be able to read it easily, a little at a time." Towards the end he even mentions that he goes back and edits out all of his larger words and puts in simpler words in thier place. Very different from the last book I read.

The narrative meanders from present time to the author's teen years. He revisits his angsty teen love-trapazoid and the concert that changed the lives of him and all of his friends. The book illustrates the huge place music can take up in the life of a teenager. He explains that punk was probably more instramental after he was a little older, but never fit into his life the way Led Zepplin did. When he was older he says, "I wasn't quite so dependent on music to rescue me from life. After I moved to London, if life were tough I could always go into a bar and get a drink. Back in school if things were bad there was only Led Zepplin." I totally agree. For me, it wasn't Led Zepplin. It was The Cramps, and when I finally got to see them at age 19, they were glorious. I can totally relate to that facet of the story.

And teen angst? yep, I can relate to that, and the occasional nostalgic memory trip to dwell upon it. (Since Lux Interior's death, the number of Cramps songs jumped from around 20 to 95 on my MP3 player)

Adult tendencies towards procrastination? I can relate to that too.

It will never have a place in my heart like "The Good Fairies of New York," but I liked it and I will continue to hunt for more of Martin Millar's work.

[Eltabei Mohamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My life was heading for a disaster. If I carried on being a fat person no woman would ever want to go out with me. No woman would even want to be seen with me. I would never be successful at anything and I wouldn't have any friends. I wouldn't deserve them, being so obese."
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"I looked at Led Zeppelin, standing on the stage, here in Glasgow at last. Already I felt satisfied. I wasn't attractive. I never would be. I'd never get the girl I wanted. I didn't have any money. I didn't have many friends. I've never had sex. I was in trouble at school. I knew my life would never go well. I was quite a miserable kid but hey, what the hell. Led Zeppelin were now about to play and I was here, climbing over rows of seats to get nearer, and screaming at them to let them know I loved them."
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"After Greg left school he went to work in a shipping office and later moved into the oil business. He never played in a band. I haven't been in contact with him for years now but I know that he moved to Sweden and is a high-up executive in an oil firm. He will undoubtedly have a great deal more money than me. But he won't be able to stay up all night watching television, I say."
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"The audience sings along. We know all the lyrics, and the guitar lines, and the drum breaks, and we also know that for the next few hours there is really nothing to worry about."
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"It might be Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, or Public Enemy. Maybe the night you heard Kemistry and Storm DJ was the best night you ever had. The Manic Street Preachers, the Smiths, the Sex Pistols, Todd Terry, Marilyn Manson, or any number of people. The band who made life bearable when you were skulking in your bedroom with the rest of the world against you. At least one time in your life everything was perfect.
Led Zeppelin in Glagslow. Before it I was frustrated and after it I was disappointed. But when the band played, everything was allright."

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this one at the local library sale. Was only going to grab a book or two for a dollar each, but since it was also "fill a bag for $4"...that's what I ended up doing. Lucky for me I did, because this one wasn't on my radar at all and will likely end up being the best of the lot. The title sold it for me.

It's the story of a 40ish year old man named Martin, who relates his early teenage years when he loved Led Zeppelin and an untouchable girl named Suzy. Martin is a bit of a nerd with not too many friends. Also playing parts are his best friend Greg, ultra-cool guy and friend Zed, who is Suzy's boyfriend, and super geek Cherry. His past story centres around his love of Suzy and an upcoming Led Zeppelin concert in his hometown of Glasgow, Scotland. That story ping pongs with his present day story, which centres on his friend Manx and the writing of the past story. Whew!

It's a great, fun read. Especially if you can relate to/remember those early teen years when you were unsure of everything, acted terribly to people for reasons that seem ridiculous now, and liked that popular girl/guy in school that you knew never thought of you the way you wanted them to. Plus, we all had bands/singers from our youth that meant the world to us in those years. The author relates his love of Led Zeppelin and anticipation of the concert perfectly and gets you into his world pretty easily. The chapters are short and sweet! Just like my feeble mind likes them! Easy to recommend.

[Hannah Jo Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slight book, but that's okay. It felt kind of like a Nick Hornby novel to me. In this case, Martin (now an adult) relives a pivotal event in his teens by describing it to his female friend Manx, whom he befriended because he saw her wearing a Nefertiti hat. The event: a Led Zeppelin concert in Glasgow in 1972 when Martin was 15. At that time, Martin and his best friend were both in love with a girl named Suzy, who was already in love with Zed, the hands-down coolest guy in Glasgow.

So, the book is about young love, trying to rebel as a teen while you still cling to childhood in some ways, and about getting psyched out of your head because your favorite band is coming to play in your town. The description of the concert is fantastic, even if you don't like Led Zeppelin.

I think this would be a good book to suggest to teens because it's funny and it has short chapters, a highly accessible writing style, and themes that will resonate with them.

[Wally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. The narrator looks back at the crowning event of his youth, a 1972 Led Zeppelin concert in his hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, a place no one ever thought would draw in the likes of this monster band. He and his best friend both have helpless, hopeless crushes on a beautiful girl who is going out with the cool kid at school. What brings them and another, geekier girl together, is the announcement of this once-in-a-lifetime concert.
Perfectly told, with great characterizations and a dancing plotline, this book would be great for anyone who likes this band, this time period, and coming-of-age stories.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty starry-eyed about this author right now. I'll be scooping up as many of his titles as I can in the coming weeks.

SLZ&M is an excellent photograph of frustrating-not-yet-adulthood and how nothing is as good or awful or important as it was at that age and how that is something to be relieved and yet also regretful about. It's short and not too weighty, but it's beautiful.

[Rasak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy summer read making me want to listen to Led Zeppelin again, which I did not do for some years now.

The book has several layers of time. First and the most important - 1972 in Glasgow where the author anxiously waits for Led Zeppelin concert and his classmate Suzy to be interested in him. Another, also in Glasgow in 1972, but with flying Zeppelin, fairies and the Fabulous dragon army and the one of the time of writing the book with Manx, depression and anxiety and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Even though I mostly liked the book, I could not say that I liked any of the characters much, which makes it hard for me to be absorbed by the book. Some things reminded me of my own teenage years and felt relatable. I also liked the self ironic meta level as notes to itself about the book writing. Some chapters are just step by step guide through Led Zeppelin concert, which is interesting from the historical point of view, but a bit boring as a part of the novel.

[Pasan Rajadasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A random pick at a book fair. I didn't know the author, but it had a nice looking cover art and the title was interesting.

I'm from a different generation. Music was a big deal for me but maybe not to the extent it was for the author. Been in love, but maybe not in the same context as the author. But this might very well be the most relatable story I've read in quite a while.

A procrastinating adult recollecting his teen years, and one evening in particular, itself is fascinating enough, but what appeals to me the most is how the protagonist is far from perfect. I can relate being mean to a nice person, I can relate being jealous of another innocent soul, and I can relate being in the pains of love. And doing the wrong thing at each of those things. Isn't that part of adolescence anyway?

Wasn't that fantastic?

[Stevefk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been rereading a lot of books this year, and a lot of them do not stand the test of time. This one does. I read it eleven years ago, and it's still a delight. A funny and sad ode to youth and obsession. A story about the fragility and pains of young love, and the power of music to carry you elsewhere when you need that sort of magic. I love the stripped down prose, which goes down so smooth and easy (wish there were more unpretentious writers like this). A joy. Reminded me again of why I love to read (and why I love listening to music). Please, more books like this.

[Adrian Bloxham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music is all and will get you through life even when life is unbearable, also music stays with you for your whole life. Never better illustrated than by Martin in this wonderful ode to the brilliant Led Zeppelin.

[Malcolm Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

[Vanessa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a must read for any music fan! Particularly if you adore Led Zeppelin. Easy to read, short enough to hold your attention span :) Eager to read more from Martin Millar.

[Thomas]

In a word, haunting.

[Haley Grothaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not really sure what the plot was but it was fun

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know the scene: you wake up, somewhat tentatively. You know you had too much to drink last night. But, hey, you had a productive day yesterday, the gin tasted soooo good, the company was delightful. And – oh bliss! – it’s Sunday! Not only that, but the clocks went back, so you got a wee cheeky extra hour with which to disarm the hangover! You roll over luxuriantly, feeling pretty damn good. Then you start with horror as you set eyes on what’s lying on the pillow next to you, and you groan, “Aww nawww – I’m going to have to spend at least another hour of my life with THAT?”
OK, so it’s not really a scenario familiar to me, but anyone who’s ever seen a sitcom has seen it many times (Chandler and Janice…?). However, the THAT in question is usually a human being. In my case, it was this book that pissed all over my nice fuzzy morning after.

So why finish it? Because I simply couldn’t believe that it was all as terrible as the first 98 pages. It was about Glasgow! It was about rock music! It was about adolescent lust! How can Millar have messed that up?! By using a really irritating faux-naïve writing style throughout. Stick to urban fantasy, Martin. Leave the Rob Gordon stuff to Hornby.

But it did pick up. I was gradually charmed by the friendship between Martin and Manx, conversations from which rang loud bells of recognition with me:

“It’s lucky that Prozac isn’t as good as it’s made out to be or you’d never get any sex at all. Have you ever slept with anyone who wasn’t a mental case?”
I think about this.
“Not for some time. But it’s not my fault. I can’t help it if all the women I meet are bulimic, anorexic, agoraphobic, schizophrenic, clinically depressed, manically depressed, full of self-loathing, self-destructive, suicidal or otherwise struggling to find a reason to keep on living. I don’t know what’s the matter with them all.”
“This doesn’t prevent you from luring them into bed by listening to their problems.”
I admit that this is true. I have often benefited from the problems of my female friends.

Or this conversation:

”We had a pint in a pub in town, went to my house, watched videos, listened to music, and finally retired to bed with a bottle of whisky, six beers and two packets of cigarettes. And what was the result of that behaviour? My stomach never felt better.”
“So what you’re really saying,” says Manx, “is that if women, including for instance women twenty years younger than you, visit you in London and sleep with you on a regular basis, then you will receive great benefits in health?”
“Absolutely. Both physically and mentally. But try telling this to doctors and they won’t go along with it at all. They just tell you to eat yoghurt.”
Manx points out that even if the doctors did go along with it, it wouldn’t really solve the problem.
“After all, it’s not like they could prescribe you a regular supply of nurses.”
I get a brief, happy vision of walking out of the hospital with a big prescription for nurses. […]
“So how’s the stomach today?”
“It’s gone bad again,” I admit. “And Frances has gone back to Southampton so I’m probably in for a prolonged bout of illness. It’s a tough life, all in all, and getting older is really annoying.”

But then Millar goes and messes it up again by spelling Byres Road wrong. Twice. Sacrilege for a Glaswegian. So he’s only getting two stars. Because I’m petty like that.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is clever and sweet and makes me very nostalgic for the 70's.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only introduction to Martin Millar I had before this was "The Good Fairies of New York" which frankly, I haven't read. I would see it in the bookstore on shelves or at friends' houses, and I'd glance at the back of the cover, before wincing and putting it down again. The back of the cover, at least, read like one of those sort of irritatingly knowingly clever books. Sort of 'Look, it's cute, because they're fairies see? But now they're in a big city! Ha!'

At any rate, on my last trip to the bookstore, I saw a book that made me quite curious - "Ruby and the Stone Age Diet"... but it was pretty expensive for such a slim volume (I assume because it came from a small press.) I was surprised to see Millar wrote it and even more surprised to see an endorsement blurb from Neil Gaiman saying he's read Millar for 20 years. 20 years? I had assumed the Fairies book had come from some new fantasy writer.

I wasn't quite ready to make the monetary investment on a gamble like Ruby, so I went home and checked out Abe Books. They didn't have a cheap copy of Ruby, but they did have this, Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me. So what the hell, I ordered it.

It's really unclear if this book is autobiographical or not. The main character is a writer. And he clearly does like fantasy, or did when he was younger. And the back of the book refers to the main character as Martin, although I'm not sure that the text in the book is anything other than first person.

It doesn't really matter, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book flip flops between the period where the main character is 14, going on 15, and growing up in Glasgow, and his present day life in London. It sort of dances around the edges of being a coming of age story without falling into a lot of the cliche elements you'd expect in such a story.

This book doesn't make me clear on whether I'd like his Fairies book. There's only a couple mentions of fairies (in very odd context, they aren't actually there), and they feel sort of out of place and irritating. But I'm more inclined to pick up Ruby and the Stone Age Diet now.

[Sergei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Перед вами — книга не только о концерте «Led Zeppelin» 4 декабря 1972 года в Глазго. И не только о том, что испытывает, впервые влюбившись, пятнадцатилетний подросток. И даже не о том, каково это — жить в начале 70-х прошлого века. Перед вами — книга о вас, о том какими вы, возможно, тоже когда-то были. Перед вами — роман английского писателя Мартина Миллара «Сюзи, «Лед Зеппелин» и я».

Мартин Миллар родился в Глазго. Играл в панк-группе, нарисовал несколько комиксов, служил клерком в муниципалитете. Более того, российским поклонникам фэнтези Миллар знаком под именем Мартина Скотта, автора цикла фэнтези-детективов о сыщике Фраксе. Под своим настоящим именем выпустил шесть романов. В России пока (?) вышли три: «Молоко, сульфат и Алби-голодовка», «Добрые феечки Нью-Йорка» и «Сюзи, «Лед Зеппелин» и я». Кто-то находит в его манере сходство с Куртом Воннегутом: короткие фразы, неожиданные повороты мысли, своеобразный юмор, непосредственность. Но там, где у Воннегута царит ирония и сарказм, у Миллара господствует рок-н-ролл.

Роман Мартина Миллара — это своеобразный «Милый Эп», только в интерьерах Шотландии начала 70-х. И вот тут-то ясно, что от перемены географии сумма чувств не меняется. Тонкая, едва различимая, грань между детством и юношеством. Первая любовь и отчаянное стремление обратить на себя внимание. Первые поцелуи и первые предательства. Первые взрослые трагедии. Отношение к музыке — как к магии, как к чему-то необходимому и вечному — также сближает героев этих книг.

Только в случае Миллара в голове у персонажей не Том Джонс в записи, а живой концерт группы, которую многие продолжают считать «лучшей группой всех времён и народов» — «Led Zeppelin». Более безумного и прекрасного описания рок-концерта я не читал ни у кого. Потому что, пишет Миллар: «Если сбылась твоя мечта, и ты только что сходил послушать любимую группу, и это перевернуло тебе душу так, что ты просто не можешь об этом не написать, — напишешь гораздо лучше, чем любой редактор или журналист...»

Пойду-ка я переслушаю «Целую уйму любви».

[f2realw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty YA teenage book. Great view on how a teenage boy handles life around him with social status, friendship and first love. Got me into listening Led Zeppelin. However, there could be a bit deeper message in it and the storylinie could be a bit more thought through. But overall, a good book.

[bamlinden · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book. But the last half flew by very easily. I enjoyed the simple premise of one person's relationships with his friends back when he was a teen....and the subsequent complexities of these relationships as time goes on - and landmark moments that occur in the main character's life.

I like that the main character's life in his teens is intercut with his current world. Older, wiser (maybe) and with much of a reminiscent heart thinking about his past.

It was easy to get lost in the second half of the book as he describes the greatest night of his life. And I appreciate the way he builds to that moment and allows the results from it to ease into the end of this read.

I think the difficulties for me come with the "stream of consciousness" type of flow in the text. It works at times, but not enough to really keep the momentum. And there were too many instances where the main character reiterates that which is already known. That forced reinforcement didn't do it for me. But I think the author was just trying to relate his main character as accurately as he could for being fourteen years of age. I also wasn't the biggest fan of him in his current life. A bit of a slacker....didn't come off as a guy I was empathetic with.

A good read. Enjoyable. But didn't blow me away. Made me think of my own youth....and of Led Zeppelin. Can't go wrong there.

[Alessia Savi · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'incontro con Millar è sempre piacevole. Incontrare i suoi personaggi uno spasso. L'autore non si smentisce, infarcendo una probabilissima autobiografia di ironia, musica e personaggi ordinari, fatta eccezione per un cammeo di quelle fate scozzesi di cui avevamo fatto la conoscenza in "Fate a New York". "Io, Suzy e i Led Zeppelin" narra la crescita di un ragazzino, l'adolescenza in ogni suo frangente scandita dalla musica ad ogni ora del giorno. Il primo amore (impossibile), l'amico più grande (l'eroe), il migliore amico di sempre, la secchiona e poi loro: i Led Zeppelin. Il tutto ruota attorno all'evento del concerto della band a Glasgow, in un susseguirsi ritmato di vicende personali che strappano un sorriso. Impossibile non immedesimarsi nello sfortunato protagonista o nella secchiona ignorata dal suo grande amore. "Io, Suzy e i Led Zeppelin" è una storia di crescita personale, in cui i perdenti diventano vincenti, in cui i vincenti diventano perdenti e dove, i perdenti a volte rimangono tali. Intenso, scandito dalle note delle canzoni dei Led Zeppelin in un crescendo di adrenalina che contagia il lettore, sulle note di un concerto che potrebbe essere quello della vostra band preferita. Millar è un eccezionale narratore e un grande conoscitore della musica, con cui scandisce il ritmo di ogni suo romanzo.
Impossibile non amarlo.
Impossibile non amare i suoi personaggi.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangely poignant and touching story. A semi-autobiographical tale of the author's teenage misfit years, when he was overweight, awkward, uncool and desperately in love with a girl who just does not think of him "that way". His only comfort and solace comes from listening to Led Zeppelin records, painstakingly remembering all the lyrics and obsessively humming the riffs.

Then his life is bisected by a once in a lifetime event - Led Zeppelin playing live in Glasgow. Everything becomes split into "before", "after" and "during": Where "before" was frustrating, "after" - disappointing and "during" simply divine.

The teenage angst is captured beautifully and would give "catcher in the rye" a run for its money. The tone is highly laconic and matter-of-fact, something that comes though all of Martin Millar's writing, but there are 3 whole chapters dedicated to "Stairway to Heaven".

This book could only have been written by a completely obsessed fan of the band and is really funny and profoundly sad at the same time.

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was randomly given to me by a friend who knows my love of music. The cover didn't specifically grab me amongst the other books my friend gave me but then I saw the words "Led Zeppelin" and went bananas. I read the first page and was instantly sucked in by the simplicity of it (especially the line about how this book isn't going to be a long boring one). I found myself flicking through the pages like a maniac and then it was finished! This book is a testimony to how literature can be simple but also very successful. While Miller is vocal about how this isn't a heavy read, the book still covers a scale of parallels we all face in our lives with the people we know and the changes we face. Miller was also the first author I happened to read who could write about music so descriptively; simply put, if you'd never heard a Zeppelin song before reading the book, you'd definitely hear it while reading it. Another reason this book is great is that it is shamelessly hilarious; just full of pure and utter laughter.

[Melissa Prentice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have I told you about Martin Millar? You should read his stuff. Really. This one is not as steeped in fantasy and is also autobiographical. He shifts narrative voice between his 15 year old self, obsessed with Suzy and Led Zeppelin, and his current adult self in the process of writing the book. You don't feel like you're reading an adult's recollection of their teenage years; you're actually getting the teenager's voice and perspective. All of the self absorption and self loathing that we felt as teenagers. The hopeless crushes, the obsession with one particular band, the need to fit in. It's incredibly sincere and makes for an engaging and bittersweet story. You'll need to listen to Zeppelin IV on repeat while reading this.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is marked as fiction, but it's based on real events in Martin Millar's adolescence. Millar attempts -- and fails pretty miserably, in my opinion -- to capture the angst of first love. The book is just directionless and pretty trivial. I will say, however, that Millar does a good job (hence the two stars instead of one) of capturing how a type of music can define a period of your life so completely, and how just one concert, one live music experience, can become a pivotal moment in your existence. I've had it happen, and he pretty much nails that part. The rest of it all? Eh, not so good. He should stick with urban fairies and lonely werewolves.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored parts of this book. Though I didn't feel it was altogether phenomenal, the portions where the main character is retelling his childhood days and his obsession with Led Zeppelin make this read totally worth it. I laughed at the deadpan humor, and related to the boy's enthusiasm over what he thought was the greatest band in the world, at what he thinks is the best gig they ever played. If you love rock 'n roll, or have ever been in love with a band or musicican, "Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me" is a must-read. I related to so many aspects of his love for Zeppelin and laughed out loud throughout the book. Thanks again to Mr. Gaiman for suggesting this new author into my world.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what shelf to put this one on - it's not quite historical fiction. For all I know, it's autobiographical. It's funny. It's not paranormal because he knows the dragons aren't quite real.

Can I say I'm impressed that someone can make a whole book out of one concert played in Glasgow in a tiny venue during the 70s? And that it rings true for someone else growing up in the 70s?

Millar's writing is quirky and funny and touches your heart in a quirky, funny, yeah-we-were-all- idiots-but-it-was-a-wonderful-time-to-be-an-idiot-even-we-didn't-think-so way.

[Jes Jester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I'm a HUGE fan of martin Millar's Kalix the Lonely Werewolf Girl series. This story wasn't as involved but the characters were just as flawed and likable. It was a fun ride (especially for anyone who likes rock music)and it was funny as his works generally are. It was a trip back to high school with all the heart break and firsts that come along with it. The guy doesn't get the girl but there are lessons to be learned. I recommend it to anyone who needs to escape their own head for a bit and poke around in someone else's.

[Leticia Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! It was a joy to read this book. How many of us can relate to being and feeling nerdy when we were in school, or to the feeling of unrequited love and having the biggest and stupidly insane crush on the coolest boy/girl in school, or being a diehard fan of your favorite band? For Martin it was Led Zeppelin, for me it was Duran Duran. This book is fabulous. It reads fast. Its smart and funny. Its moving. An absolutely fabulous reading experience.

[Caanan Grall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heartily recommend this for those like me who are nostalgic for a simpler time, before the internet and mobile phones made it possible to do/see/learn anything at anytime. When kids had more in common because they had a smaller culture plate to feed from before the internet blew up in to a ADHD smorgasbord of curiosity and subsequent boredom. Plus, knowingly, it's written in short 2-3 page chapters specifically to help that kind of modern, internet-addled mind.