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Saguaro
Saguaro chronicles the life of rock legend Bobby Bird as he finds himself rolled up in barbiturates, at sea with satanic cults, finding true love, selling out, and coming back. Bobby Bird’s unique voice—and fistfights with Bob Dylan—place him irrevocably in America’s cultural and musical history.
VICE Magazine says, “[Bobby Bird] has lived enough lives and wild times for a couple Willie Nelsons and maybe one Mick Jagger.”
Bobby Bird may be many things—a legend in pink cotton, a living history in tattoos, the very embodiment of rock and roll—but he isn’t a bad man. At least not all the time. He made his name as a crooner, revered as a singer with soul, a soul he quickly sold without ever considering the implications.
Like Bob Dylan’s Chronicles Volume One, Patti Smith’s Just Kids, and Keith Richards’ Life, Saguaro allows us to look behind the curtain of celebrity. Because it’s an American tradition to carefully observe the legends of our time, to live vicariously through the adventures of our heroes. Just like the paths of all those who live fast and hard, Bobby’s path is one better experienced second-hand, beset, as it is, on all sides by drugs, dangerous women, and fisticuffs. Now if Bobby teaches us one thing, it’s that we can learn from our mistakes, and fortunately he’s made enough to fill a textbook.
VICE Magazine says, “[Bobby Bird] has lived enough lives and wild times for a couple Willie Nelsons and maybe one Mick Jagger.”
Bobby Bird may be many things—a legend in pink cotton, a living history in tattoos, the very embodiment of rock and roll—but he isn’t a bad man. At least not all the time. He made his name as a crooner, revered as a singer with soul, a soul he quickly sold without ever considering the implications.
Like Bob Dylan’s Chronicles Volume One, Patti Smith’s Just Kids, and Keith Richards’ Life, Saguaro allows us to look behind the curtain of celebrity. Because it’s an American tradition to carefully observe the legends of our time, to live vicariously through the adventures of our heroes. Just like the paths of all those who live fast and hard, Bobby’s path is one better experienced second-hand, beset, as it is, on all sides by drugs, dangerous women, and fisticuffs. Now if Bobby teaches us one thing, it’s that we can learn from our mistakes, and fortunately he’s made enough to fill a textbook.
- GenresFiction
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 14, 2016
I've been a huge fan of Mell's weird videos for a while (check them out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... ) and have been wanting to read this for years. But it's pretty hard to find. If you're an eBook type, it was recently re-released that way by Electric Literature, and will save you about $100. http://electricliterature.com/product...
I'm baffled as to why this hasn't been reprinted by like Harper Perennial or Dalkey Archive or NYRB or whatever because it is so damn funny and sad and good. Bobby Bird is the rebellious narrator of Saguaro, which is basically his life story, from his bastard days in Arizona to his rock and roll glory and his disappearance and presumed death. All he really wants is some good chummy male companionship, fun drugs, and a mystical rock n roll goddess to love. He has so many tattoos that he looks "like a Formula One race car sponsored by nonsense" and his signature look is pink shirts with olive oil slicked-back hair. His storytelling narrative is full of outrageous shenanigans and surprising forays into brokenhearted pathos. I admit that by the end, I almost shed a tear for the poor guy.
Most of all though, Saguaro is just a really really funny book and more proof that Carson Mell needs to recognized for the artistic bad-ass that he is.
I'm baffled as to why this hasn't been reprinted by like Harper Perennial or Dalkey Archive or NYRB or whatever because it is so damn funny and sad and good. Bobby Bird is the rebellious narrator of Saguaro, which is basically his life story, from his bastard days in Arizona to his rock and roll glory and his disappearance and presumed death. All he really wants is some good chummy male companionship, fun drugs, and a mystical rock n roll goddess to love. He has so many tattoos that he looks "like a Formula One race car sponsored by nonsense" and his signature look is pink shirts with olive oil slicked-back hair. His storytelling narrative is full of outrageous shenanigans and surprising forays into brokenhearted pathos. I admit that by the end, I almost shed a tear for the poor guy.
Most of all though, Saguaro is just a really really funny book and more proof that Carson Mell needs to recognized for the artistic bad-ass that he is.
December 6, 2017
Picked this up totally on a whim, and because the first two sentences made me grin something fierce:
“When I was a kid I was best friends with a baby. The upside to that kind of a situation is that the baby is always down to hang out, the downside being that you can’t take him anywhere but out in the yard.”
Suffice it to say the rest of it was weird, wonderful, and one of the nicest surprises I’ve had with a book in ages.
“When I was a kid I was best friends with a baby. The upside to that kind of a situation is that the baby is always down to hang out, the downside being that you can’t take him anywhere but out in the yard.”
Suffice it to say the rest of it was weird, wonderful, and one of the nicest surprises I’ve had with a book in ages.
August 15, 2021
I really liked this. I had no idea what to think of it as I don't know anything about Carson Mell and there was no blurb on the back. Whatever, I'm always game for a book and try to give my friend's suggestions a chance. With this one, I was pleasantly surprised.
It's hard to know how to classify this and the only thing I can compare it to would be like and odd combination of Spinal Tap and Crazy Heart. Really fun and darkly funny in it's own way. I know I am getting into a book when I can actually FEEL something for the character. I feel for Bobby Bird throughout the book, and they aren't all pro-Bobby feelings, but I think that is part of the charm of the book. It comes off as a "real" examination of this character's life, warts and all.
Grab it if you come across it because this book is kind of rare as I understand it. But this is certainly for those who are fans of music biographies.
It's hard to know how to classify this and the only thing I can compare it to would be like and odd combination of Spinal Tap and Crazy Heart. Really fun and darkly funny in it's own way. I know I am getting into a book when I can actually FEEL something for the character. I feel for Bobby Bird throughout the book, and they aren't all pro-Bobby feelings, but I think that is part of the charm of the book. It comes off as a "real" examination of this character's life, warts and all.
Grab it if you come across it because this book is kind of rare as I understand it. But this is certainly for those who are fans of music biographies.
July 28, 2025
The opening hooked me right away: the narrator, as a kid, considers a baby his best friend. It’s weird but unexpectedly moving, and it sets the tone for the kind of loneliness and offbeat sincerity that runs through the whole book.
Saguaro follows a faded musician reflecting on a life that never quite went the way he hoped. He’s not chasing a comeback. There’s no big arc. Just a slow drift through half-memories, old songs, and the quiet ache of obscurity.
Carson Mel writes with restraint and a sharp ear for delusion, but there’s care in it too. The book is short, plainspoken, and sneakily affecting. It never begs for attention. It just does its thing and moves along.
I’m genuinely surprised it never took off more. But that almost makes me appreciate it more. It feels like something private, still waiting to be found. Check out Cherry on Top next if you enjoy this one.
Saguaro follows a faded musician reflecting on a life that never quite went the way he hoped. He’s not chasing a comeback. There’s no big arc. Just a slow drift through half-memories, old songs, and the quiet ache of obscurity.
Carson Mel writes with restraint and a sharp ear for delusion, but there’s care in it too. The book is short, plainspoken, and sneakily affecting. It never begs for attention. It just does its thing and moves along.
I’m genuinely surprised it never took off more. But that almost makes me appreciate it more. It feels like something private, still waiting to be found. Check out Cherry on Top next if you enjoy this one.
March 14, 2018
There are few books I find worthy of reading more than once. This one requires a re-read every few months. The mishaps and successes, the failures and victories of Bobby Bird make me yearn for his specific brand of misery and ecstasy. Bobby Bird is every bit as influential as the plastic Forrest Gump and twice as twisted. Read, re-read and pass it on.
December 31, 2017
loved this. i loved it. well, i loved the writing. the story sort of wasn't much of a story, now that i think about it, but, man, can this dude write some weird, engrossing prose.
March 14, 2018
The best rock star autobiography out there
February 17, 2019
absolutely fantastic
September 23, 2019
A Great Little Epic
It’s funny, it’s fast and it crosses a lot of ground. A Candide for our times and the rockumentary I was looking for. Eager to read more from Carson Mell.
It’s funny, it’s fast and it crosses a lot of ground. A Candide for our times and the rockumentary I was looking for. Eager to read more from Carson Mell.
March 30, 2020
Half loved half disliked so idk
January 2, 2022
im one of the ppl who has no idea who this man is or his contemporaries lol and yet … what a read… tender surprising and frightening! literally made me snort 4x
February 17, 2022
hilarious
February 12, 2014
If Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison had a love child raised by Barry Hannah he would sound something like Bobby Bird, the life story of a washed-up rock star named Bobby Bird who embodies every rock and roll cliché.
The novel reads like the most depraved moments from VH1’s “Behind the Music” mashed into one musician (plus an adventure on a satanic cult cruise ship and a fist-fight with Bob Dylan).
Half-way through Bobby Bird warns that “This is a story I’m not too inclined to tell unless you are particularly interested in tales of full grown men turning into worthless assholes.” Bobby Bird is a misogynist, an addict, and a deadbeat whose most redemptive quality is a kind of endearing stupidity. A deeper search than just the limits of excess drives him, though. Be it through lovers, surrogate fathers, or brothers-in-arms, Bird’s real search for companionship keeps him restless, and keeps the plot rocketing forward.
The novel reads like the most depraved moments from VH1’s “Behind the Music” mashed into one musician (plus an adventure on a satanic cult cruise ship and a fist-fight with Bob Dylan).
Half-way through Bobby Bird warns that “This is a story I’m not too inclined to tell unless you are particularly interested in tales of full grown men turning into worthless assholes.” Bobby Bird is a misogynist, an addict, and a deadbeat whose most redemptive quality is a kind of endearing stupidity. A deeper search than just the limits of excess drives him, though. Be it through lovers, surrogate fathers, or brothers-in-arms, Bird’s real search for companionship keeps him restless, and keeps the plot rocketing forward.
December 5, 2022
Leftover Book Riot Challenge 2021: " A book with a cover you don't like"
Getting back into a routine now and some books under my belt. May have become a little overzealous of hitting that backlog with more books in my bag than I can possibly finish in a decent amount of time, but every day I couldn't wait to go dive into this one. Biggest complaint was that it wasn't longer. The voice of Bobby Bird reminded me of so many people I've met in the music community, it was a comfortable nostalgia. Made me want to get back out there and play some music on a dinky stage for a small handful of people to include the bartender and three or four friends/family members. The chapter on Satanship is now forever embossed on my brain lobes and one of the most amazingly wonderful pieces of writing I've come across in a long while.
Getting back into a routine now and some books under my belt. May have become a little overzealous of hitting that backlog with more books in my bag than I can possibly finish in a decent amount of time, but every day I couldn't wait to go dive into this one. Biggest complaint was that it wasn't longer. The voice of Bobby Bird reminded me of so many people I've met in the music community, it was a comfortable nostalgia. Made me want to get back out there and play some music on a dinky stage for a small handful of people to include the bartender and three or four friends/family members. The chapter on Satanship is now forever embossed on my brain lobes and one of the most amazingly wonderful pieces of writing I've come across in a long while.
July 14, 2009
I called her up decades later when I was on the road and she said, "You know, you really hurt me when you left, Bobby. I don't even know why I'm talking to you." And I said, "You're talking to me because I'm famous." And she hung up on me.
Kingman started as a mining town and ended up nothing but a collection of strip malls, Chinese buffets, and barber shops. It's the ugly side of Arizona. May as well be Nevada.
And once again, I felt my life twist.
What are you going to do with some wiggling bands of steels and the voice of some old asshole who's smoked ten thousand too many cigarettes? I'd lost it. Who thinks like that? A loser.
Kingman started as a mining town and ended up nothing but a collection of strip malls, Chinese buffets, and barber shops. It's the ugly side of Arizona. May as well be Nevada.
And once again, I felt my life twist.
What are you going to do with some wiggling bands of steels and the voice of some old asshole who's smoked ten thousand too many cigarettes? I'd lost it. Who thinks like that? A loser.
October 23, 2013
I enjoyed this book, but I don't understand why so many other reviewers are saying how much they laughed while reading it. I guess it had some funny moments, but I certainly didn't laugh through the whole thing. Humor is not a word I'd associate with this book. I don't know, maybe I took it too seriously. Or maybe it's a guy thing. Heckuva good book, though.
October 16, 2008
This is a great novel. Bobby Allen Bird is a gruff heartbreaker. You can hear Carson Mell read an excerpt (in character too) here.
January 2, 2009
Full of golden one-liners...hilarious
June 22, 2009
Bobby Allen Bird is close to everyone's reality.
June 14, 2010
Best Book Read it and laugh or have no sense of humor
February 19, 2012
laughed hard and often.
August 1, 2014
Loved it. Watch Chonto first, or any of the narrated Bobby Bird videos first -to have the voice in your head while reading: https://www.youtube.com/user/carsonme...
June 5, 2018
Very funny. Maybe gets award for most unpretentious book I have ever read. Tugs at the old heartstrings. "Fuck your black, fuck your leather."
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews