Lyrical Life: A Rock and Roll Love Story Told in 200 Song Lyrics

by Casey Jones

Life is a Song in Funkytown!

How many song lyrics will you know?

Welcome to the hip world of Funky Town, where pop song lyrics from five decades tell the rock ’n’ roll love story of Luka and Lola. With vivid graphics and nostalgic fun, Lyrical Life takes you on a musical adventure and will have you singing along with every page you turn.

Everybody's Talkin'...
"It's delightful . . . it's de-lovely"— Cole Porter
"I'm a believer."— The Monkees
"Lose yourself in the music."— Eminem
"Don't think twice, it's all right."— Bob Dylan
"Everyday I write the book."— Elvis Costello

Genres: Graphic Novels, Romance, Humor, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Hannah Polley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't understand the point of this. It is comic book style but all the words are song lyrics. The book says it will have you singing along with every page but if I wanted to sing, I would just put on music. Not for me.

[Redfox5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations in this book. And obviously loved the idea behind it.

But it's very hard to read this without following the rest of the song in your head, and also thought there were a few times where it didn't flow very well.

Overall a very fun read!

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little graphic novel. How many songs can you recognize? It's like playing "Name That Tune"! What's worse, is seeing how long it will take you to get the songs OUT of your head. :)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun!!

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea that it was going to be all song lyrics, but it didn't flow very well

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gimme, gimme (More), gimme (More)

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This grew on me. At first I thought it wa pretty cheesy, and it is, but it got into a rhythm that I ended up enjoying more than I expected.

[Salsabrarian]

This graphic novel tells a boy-meets-girl story with dialogue that's completely in song lyrics. "Luka" and "Lola" meet at a bar, fall in love and embark on an exciting relationship. But when Luka walks in on Lola in another man's arms ("Our love's in jeopardy, baby!"), he is driven to a mental breakdown and near suicide before seeking refuge at Dr. Love's mental institution. The doctor lets Luka go when he sees that he is "ready to take a chance again." Luka packs to leave town and his heartbreak behind when Lola shows up at the door with apologies ("I'm bad, I'm bad, I know it"). All's well when they're "reunited and it feels so god." Lyrics used are credited in the back by chapter.

[crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm the kind of person who often thinks of a pop song when someone says a phrase which is used in a lyric. This book is perfect!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really stupid in a funny sort of way.

[Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, funny read. My head felt kind of crazy because the songs switched with about each line, and not only did I see the words, I heard the music I read them like lyrics.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick read---kind of a blast-from-the-past with many song lyrics from the 80's!

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun and light, easy read.
I thought there would be more of a story to it; a more complicated graphic novel.

[Lia Alfonso · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, but the songs used make it fun for people my age and older, not my students!

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever.

[Shanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh.

[Robert Bussie]

This is the first book on Goodreads I have given zero stars as a review. It has a forced story and atrociously terrible art work. The best part of this book is reading the song lyrics that after a few pages I stated singing them in my head instead of reading them. Yes, getting a song stuck in your head is the best review I can give this book.

If the story about falling in love, cheating, and falling in love again was better laid out the charm of the concept of telling a story with just song lyrics would have worked. But the story is so forced that any humor, charm, and fun is completely lost.

Don't waste your time on this book. If you want to be entertained by someone combining many song lyrics into a piece of entertainment then i will recommend any of the many Weird Al Yankovic Polka songs. These songs are much, much better than this awful book.