Tell Me Who I Am

by Georgia Ruth

Jude Lewis is about to be rediscovered, in more ways than one.

Life for this self-described ‘former musician’ has been rather disappointing. Achieving success as a young man with his debut album, the intervening years have not been kind. Stage fright and self-loathing render him unable to perform and gradually, he disappears. Occasionally mentioned in the odd music magazine or on Reddit as something of a relic, and contacted only by the most tenacious of fans, he is – in the eyes of the world, at least – lost.

But what happens to ‘lost’ musicians?

Leaving London at the suggestion of his not-quite-girlfriend Anna, he relocates to a small village in West Wales. A stone’s throw from Carmarthen (the town in which he was raised by his grandmother Joyce) the village offers something new, albeit in the constant shadow of a Dead Poet. Here, Jude finds himself warmly embraced by the local community, who still remember his early records fondly. A chance play of an old song on an American primetime show offers a lifeline, a chance to make peace with painful things.

But a shocking revelation threatens to undo it all. When things begin to fall apart, Jude must decide what is important to him.

The release coincides with Georgia Ruth's latest calbum 'Cool Head'.
The album and the novel are bound together by one song: the haunting 'Tell Me Who I Am', written by the novel's main character, Jude, and sung by Georgia on the album. This is Georgia's fourth album, and her debut novel.

370 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2024

Reviews

[Estefi Solarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book, I couldn’t put it down. The story is an emotional rollercoaster - hiraeth running through every chapter and every character - it sucks you in and doesn’t let you go for days afterwards. All laced with dozens of interesting music references and snapshots of modern Welsh community life. The song of the same title that accompanies the book is also on my 2024 favourites list!

[Meinir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwych

[Clare Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. One of those rare book that is both beautifully written and a page turner. Am genuinely sad that I’ve finished it

[Richard Chitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Georgia’s debut novel. Beautifully written in-depth characters, and rich nostalgic tapestries for anyone who grew up in the 90s/00s. The same can be said be said for Georgia’s writing of the musical process and recording music. I found it personally very nostalgic as someone who recorded and played in a band in my late teens (although with less success than Jude in this novel).

Despite a certain character being reluctant to references, I will draw one to Nick Horby, in the way music and culture is interwoven into the story. And Inside Llewyn Davis, for the melancholic, self-pitying characterisations. But the story is singularly unique from these and stands up in its own right.

[Ivan Monckton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunningly good first novel, self published, by the Welsh musician Georgia Ruth about a once successful singer who moves from Wales to London and then back to Wales. A bit of an emotional rollercoaster, especially as it surely was based on some first hand experiences. I really didn’t want it to end! Available presumably from the musicians website (I bought at a gig), and worthy of your support, and a main stream publisher, in my opinion!

[Amy Illingworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book needs proof reading !! And also why are we constantly switching to how the cat feels?

[Gruffudd · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best novel I've read in a very long time.