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Bukowski's Broken Family Band
Jo Connors has just been recruited by Jaymie Brzezinski, an eccentric rock musician who claims to have been born at the moment of the writer Charles Bukowski's death. It’s autumn of 2019, and the mad reincarnated poet is assembling an indie band made up of his panic-prone twin brother, coolheaded younger sibling, and Jo—a formidable but perpetually stoned guitar goddess.
They have only just arrived at their first show when a supernatural murder shocks the band, causing them to question whether being part of the local scene is worth the peril.
In between confronting a monstrous killer, spending a stint in a demonic “arts collective” (cult), and navigating a calamitous clone misunderstanding, the four bandmates encounter real-life struggles, including anxiety disorders, gender identity exploration, inequality in the music scene, low-quality pet therapy, and finding belonging on the road amidst the weird.
Hardcover/paperback available at
IG/ @awglen
They have only just arrived at their first show when a supernatural murder shocks the band, causing them to question whether being part of the local scene is worth the peril.
In between confronting a monstrous killer, spending a stint in a demonic “arts collective” (cult), and navigating a calamitous clone misunderstanding, the four bandmates encounter real-life struggles, including anxiety disorders, gender identity exploration, inequality in the music scene, low-quality pet therapy, and finding belonging on the road amidst the weird.
Hardcover/paperback available at
IG/ @awglen
564 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2024
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 10, 2025
I tried to pace myself and only read this book at breakfast, but by the time I was halfway through I couldn't bring myself to put it down...
The things that happen are just slightly supernatural enough to keep you wondering what could possibly happen next, and still leave you surprised.
I was audibly gasping and laughing out loud down to the last pages. The subtle set ups and payoffs are seriously brilliant!
My philosophy is that a good book is worth reading twice, and BBFB is 100% worth a reread, which is why I bought a physical copy.
Endlessly engaging and entertaining. I love this book! I'm looking forward to whatever A. W. Glen writes next :)
The things that happen are just slightly supernatural enough to keep you wondering what could possibly happen next, and still leave you surprised.
I was audibly gasping and laughing out loud down to the last pages. The subtle set ups and payoffs are seriously brilliant!
My philosophy is that a good book is worth reading twice, and BBFB is 100% worth a reread, which is why I bought a physical copy.
Endlessly engaging and entertaining. I love this book! I'm looking forward to whatever A. W. Glen writes next :)
May 16, 2025
Let me preface with saying that the primary genre I read, watch, and play is science fiction. Bukowski's Broken Family Band is pretty far outside my preferred niche, and yet I find myself coming back to it on a consistent basis, and I can say with confidence that it's one of my favourite novels I've read. Somehow, every subsequent reread is even more of a delight than the last one.
And I think that's the best way to describe Glen's writing—delightful. Through a cynical, smart sense of humour and memorable imagery, we're led through the intricacies of a Canadian indie music scene, where musicians have started falling prey to an unknown serial killer. The plot is half murder mystery and half slice of life through the eyes of our four bandmates, albeit a particularly eccentric and absurd life, the happenings of which will make you shrug your shoulders and say "Sure, yeah, this sort of thing WOULD happen to them." Absurdity is a tone throughout—don't expect to predict what happens next in their strange jumble of experiences. And yet, because the characters feel so real, everything just works; these things could happen to this ragtag band and no one else. Bukowski's Broken Family Band is a masterpiece in balancing mood. It's funny, yes, but interspersed with moments of genuine dread, and (my favourite) heartfelt scenes, brief segments where we get to sit with a character and get a peek at their more vulnerable thoughts and feelings as they try to navigate the complexities of life. These scenes are executed brilliantly—they're touching, they're poignant, but they never overstay their welcome long enough to feel needlessly saccharine or corny.
Characters are my priority and my favourite part of anything I enjoy, and Bukowski's Broken Family Band isn't an exception. One element that truly shines in Glen's writing is the characters, every one of them, from the protagonists to the side characters. They're all electrifying in their own way, each of them unique and a genuine joy to read about. The attachments I developed reading about them are intense; I'll always have a soft spot for punk teenager Rex. They're shining examples of characters that are not only wholeheartedly loved by their author, but also known inside and out. The dialogue between these characters is completely remarkable—it flows so, so naturally, and reads like real conversation. They practically jump off the page, and by the end, you'll know them so well you'll be wondering why you can't invite them to come hang out in your living room.
As an aside, Glen knows music. It shows throughout Bukowski's Broken Family Band, from the technicals to descriptions of songs that you can almost hear as you read to insider knowledge on the life of an indie musician (I'm sorry you guys don't make any money). If you're pretentious enough to consider yourself a big musichead, you'll get a kick out of it. I know I did.
All in all, I'd confidently recommend this book to anyone looking for compelling characters, a plot that keeps you on your toes, and a truly gorgeous writing style. Glen's narrative voice and brilliant ability to pick words and piece them together in refreshing combinations will keep you wanting to read more from start to finish.
I think I owe multiple formal apologies to the various friends who have had to put up with my nonstop rambling every time I decide to pick this book up again. Sorry, everyone, but give it a read and maybe you'll understand why I am the way that I am about Bukowski's Broken Family Band.
And I think that's the best way to describe Glen's writing—delightful. Through a cynical, smart sense of humour and memorable imagery, we're led through the intricacies of a Canadian indie music scene, where musicians have started falling prey to an unknown serial killer. The plot is half murder mystery and half slice of life through the eyes of our four bandmates, albeit a particularly eccentric and absurd life, the happenings of which will make you shrug your shoulders and say "Sure, yeah, this sort of thing WOULD happen to them." Absurdity is a tone throughout—don't expect to predict what happens next in their strange jumble of experiences. And yet, because the characters feel so real, everything just works; these things could happen to this ragtag band and no one else. Bukowski's Broken Family Band is a masterpiece in balancing mood. It's funny, yes, but interspersed with moments of genuine dread, and (my favourite) heartfelt scenes, brief segments where we get to sit with a character and get a peek at their more vulnerable thoughts and feelings as they try to navigate the complexities of life. These scenes are executed brilliantly—they're touching, they're poignant, but they never overstay their welcome long enough to feel needlessly saccharine or corny.
Characters are my priority and my favourite part of anything I enjoy, and Bukowski's Broken Family Band isn't an exception. One element that truly shines in Glen's writing is the characters, every one of them, from the protagonists to the side characters. They're all electrifying in their own way, each of them unique and a genuine joy to read about. The attachments I developed reading about them are intense; I'll always have a soft spot for punk teenager Rex. They're shining examples of characters that are not only wholeheartedly loved by their author, but also known inside and out. The dialogue between these characters is completely remarkable—it flows so, so naturally, and reads like real conversation. They practically jump off the page, and by the end, you'll know them so well you'll be wondering why you can't invite them to come hang out in your living room.
As an aside, Glen knows music. It shows throughout Bukowski's Broken Family Band, from the technicals to descriptions of songs that you can almost hear as you read to insider knowledge on the life of an indie musician (I'm sorry you guys don't make any money). If you're pretentious enough to consider yourself a big musichead, you'll get a kick out of it. I know I did.
All in all, I'd confidently recommend this book to anyone looking for compelling characters, a plot that keeps you on your toes, and a truly gorgeous writing style. Glen's narrative voice and brilliant ability to pick words and piece them together in refreshing combinations will keep you wanting to read more from start to finish.
I think I owe multiple formal apologies to the various friends who have had to put up with my nonstop rambling every time I decide to pick this book up again. Sorry, everyone, but give it a read and maybe you'll understand why I am the way that I am about Bukowski's Broken Family Band.
August 11, 2025
A.W. Glen spends time developing her characters, everyone gets a chance to stand in the spotlight, even when it seems like someone is intentionally hogging it.
She brings Winnipeg to life or rather reinvents parts of it then invites us to explore its surroundings. We cross the Provencher Bridge with Jaymie and Aaron Brzezinski on a cold winter night, and later navigate the downtown Skywalk. This might seem mundane, like, who cares about a bridge and what is a skywalk but Winnipeggers will appreciate these details. Glen makes subtle changes to these landmarks and in doing so, she throws us off kilter. Does the Millennium library in fact have six floors? Was there a Salisbury House restaurant bridge? Was it there before or after Mon Ami Louis?
If local shout outs don’t impress you, then I would tell you this is worth reading because of the attention to details. Anyone who’s been to a show will appreciate the energy Glen brings to the page. To the uninitiated, shows are often small, intimate affairs that can include a few dozen to a couple hundred people in the audience. The music fuels the crowd into a sort of frenzy where you can forget your problems and lose yourself in the music. She describes rowdy fans who spill beer and fall to the ground. We smile when two people flirt with one another, promising to see one another another time.
The book is divided into three parts, each part explores the band members' relationship, their resolve and their ability to roll with the punches and rise to the occasion. Whether it’s a cult, deranged clone or someone murdering people at local shows - there’s plenty of weird stuff going on. Still not enough for you? Maybe you should go watch Netflix.
She brings Winnipeg to life or rather reinvents parts of it then invites us to explore its surroundings. We cross the Provencher Bridge with Jaymie and Aaron Brzezinski on a cold winter night, and later navigate the downtown Skywalk. This might seem mundane, like, who cares about a bridge and what is a skywalk but Winnipeggers will appreciate these details. Glen makes subtle changes to these landmarks and in doing so, she throws us off kilter. Does the Millennium library in fact have six floors? Was there a Salisbury House restaurant bridge? Was it there before or after Mon Ami Louis?
If local shout outs don’t impress you, then I would tell you this is worth reading because of the attention to details. Anyone who’s been to a show will appreciate the energy Glen brings to the page. To the uninitiated, shows are often small, intimate affairs that can include a few dozen to a couple hundred people in the audience. The music fuels the crowd into a sort of frenzy where you can forget your problems and lose yourself in the music. She describes rowdy fans who spill beer and fall to the ground. We smile when two people flirt with one another, promising to see one another another time.
The book is divided into three parts, each part explores the band members' relationship, their resolve and their ability to roll with the punches and rise to the occasion. Whether it’s a cult, deranged clone or someone murdering people at local shows - there’s plenty of weird stuff going on. Still not enough for you? Maybe you should go watch Netflix.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2024
This is the band I want to be in.
Read
March 26, 2025Amazing writing !!!
March 18, 2025
I'm now a groupie - make that a superfan - of both the band and the whole quirky, lovable cast of this hilarious (and also creepy) tale! The witty narrator keeps the laughs coming with clever turns of phrase, comical relationship dynamics, and outlandish plot developments. The pages fly by in this big-hearted tale of twin brothers, their sibling, and other band mates, as they work to succeed in the music scene and also get closer to solving the mystery of who is killing attendees at indie rock shows in Winnipeg. I just love how A.W. Glen's humour can be so delightful but at the same time never mean or harsh at all. Read this book - and the next one (which I'm currently waiting for)!
January 21, 2025
The whimsical book the winnipeg music scene didn't know it was missing!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews