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The America Gene
Aging Texas billionaire Cash Carruthers decides to give up his businesses to sing the blues. Amber Fanfare, a 20-year-old barroom belter with a powerhouse voice, wants to help him. Cruise-ship mogul Diana Copeland wants to build a private floating island. Have they lost their minds? Or is it just their America Gene acting up? They have the money and the talent to make their dreams come true, broadening their horizons in the ways that Americans have always believed was their birthright. But will their dreams lead them to reshape their shared reality on the way to happiness, or just strand them in their own Personal Las Vegas, going zonkers Elvis-style, with no one left to rein them in.
- GenresFiction
326 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2009
16 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Michael Nesmith
32 books137 followersMichael Nesmith's career in music and television took him from starring in The Monkees to a celebrated run of albums as a solo artist and in the First National Band. He created the TV show Popclips, a forerunner of what would become MTV, and produced the films Repo Man and Tapeheads. He is the author of two novels and the founder of the Pacific Arts Corporation, which produces projects in the worlds of audio, video, and virtual reality, including Videoranch 3D. He lives in Carmel, California.
Photo Credit: Alex Battaglia
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Photo Credit: Alex Battaglia
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 16, 2014
(Note: The title above is incorrect – it’s The America Gene (rather than American) )
Great book with interesting characters, well-developed plot, & beautiful writing. I was on the fence about purchasing this book because I couldn't really tell from the description what it was about, and I don’t know much about Michael Nesmith except through his work as a songwriter. Was it fiction? Non-fiction? Collection of negative essays about Americans behaving ridiculously? Heaven knows there is enough source material from the headlines alone to make that work, but I wasn't sure I wanted to read about it. I was intrigued by the title, though, so I downloaded the sample chapter and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, part of what makes this book such a great read is the number of surprises throughout the book, up to and including, the end.
It is emphatically not negative. Rather, it’s a very well-written novel about a man at the doorstep of 50 years old who begins to reflect on his life and starts to make changes. His narrative is interwoven with the story of a musically gifted much younger woman who is also facing changes in her life –some of which are the result of the actions he is taking. Their stories are accompanied by a cast of characters whom you might encounter if you spent any time on the Gulf Coast. The background of the story is the concept of the America Gene – that at some point in the life of Americans, something wakes up in them, and they begin spiraling towards their Personal Las Vegas (in a nutshell, think: Elvis – talented, innovative musician who ends up a caricature of himself in Las Vegas – it’s more complicated than that – for a better explanation, read the book). With characters having names like “Cash”, “Fanfare”, and “Copeland”, I fully expected an Everyman/Carl Hiaasen-esque parody set in 21st century Texas. But I was mistaken again – the characters and places feel real – as though you are sitting in a booth at a diner with a gifted storyteller who is regaling you with a great tale about some of his friends. The empathy with which the author deals with the characters is superb. Somehow he evokes compassion in the reader for all of the characters - even the few whom you might not really like too much if you met them on the street. You might not agree with the actions they are taking, but you feel sympathetic towards them.
I purchased the book to read on vacation – I figured it would be about right for an 8-day road trip – something to read after I put the kids to bed and before I went to sleep each night. It only lasted five days (I read the first half over four days and stayed up until 1:00 in the morning finishing the last half on the fifth night because I couldn’t wait another day to find out what happened to the characters – I felt like a little kid with a flashlight under the covers trying to finish my book – well, no flashlight because I was reading it on a tablet, but the sentiment is the same).
Fans of the author’s songwriting will not be surprised that the book is beautifully written. The realistic descriptions of the Texas coast will make you swear you can feel the Gulf breeze, and there are a few passages about the relationship between the main character and his father that made me want drop the book to call my dad and hug my kids. The real gems are the passages describing the spiritual connection between musicians and their art. I don’t have the gift of relating a description that does them justice, but they were brilliant to read. There is also a good bit of humor interspersed throughout.
As the characters move through the story, a myriad of themes bubble to the surface: facing/dealing with changes in life, choices and the impact those choices make on others (and, in domino fashion – on others down the line), relationships, friendship… And ultimately, what stuck with me was the exploration of the concept of respect in all forms – self respect, respect for others, respect for artistic ability and talent and gifts... I gave this book five stars not so much for the skill with which the story is told (which is considerable), but because a month or so after finishing it, I’m still thinking about it. The remarkable thing about the book, however, is how the ideas just flow naturally from the story. No weighty soliloquys or narrator-heavy rhetoric bog down the action. In fact, the story moves along at a pretty good clip, and it wasn’t until I after I finished it that I found myself in “reflective mode” – turning over some of the ideas in my mind while I was sitting at a stoplight and what have you.
I heard children’s author Karen Cushman speak at about the same time that I started reading The America Gene. One of her comments was that she felt a novel should lift up readers and put them in a better place than they were before they read the book. This book is a long way from children’s historical fiction, but I was (again) surprised at how much I was reminded of that talk when I finished the book.
Highly recommend. Note – you can’t buy it from Amazon – it is only available as a PDF download from http://www.videoranch3d.com
(Side note: wish it were available as a printed book – I know that ebooks are the way of the future and I’m all about downloading books that I read and return to the library, but this one would have gone on the bookshelf!)
-- October 2014 update - the book is now available in print from both Amazon and the Video Ranch link above.
Great book with interesting characters, well-developed plot, & beautiful writing. I was on the fence about purchasing this book because I couldn't really tell from the description what it was about, and I don’t know much about Michael Nesmith except through his work as a songwriter. Was it fiction? Non-fiction? Collection of negative essays about Americans behaving ridiculously? Heaven knows there is enough source material from the headlines alone to make that work, but I wasn't sure I wanted to read about it. I was intrigued by the title, though, so I downloaded the sample chapter and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, part of what makes this book such a great read is the number of surprises throughout the book, up to and including, the end.
It is emphatically not negative. Rather, it’s a very well-written novel about a man at the doorstep of 50 years old who begins to reflect on his life and starts to make changes. His narrative is interwoven with the story of a musically gifted much younger woman who is also facing changes in her life –some of which are the result of the actions he is taking. Their stories are accompanied by a cast of characters whom you might encounter if you spent any time on the Gulf Coast. The background of the story is the concept of the America Gene – that at some point in the life of Americans, something wakes up in them, and they begin spiraling towards their Personal Las Vegas (in a nutshell, think: Elvis – talented, innovative musician who ends up a caricature of himself in Las Vegas – it’s more complicated than that – for a better explanation, read the book). With characters having names like “Cash”, “Fanfare”, and “Copeland”, I fully expected an Everyman/Carl Hiaasen-esque parody set in 21st century Texas. But I was mistaken again – the characters and places feel real – as though you are sitting in a booth at a diner with a gifted storyteller who is regaling you with a great tale about some of his friends. The empathy with which the author deals with the characters is superb. Somehow he evokes compassion in the reader for all of the characters - even the few whom you might not really like too much if you met them on the street. You might not agree with the actions they are taking, but you feel sympathetic towards them.
I purchased the book to read on vacation – I figured it would be about right for an 8-day road trip – something to read after I put the kids to bed and before I went to sleep each night. It only lasted five days (I read the first half over four days and stayed up until 1:00 in the morning finishing the last half on the fifth night because I couldn’t wait another day to find out what happened to the characters – I felt like a little kid with a flashlight under the covers trying to finish my book – well, no flashlight because I was reading it on a tablet, but the sentiment is the same).
Fans of the author’s songwriting will not be surprised that the book is beautifully written. The realistic descriptions of the Texas coast will make you swear you can feel the Gulf breeze, and there are a few passages about the relationship between the main character and his father that made me want drop the book to call my dad and hug my kids. The real gems are the passages describing the spiritual connection between musicians and their art. I don’t have the gift of relating a description that does them justice, but they were brilliant to read. There is also a good bit of humor interspersed throughout.
As the characters move through the story, a myriad of themes bubble to the surface: facing/dealing with changes in life, choices and the impact those choices make on others (and, in domino fashion – on others down the line), relationships, friendship… And ultimately, what stuck with me was the exploration of the concept of respect in all forms – self respect, respect for others, respect for artistic ability and talent and gifts... I gave this book five stars not so much for the skill with which the story is told (which is considerable), but because a month or so after finishing it, I’m still thinking about it. The remarkable thing about the book, however, is how the ideas just flow naturally from the story. No weighty soliloquys or narrator-heavy rhetoric bog down the action. In fact, the story moves along at a pretty good clip, and it wasn’t until I after I finished it that I found myself in “reflective mode” – turning over some of the ideas in my mind while I was sitting at a stoplight and what have you.
I heard children’s author Karen Cushman speak at about the same time that I started reading The America Gene. One of her comments was that she felt a novel should lift up readers and put them in a better place than they were before they read the book. This book is a long way from children’s historical fiction, but I was (again) surprised at how much I was reminded of that talk when I finished the book.
Highly recommend. Note – you can’t buy it from Amazon – it is only available as a PDF download from http://www.videoranch3d.com
(Side note: wish it were available as a printed book – I know that ebooks are the way of the future and I’m all about downloading books that I read and return to the library, but this one would have gone on the bookshelf!)
-- October 2014 update - the book is now available in print from both Amazon and the Video Ranch link above.
June 5, 2013
I love the way he describes people, places, and situations. I could picture each character and the settings in my head.
May 3, 2015
I've always loved Michael Nesmith as a musician, but his writing is absolutely gorgeous. He has such a gift for turning a phrase and invoking nostalgia. It almost reminds me of Garrison Keeler's ability to create a sense of place. I really, really enjoyed it. And if for some reason you need a heroin-like fix of his prose, check out his Facebook posts. They are pure poetry.
April 15, 2023
I love Nesmith and I had high hopes, but this book really didn't do it for me. It just smacks of male fantasy fulfillment through fiction. There is some good social commentary and a slight redemption at the end, but just overall kind of clunky and disappointing.
March 11, 2024
Extremely disappointed in this one. If this were his sole book, I would deem Michael Nesmith to be a lousy author. Having read his other two books, I know Nez’s prose is capable of reaching the same level of brilliance as his songwriting. Whether it be his first novel Neftoon Zamora (which is fantastic), his “autobiographical riff” Infinite Tuesday which, despite not always featuring the most engaging subject matters, is written with a confident authority, or his magnum opus The Prison “a book with a soundtrack” and its sequel The Garden (I have yet to read/listen to The Ocean and from reviews I have read I fear the quality is on par with this book). All of these works have fantastic prose throughout and communicate a lot of the same themes and elements as Nez’s songwriting but in a completely different context. So what went wrong here?!
I really love the idea of a “personal Las Vegas” and how this crisis of identity is unique to Americans; but I don’t think it was properly articulated and expounded until far too late in the book. There’s also an entire subplot about a female character getting intense plastic surgery - to the point where she is unrecognizable - which is meant to emphasize the PLV concept but just comes across as misogynistic and mean. This entire book is really male gazey, which feels incredibly uncharacteristic from the same guy who wrote songs like “Harmony Constant” and “Joanne”.
There are scenes that draaaag out and have no real purpose and massive plot points that happen in half a page. It almost feels like there was no editor. And considering this was self published, it’s entirely possible that is the case.
In short: this book is all the worst impulses of a great artist. I’m relieved this wasn’t Nez’s last work as an author but bummed that it’s the last of his work I had yet to read.
Read Neftoon Zemora, it’s fantastic! Listen to everything Nez put out in the 70s. He’s a massive artist for me and one of the all time greats. Sadly, this book is a disappointing misstep.
I really love the idea of a “personal Las Vegas” and how this crisis of identity is unique to Americans; but I don’t think it was properly articulated and expounded until far too late in the book. There’s also an entire subplot about a female character getting intense plastic surgery - to the point where she is unrecognizable - which is meant to emphasize the PLV concept but just comes across as misogynistic and mean. This entire book is really male gazey, which feels incredibly uncharacteristic from the same guy who wrote songs like “Harmony Constant” and “Joanne”.
There are scenes that draaaag out and have no real purpose and massive plot points that happen in half a page. It almost feels like there was no editor. And considering this was self published, it’s entirely possible that is the case.
In short: this book is all the worst impulses of a great artist. I’m relieved this wasn’t Nez’s last work as an author but bummed that it’s the last of his work I had yet to read.
Read Neftoon Zemora, it’s fantastic! Listen to everything Nez put out in the 70s. He’s a massive artist for me and one of the all time greats. Sadly, this book is a disappointing misstep.
November 9, 2017
The American Gene is yet another reminder that Michael Nesmith is a master of the creative narrative. His stories are richly painted with unique, yet realistic, characters that interact in unpredictable ways. It was a joy to read - one of those books that I didn't want to end!
March 1, 2025
This novel is not just a story....it’s an invitation to think deeper about the ties that bind us and the diverse experiences that define us. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a thoughtful and engaging read.
Michael Nesmith's prose and storytelling is fantastic.
Michael Nesmith's prose and storytelling is fantastic.
December 29, 2021
4.5. I like quirky. This is what I am into. Nesmith is a songwriter and story teller. What seems like fluff turns into a deeper thinking and a great conversation generator. Enjoy.
October 9, 2023
I highly recommend all of Nesmith's books. Not known as an author per se, he is an engaging storyteller with a keen perspective on the world.
December 22, 2016
This novel is a philosophical fable disguised as a whimsical fantasy.
The protagonist is a 50 year old billionaire (Cash Carruthers) who was raised by a single dad, and has done nothing but make deal after profitable deal his entire adult life. One day, he decides to chuck it all and sing the blues instead. The soul of the book, however, is a deep thinking musician (Buni) that Cash falls in with via a 20 year old singer (Amber Fanfare, yes really) who is in can't-breathe-I'm-so-in-love with Cash (yes, really).
Buni comes up with the concept of an American Gene which leads to everyone's own "Private Las Vegas," where you go from authentic Elvis driving trucks and just wanting to make his mama proud to rhinestones, mutton chops, jungle room, and pilled up Elvis. The more you think about it, the more it makes inevitable and sad sense.
Recommended for: something different
NOTE: Yes, this novel was written by that Michael Nesmith, the media mogul who wrote "A Different Drum" and a bunch of other songs.
The protagonist is a 50 year old billionaire (Cash Carruthers) who was raised by a single dad, and has done nothing but make deal after profitable deal his entire adult life. One day, he decides to chuck it all and sing the blues instead. The soul of the book, however, is a deep thinking musician (Buni) that Cash falls in with via a 20 year old singer (Amber Fanfare, yes really) who is in can't-breathe-I'm-so-in-love with Cash (yes, really).
Buni comes up with the concept of an American Gene which leads to everyone's own "Private Las Vegas," where you go from authentic Elvis driving trucks and just wanting to make his mama proud to rhinestones, mutton chops, jungle room, and pilled up Elvis. The more you think about it, the more it makes inevitable and sad sense.
Recommended for: something different
NOTE: Yes, this novel was written by that Michael Nesmith, the media mogul who wrote "A Different Drum" and a bunch of other songs.
May 23, 2015
Wow. What a book! Having finished this book, I feel a little bit like I am giving up old friends. Nez really has a knack for story-telling, both with his music and his stories! I feel like I NEED to know what is going to happen next for Cash, Amber, Buni, Diana & Horton... And while I would LOVE a sequel, I doubt there will be one, only because there really is no need for one.
This story started out a little slowly, but as soon as I got to know Cash Carruthers, I was hooked! I couldn't wait to see who was (and how they were) hitting their PLV, and I am pleased to say I am now a firm believer in the concept, 100%!! I have seen it in person! Buni (and by proxy, Nesmith) is so insightful into the human psychology, it's astounding!
Excellent read, well worth the wait! Highly recommended.
This story started out a little slowly, but as soon as I got to know Cash Carruthers, I was hooked! I couldn't wait to see who was (and how they were) hitting their PLV, and I am pleased to say I am now a firm believer in the concept, 100%!! I have seen it in person! Buni (and by proxy, Nesmith) is so insightful into the human psychology, it's astounding!
Excellent read, well worth the wait! Highly recommended.
October 15, 2016
I love Mr. Nesmith's books, even his short 'novellas' he put out with CDs (i.e The Prison, The Garden).
This book starts off strong, but peters out near the end. Could have been brilliant.
This book starts off strong, but peters out near the end. Could have been brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews