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Chinaski
CHINASKI - the band who almost made it
Carl Howell is dead, passing like a wave through the lives of his friends. A brilliant singer, a loved son, a hated rival, a meal ticket, a soulmate, Carl means different things to different people - how can they continue without him? Chinaski takes a look at the music industry, the fans and the vampires, and asks, what can we really know about our icons?
Set in the late 80s/early 90s, during the last gasp of youth subculture, before rave culture came along and made people like each other, before brit pop made indie music mainstream, Chinaski charts the rise of an indie band destined for fame. A realistic account of the seamier side of the music industry told from the point of view of the girlfriend, the band member and the music journalist.
* * *
The only child of parents who worked at a top security psychiatric hospital, Frances Vick grew up receiving disquieting notes and presents from the inmates. Expelled from school, she spent the next few years on the dole, augmenting her income by providing security and crewing for gigs, and being a medical experiment guinea pig. Later jobs included working in a theatre in Manhattan, teaching English in Japanese Junior High Schools, and being a life model in Italy, before coming back to London and working with young offenders and refugees. Chinaski is her first novel. Join in on the conversation at facebook/francesvickauthor or visit francesvick.co.uk
Carl Howell is dead, passing like a wave through the lives of his friends. A brilliant singer, a loved son, a hated rival, a meal ticket, a soulmate, Carl means different things to different people - how can they continue without him? Chinaski takes a look at the music industry, the fans and the vampires, and asks, what can we really know about our icons?
Set in the late 80s/early 90s, during the last gasp of youth subculture, before rave culture came along and made people like each other, before brit pop made indie music mainstream, Chinaski charts the rise of an indie band destined for fame. A realistic account of the seamier side of the music industry told from the point of view of the girlfriend, the band member and the music journalist.
* * *
The only child of parents who worked at a top security psychiatric hospital, Frances Vick grew up receiving disquieting notes and presents from the inmates. Expelled from school, she spent the next few years on the dole, augmenting her income by providing security and crewing for gigs, and being a medical experiment guinea pig. Later jobs included working in a theatre in Manhattan, teaching English in Japanese Junior High Schools, and being a life model in Italy, before coming back to London and working with young offenders and refugees. Chinaski is her first novel. Join in on the conversation at facebook/francesvickauthor or visit francesvick.co.uk
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2014
About the author
Frances Vick
4 books70 followersThe only child of parents who worked at a top security psychiatric hospital, Frances Vick grew up receiving disquieting notes and presents from the inmates. Expelled from school, she spent the next few years on the dole, augmenting her income by providing security and crewing for gigs, and being a medical experiment guinea pig. Later jobs included working in a theatre in Manhattan, teaching English in Japanese Junior High Schools, and being a life model in Italy, before coming back to London and working with young offenders and refugees. Chinaski is her first novel. Her second, Bad Little Girl is out in February 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 4, 2015
Real people - distinct, idiosyncratically voiced. The main character, Carl, is only seen through the eyes of other people, but the charisma, the uniqueness, is really good, a central figure strongly-drawn enough to carry the book, even though he’s absent for nearly all of it, recollected by his friends. The rock journalist Chris Harris is a terrific creation: seedy, corrupt, touched with genius. The subsidiary characters are sharply focused too - the grumpy roadie with his dope and his horrible taste in music, and the weird and sinister hobo Dom. The chronology is brilliant: the way time passes, outside in the world and inside in memory. Buy! Read! Recommend!
July 2, 2020
A fictional account of one band’s ascent and downfall in the murky world of 90’s alt-rock.
Our frontman-and the centrepiece of the story, Carl Howell-is dead. We then jump through the past, present and futures of those who were closest to Carl, and how their lives were irreversibly shaped by his brief, but intense impact on their lives.
The format of the story works well; and we found out that Carl was different things, to different people. However, it can’t be said that likeable was one of those things. He is a caricature of a tragic Kurt Cobain-esque cautionary tale. He is moody, abusive and self absorbed; and yet Lydia, Peter, Chris, Dom and others worship the ground he walks on.
It’s no surprise that-with the exception of the sleazy rock-journalist, Chris-that they all struggle with their identity outside of Carl, once he’s passed. By and large, they all go onto better things, but aren’t quite the same again. It is fulfilling, but a little unsurprising.
Between this, and Carl’s misadventures while he was alive, there’s little room for fictional, or real, references to the larger 90’s alternative scene-an area of music I have great interest in. I was hoping for more tales of rock & roll mischief, and the intricacies of running a label or magazine, before the internet took hold.
It was a brief, and enjoyable read in parts, but what should’ve been a story about a music genre I love, left me wanting a little bit more.
Our frontman-and the centrepiece of the story, Carl Howell-is dead. We then jump through the past, present and futures of those who were closest to Carl, and how their lives were irreversibly shaped by his brief, but intense impact on their lives.
The format of the story works well; and we found out that Carl was different things, to different people. However, it can’t be said that likeable was one of those things. He is a caricature of a tragic Kurt Cobain-esque cautionary tale. He is moody, abusive and self absorbed; and yet Lydia, Peter, Chris, Dom and others worship the ground he walks on.
It’s no surprise that-with the exception of the sleazy rock-journalist, Chris-that they all struggle with their identity outside of Carl, once he’s passed. By and large, they all go onto better things, but aren’t quite the same again. It is fulfilling, but a little unsurprising.
Between this, and Carl’s misadventures while he was alive, there’s little room for fictional, or real, references to the larger 90’s alternative scene-an area of music I have great interest in. I was hoping for more tales of rock & roll mischief, and the intricacies of running a label or magazine, before the internet took hold.
It was a brief, and enjoyable read in parts, but what should’ve been a story about a music genre I love, left me wanting a little bit more.
June 21, 2015
Chinaski is the story of a 90's era band, almost on the verge of true stardom, and the lead singer, a Jim Morrison-esque figure, Carl Howell. [Or should I say, Kurt Cobain-esque?] We enter the timeline just as Carl has died (suicide? overdose? murder??). The story is told through alternating points of view, predominately Peter (friend and band-mate) and Lydia (ex-girlfriend.) This is a book about perception and relationships, and how different the way we see ourselves is from how others see us.
Ms. Vick is a talented writer, and the story is elegantly crafted. The 90's music scene is described well, and it's clear that the author writes from a perspective of having been there, and been part of it.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Ms. Vick is a talented writer, and the story is elegantly crafted. The 90's music scene is described well, and it's clear that the author writes from a perspective of having been there, and been part of it.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
February 6, 2015
an excellent story by the true talented author Frances Vick. As a young person growing up in the 90's this book gives an amazing insight to the band scene and brings back nostalgic moments that I could relate to. Looking forward to the next book by Fran !
Want to Read
June 9, 2015I won this book through goodreads and I cant wait to start reading!!
February 26, 2018
I could not get into this book. It grabbed me at first, but los5 me halfway through. Just didn’t like any of the characters..did not care what happened to them...2.5 reall
March 28, 2015
I really got a lot out of this. At first, I thought it was just because that in the early 90’s I was an introspective teenager, playing and singing in a band (which was not as good as the members thought it was!). I am pretty certain I was Peter at 15 (and I am DEFINITE that I knew at least one Lydia!).
But as I read on, I realised there was more to it than that. Don’t get me wrong: the writing of early 90’s teenage rock dreams was great, and I loved it – but the characters are bigger and subtler than that. The sleeve makes it sounds like some sort of whodunit, but it really isn’t. The story talks about dreams, and life’s defining moments. It looks at those relationships that are painful and – in some ways – damaging, but nonetheless help define you, and which, even with mature retrospection (and a healthy dose of hindsight,) you still wouldn’t give up.
All of the characters in this book are fantastic, weird, broken and arseholes in equal measure*, but that’s what’s so great, because that’s what we’re all like aren’t we?
This story is melancholy and tragic. But it’s also wonderful. Do yourself a favour and go read it.
*OK, Chris Harris is mostly arsehole. Read the book, and tell me you don’t agree.
But as I read on, I realised there was more to it than that. Don’t get me wrong: the writing of early 90’s teenage rock dreams was great, and I loved it – but the characters are bigger and subtler than that. The sleeve makes it sounds like some sort of whodunit, but it really isn’t. The story talks about dreams, and life’s defining moments. It looks at those relationships that are painful and – in some ways – damaging, but nonetheless help define you, and which, even with mature retrospection (and a healthy dose of hindsight,) you still wouldn’t give up.
All of the characters in this book are fantastic, weird, broken and arseholes in equal measure*, but that’s what’s so great, because that’s what we’re all like aren’t we?
This story is melancholy and tragic. But it’s also wonderful. Do yourself a favour and go read it.
*OK, Chris Harris is mostly arsehole. Read the book, and tell me you don’t agree.
February 5, 2015
Chinaski is set in the music scene of the 90's, conjuring up perfectly a world of gigs in smoky, sticky-floored venues. It focuses on a band called Chinaski who are on the brink of success when the lead singer, Carl dies. Carl is an elusive character and his death leaves many wondering about the events leading up to his death and how well they really knew him. The story is told from the perspective of three characters who were close to him: girlfriend, band mate and music journalist. They all have a different perception of Carl and each other and you are left with the overwhelming feeling that it is impossible to truly know anyone. In particular, Carl, who actively shrouds himself in mystery. It is an intriguing book which left me thinking about the nature of celebrity and the impossible quest of fans to possess the people they idolise.
February 4, 2015
Chinaski by Frances Vick is a novel about a 90s rock band that so nearly made it, but were halted in their tracks when charismatic lead singer Carl dies. This happens right at the the start of this gripping story which spares no punches about the hard work required to make it in those pre-Youtube days. The story of the band and what happened next is told through the eyes of Carl’s friends and colleagues – the band member, the ex-girlfriend and their manager in particular, and they each have a different tale to tell...
For those that enjoy books about rock ‘n’ roll, this is a must, especially with the Marshall amp on the front!
Read my full review at http://shinynewbooks.co.uk/fiction-04...
For those that enjoy books about rock ‘n’ roll, this is a must, especially with the Marshall amp on the front!
Read my full review at http://shinynewbooks.co.uk/fiction-04...
September 3, 2016
I found the music industry setting was interesting, coherently used through the book and, as an era from my youth, carried a good dose of nostalgia for me. But what made me unable to put this down were the dynamics being shown between a well constructed mix of characters. The events being explored continuously showed the influence people can have on each other, the varying depth and breadth to which others can impact self-perceptions and personal motivations, as well as considering differing opinions, memories, and the limitations and biases affecting understanding others too. The inclusion of the wider social reactions to the main characters and events was a great additional layer for this. Excellent read.
February 4, 2015
A very impressive first novel by Frances Vick that (for me) evoked the compromises required to achieve fame. It succeeds on a number of levels: as a record of a time before ubiquitous social media; as a study of a series of deeply-flawed and believable characters; and as a fascinating and ambiguous mystery. I'm interested to see what Ms. Vick writes next; I'll certainly read it.
February 16, 2015
I read a lot in the winter (to cold for biking) and although it is not a subject I would usually chose, really enjoyed the book. It is very perceptive, interesting and well crafted. Nice twist at the end. Very good believable 'real' characters. Well worth a read for something different. A good contemporary novel. Looking forward to another one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews