Fall Without Jerry

by Henri Rosenblum

Jerry Garcia died August 9, 1995. His death affected Grateful Dead fans in ways that mainstream society will never understand. Fall Without Jerry chronicles how Jerry's death affected the life of one such fan, New York City Deadhead Matthew Baron. Suddenly disillusioned by his comfortable life, Matthew begins having visions of happier days spent following the Grateful Dead. Overcome by flashbacks he abruptly embarks on a soul searching adventure through the jungles and beaches of Thailand and Indonesia where he ultimately sets his life on a fresh path of greater fulfillment. Intertwined with Grateful Dead song lyrics, Fall Without Jerry is an exhilarating trip for all Jerry fans, and anyone intrigued by hippie culture, to embrace and enjoy.

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2002

Reviews

[Sil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a journey; a trip in so many ways!

It was a wonderful exploration of early-onset disillusionment, brought about by the death of a beloved artist. We don't usually search so longingly for meaning and purpose, or miss our youth so keenly, until later years.

I wondered if the lack of page numbers was a device to convey the feeling of being cast adrift from a deep loss.
The themes of kindness and oneness were refreshing and I enjoyed the journey very much.

[Tai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it a lot. It is a laugh out loud type of story. And the attention to detail describing Indonesia was amazing. I felt I was a part of the story from start to finish. I highly recommend everyone to read, especially if your a Deadhead.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I was unable to get into this book & I finally just had to put it down. I'll be honest though in that it's probably because I'm younger than the target audience. From what I did read, I can think of a few people in my life that might relate to the story a bit better & enjoy reading it, so I'll be passing it on to them & waiting to hear what they have to think.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. So not really a Grateful Dead fan. But I did so relate to the idea of getting out of a mundane existence. Every once in a while it's actually a good thing to just run away, and see where the wind blows you. A good reminder that the world is so much bigger than your own backyard; with adventures to be had.

Made me want to hop on a plane for parts unknown

[Camille Cal-New · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I had a hard time relating to many of the ongoing themes in this book. It made it hard to connect to however, I think for someone who enjoyed this music and era, it will be an enjoyable read. Having had the pleasure of meeting with the author, it was interesting to hear how his life experiences unfolded in the writing of this book.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! Although I am not a Grateful Dead fan, I loved the story and admired the main character's adventurous spirit. It was a lot of fun to go along with him on his journey.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read. Matthews journey was serious and yet delightful to read. I have now discovered the music of the Grateful Dead thanks to Henri Rosenblum! Can't wait for the next book (more Grateful Dead?)!