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Summertime in Murdertown: How I Survived Where the Best Die
Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, David Gunn is proud to have grown up in a city facing constant adversity, and to represent a community whose government knowingly poisoned its citizens for years. Now, he pulls back the curtain on Flint—like only those born and raised there can do. His advice is poignant and timely, and urges readers to never stop working through the struggle. To not create a back-up plan, and to cross the bridge and burn it behind them. To define the things they want and run toward them. Like Laura Jane Grace's Tranny and Rob Rufus' Die Young With Me, Summertime in Murdertown is part memoir, part ethnography. It sheds light on what it means to grow up amid constant violence and poverty and serves as a voice to those struggling to survive as we navigate this unpredictable and often cruel world in search of inspiration.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2019
19 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 26, 2019
I purchased the book directly from King’s website. I’m someone who reads hundreds of books and can honestly say this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. You don’t need to be a fan of the band or even know them to like this, however if you are a fan of the band you will definitely like this. I took notes throughout this book, and not just notes about success or music. I found myself surprised by the depth of Gunn’s wisdom in multiple topics that he gave his perspective on. I truly didn’t expect to walk away with so many new perspectives from a book written by a lead singer of a metal band, but am pleasantly surprised. Incredible work.
March 28, 2019
💯
🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Do recommend this read. 💯
🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥🔥 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Do recommend this read. 💯
May 5, 2019
This is an excellent memoir from a man that has lived with constant struggle and hardships his entire life, and still do to this day.
The book heavily focus on the place David Gunn grew up in and still resides, Flint Michigan "The most dangerous city in America".
Flint will not just resemble a geographical place. It changes people, sometimes for the better but more often for the worse. For some people this is just where they live, but for others it becomes a crucial part of your own identity at the cost of being a kid and sometimes even human.
David depicts a city that is long forgotten and is prominently run by criminal activities. Through David's own experience and life he answers a lot of questions many people would struggle to understand.
What affects does this kind of upbringing have on the human psyche? What is it like living a lawless lifestyle in the streets? And why the fuck would you stay in such a shithole?
All these questions and more are answered beautifully and intellectually throughout the book.
People from similar places and upbringing around the world are often described as uneducated that do not possess any knowledge that is worthwhile. This is far from truth when it comes to the author David Gunn.
He is a free spirit that has more or less educated himself throughout his entire lifespan. Many of the life-lessons that David has conquered and learned from in his life can't be taught in school or universities. Because of his past and present his thoughts, philosophies and moral deviates from "the normal" and feels like a fresh take on a lot of things you wouldn't necessarily consider yourself. When his own life fails to give him answers or new prespectives, David turns to books and absorbs the information from the greatest philosophers and writers around the world to create his own thought pattern.
In other words David is an incredibly interesting individual and do not necessarily fit the cliche of what a person from poverty and violence would let you believe.
I almost read the entire book in one sitting. I couldn't force myself to put it down and that does not occur often. The stories that are told is incredibly captivating and you end up blasting through several chapters to see what will happen next.
The writing is easy to follow and is very straight to the point. You are spared from all the bullshit and David sits you down and tell you in a frank manner exactly how it is. Between the pages you often find glimpses of pure genius that may or may not be intentional.
For those of you that do not know, David is the frontman of a band named KING 810. They have songs that touch on many different genres. They do everything from Death-metal to country and hip-hop and are still expanding their range on other musicstyles. David also has a solo rap-project named YAVID.
I am big fan of David's band "KING 810" and have followed them since early 2015. I have even been fortunate enough to see them live on one of their tours mentioned in this very book. Because of their music and lyrical content I have tried to investigate and looking for information ever since I discovered them because I knew early on that the band and David himself had something special and I was not wrong.
Due to I have read or listen to almost every interview David has ever published , some of the stories shared in this book didn't come as a surprise. And being familiar with the way David speaks and conducts himself, It didn't really come as a surprise how authentic and honest he comes off in his writing.
However, there was many new things David shared that I had never heard before, whether it have been in interviews or songs.
Even a fanboy like myself was able to get an even deeper insight which I couldn't obtain from the songs I have listen to a million times.
And even though with the very genuine and straightforward lyrics depicted in his songs, this book was able to dive deep into a mind that i naively thought I couldn't appreciate more.
I only have one minor criticism on this book, but to be fair it is not really criticism it's just a hunger for more.
This book felt like a introduction or a Part 1 on some levels. David stops himself several times to go on further detail on some of the stories because he hints that he will release a sequel. I truly hope that he does and I truly hope that he is still alive to be able to do so.
This book is exciting, disgusting, depressing, heartbreaking and even funny at times.
I bought the book from the bands website when it got announced and fortunately for me David signed every book that was pre-ordered as a gesture of gratitude. It really means a lot and the book will have a even more meaningful place in the bookshelf because of it.
You don't have to be a fan of KING 810 or David to enjoy this book. This runs deeper than any band or frontman ever could do. This is about real lives, real relationships and brotherhood few can comprehend. It's a story about adversity, success, suffering, love, hate, revenge and more. This is a memoir from a extraordinary place told from a extraordinary standpoint. I will most likely read it again in the future.
If you like autobiographies that are so deep that you might lose yourself in the darkness, give this one a read.
The book heavily focus on the place David Gunn grew up in and still resides, Flint Michigan "The most dangerous city in America".
Flint will not just resemble a geographical place. It changes people, sometimes for the better but more often for the worse. For some people this is just where they live, but for others it becomes a crucial part of your own identity at the cost of being a kid and sometimes even human.
David depicts a city that is long forgotten and is prominently run by criminal activities. Through David's own experience and life he answers a lot of questions many people would struggle to understand.
What affects does this kind of upbringing have on the human psyche? What is it like living a lawless lifestyle in the streets? And why the fuck would you stay in such a shithole?
All these questions and more are answered beautifully and intellectually throughout the book.
People from similar places and upbringing around the world are often described as uneducated that do not possess any knowledge that is worthwhile. This is far from truth when it comes to the author David Gunn.
He is a free spirit that has more or less educated himself throughout his entire lifespan. Many of the life-lessons that David has conquered and learned from in his life can't be taught in school or universities. Because of his past and present his thoughts, philosophies and moral deviates from "the normal" and feels like a fresh take on a lot of things you wouldn't necessarily consider yourself. When his own life fails to give him answers or new prespectives, David turns to books and absorbs the information from the greatest philosophers and writers around the world to create his own thought pattern.
In other words David is an incredibly interesting individual and do not necessarily fit the cliche of what a person from poverty and violence would let you believe.
I almost read the entire book in one sitting. I couldn't force myself to put it down and that does not occur often. The stories that are told is incredibly captivating and you end up blasting through several chapters to see what will happen next.
The writing is easy to follow and is very straight to the point. You are spared from all the bullshit and David sits you down and tell you in a frank manner exactly how it is. Between the pages you often find glimpses of pure genius that may or may not be intentional.
For those of you that do not know, David is the frontman of a band named KING 810. They have songs that touch on many different genres. They do everything from Death-metal to country and hip-hop and are still expanding their range on other musicstyles. David also has a solo rap-project named YAVID.
I am big fan of David's band "KING 810" and have followed them since early 2015. I have even been fortunate enough to see them live on one of their tours mentioned in this very book. Because of their music and lyrical content I have tried to investigate and looking for information ever since I discovered them because I knew early on that the band and David himself had something special and I was not wrong.
Due to I have read or listen to almost every interview David has ever published , some of the stories shared in this book didn't come as a surprise. And being familiar with the way David speaks and conducts himself, It didn't really come as a surprise how authentic and honest he comes off in his writing.
However, there was many new things David shared that I had never heard before, whether it have been in interviews or songs.
Even a fanboy like myself was able to get an even deeper insight which I couldn't obtain from the songs I have listen to a million times.
And even though with the very genuine and straightforward lyrics depicted in his songs, this book was able to dive deep into a mind that i naively thought I couldn't appreciate more.
I only have one minor criticism on this book, but to be fair it is not really criticism it's just a hunger for more.
This book felt like a introduction or a Part 1 on some levels. David stops himself several times to go on further detail on some of the stories because he hints that he will release a sequel. I truly hope that he does and I truly hope that he is still alive to be able to do so.
This book is exciting, disgusting, depressing, heartbreaking and even funny at times.
I bought the book from the bands website when it got announced and fortunately for me David signed every book that was pre-ordered as a gesture of gratitude. It really means a lot and the book will have a even more meaningful place in the bookshelf because of it.
You don't have to be a fan of KING 810 or David to enjoy this book. This runs deeper than any band or frontman ever could do. This is about real lives, real relationships and brotherhood few can comprehend. It's a story about adversity, success, suffering, love, hate, revenge and more. This is a memoir from a extraordinary place told from a extraordinary standpoint. I will most likely read it again in the future.
If you like autobiographies that are so deep that you might lose yourself in the darkness, give this one a read.
September 1, 2021
Good read; King810 family
Anyone that loves King810 or David Gunn should read this. It’s important to understand their origins and background. Outside if that it touches on real issues the people of flint have experienced and are still experiencing.
Anyone that loves King810 or David Gunn should read this. It’s important to understand their origins and background. Outside if that it touches on real issues the people of flint have experienced and are still experiencing.
Read
May 25, 2024I usually don’t have a problem giving ratings to memoirs, but in this case, I think the number of grammatical and usage errors and typos detracted from the book in a way that would negatively impact my rating way too much. Issues of form rather than substance abound, so just be prepared for that if you embark on reading this one.
Dave Landau recommended this book on a show he was on (LWC maybe?) so I added it to my list a while ago, and I finally got around to reading it.
I don’t know the band KING 810 (upon further review, their stuff is something I would listen to), but I’m no stranger to the genre. I grew up not too far from Flint, although from this book, my hometown is a totally different world separated from the abject poverty of Flint by mere miles.
This was very different from most books I read. It is stream-of-consciousness with so many people and so many names. I’m guessing it was mostly edited, if edited at all, to correct typos (with only moderate success) since it seems otherwise to be left in the author’s voice.
I was pleasantly surprised by Gunn’s wisdom and his quest for knowledge, despite his lack of formal education, but it was occasionally hard to read, be it due to content or presentation. He doesn’t lack self-awareness as to his writing (or to himself in general), which I found endearing, though.
But holy hell, this is exactly why kids need good parents.
Dave Landau recommended this book on a show he was on (LWC maybe?) so I added it to my list a while ago, and I finally got around to reading it.
I don’t know the band KING 810 (upon further review, their stuff is something I would listen to), but I’m no stranger to the genre. I grew up not too far from Flint, although from this book, my hometown is a totally different world separated from the abject poverty of Flint by mere miles.
This was very different from most books I read. It is stream-of-consciousness with so many people and so many names. I’m guessing it was mostly edited, if edited at all, to correct typos (with only moderate success) since it seems otherwise to be left in the author’s voice.
I was pleasantly surprised by Gunn’s wisdom and his quest for knowledge, despite his lack of formal education, but it was occasionally hard to read, be it due to content or presentation. He doesn’t lack self-awareness as to his writing (or to himself in general), which I found endearing, though.
But holy hell, this is exactly why kids need good parents.
June 27, 2021
This book... it made me like myself less. It is when you realize you do live in a middle-class bubble (however much that means given Eastern Europen standards).
I have immense admiration for both David and the band as a whole.
Not being a native English speaker, most of the slang was lost on me (but I took the opportunity to learn plenty new expressions.)
It is a collection of very accessible pieces of wisdom and real life happenings that beat any attempted fiction in this sense.
Even if my upbringing and general life circumstances greatly differ (being a square I guess), I still could relate to this book in terms of wasting my potential on one minimum wage job after the other because I feel a normal life isn't for me either and that I, only I, am to blame that I am stagnating and not doing everything I can for my passion, my art.
There were a few typos here and there (might have counted about 5-6 per total) but that just goes to show how raw and real this is.
I loved the tone of the book. I might have expected it to be (rightfully so) more patronizing. It's not in the least ("so I'll try speaking to the public as a friend...")
Wholeheartedly recommend it!
I have immense admiration for both David and the band as a whole.
Not being a native English speaker, most of the slang was lost on me (but I took the opportunity to learn plenty new expressions.)
It is a collection of very accessible pieces of wisdom and real life happenings that beat any attempted fiction in this sense.
Even if my upbringing and general life circumstances greatly differ (being a square I guess), I still could relate to this book in terms of wasting my potential on one minimum wage job after the other because I feel a normal life isn't for me either and that I, only I, am to blame that I am stagnating and not doing everything I can for my passion, my art.
There were a few typos here and there (might have counted about 5-6 per total) but that just goes to show how raw and real this is.
I loved the tone of the book. I might have expected it to be (rightfully so) more patronizing. It's not in the least ("so I'll try speaking to the public as a friend...")
Wholeheartedly recommend it!
May 22, 2020
David Gunn / Yavid is endlessly compelling. The atypical challenges of those living in Flint (especially David and the people whom he did and does keep close) display the layers of human behaviour, response, and the concept that the environment is evertelling in how one will respond. David shares stories that are heartwrenching, send chills down the spine, and are relatable to many whom have lived below the poverty line. More than anything, this book is a portrait into the fantastic art and work that is KING810. I will be cherishing my copy for years to come.
April 24, 2019
I've read it twice now. The day it came in the mail I didn't put it down until I read it front to back. The second time around was just as perfect. There are parts where I couldn't stop smiling, page after page I read with what seemed like my jaw hitting the floor, and even a few parts where I cried. You did an outstanding job, Yavid! We the people of Flint, Michigan are proud of you!
October 18, 2024
An exceptional, candid memoir composed of miscellaneous, journal-like excerpts by David Gunn. A telling of indigent and unforgiving upbringing on the inexorably grim streets of Flint, Michigan. Reminded me bittersweetly of many similarities I shared in my own childhood upbringing and adolescence and so, for that, this book holds a special place in my heart.
January 4, 2025
One of those books that will stay with your forever. Not a musical memoir more like a horror story of growing up in poverty/violence and how it shapes a person. Quick read, powerful message. Real deal.
September 10, 2020
One of the best
January 12, 2021
Phenomenal.
October 4, 2021
I don't like gawking at other people's lives and damn sure don't like spoiling any goods. Just know I rated this book 5 stars and hope someone else gets to read this in their struggle.
June 15, 2023
Memoir of music artist DK Gunn. Grew up in Michigan with a shitty childhood. It’s a good read if you like these kinds of books.
October 11, 2023
Raw and unfiltered, this book was an amazing read.
October 14, 2024
A must read bio even for people who aren't fans of the band.
February 6, 2026
dastardly
May 21, 2019
This was a marvellous work of non-fiction. Well written and captivating. Highly recommended even for those not familiar with the authors music. For some reason at times it brings ny mind an other autobiographical story; "Shadow Scorpion: memoirs of an assasin" by White Wolf von Atzingen.
Read
June 18, 2019What an EPIC story that needed to be told.
This book will put you there, right in the middle of the lion’s den. Feel the struggles of a tormented youth and the joy of finding purpose in the struggle. Finding light at the end of a tunnel only to be blinded by your past choices. Redemption comes in the form of art, and the love of telling these people of Flint’s story.
This book will put you there, right in the middle of the lion’s den. Feel the struggles of a tormented youth and the joy of finding purpose in the struggle. Finding light at the end of a tunnel only to be blinded by your past choices. Redemption comes in the form of art, and the love of telling these people of Flint’s story.
June 28, 2020
Interesting and wise
Gunn tells a brilliant story. Not only is it true, but it is raw and poignant. This book allows you to grow up with Gunn from a precocious youth to a man with wisdom beyond his years. I read the entire book in two sittings, and I hope there is a follow up.
Gunn tells a brilliant story. Not only is it true, but it is raw and poignant. This book allows you to grow up with Gunn from a precocious youth to a man with wisdom beyond his years. I read the entire book in two sittings, and I hope there is a follow up.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews