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Bootleg Stardust
Daisy Jones & the Six meets Nick Hornby in this uplit debut novel about a young musician who auditions for a band and is suddenly catapulted into the wild world of rock and roll stardom, where nothing is quite what it seems.
Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom on your way to the top.
It’s 1974. The music world is rocking with bellbottoms, platform shoes, and lots and lots of drugs. This year’s sensation is an American band called Downtown Exit and their latest album has just gone gold.
For high school dropout Levi Jaxon, things aren’t so great. After bouncing around foster homes for years, he’s living in his best friend’s basement. His dream is to someday be a rock star, but he has a problem—his own band has just broken up.
In an uncanny stroke of luck, Levi lands an audition for Downtown Exit, who are now recording their second album at Abbey Road Studios. He arrives in London and aces his audition, only to learn he’s not really in the band. No, Levi’s job is to sit in the wings and cover for the band’s real guitarist when he inevitably starts tripping on stage.
Levi sticks with it, hoping to step into the role he’s always dreamed of. But he must first navigate egos, jealousies, and deceptions. Frankie, the band’s front man, has it out for him. And Levi has fallen for Ariadne, the band’s photographer. All of them have their secrets, Levi included. And as the band tours through Europe and struggles to finish their new album, Levi comes face to face with unanswered questions from his past and the impossible price that fame demands.
Utterly magical and transporting, Bootleg Stardust is a one-of-a-kind joyride about the power of music to bring people together—and break them apart—and the courage it takes to find your own voice.
Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom on your way to the top.
It’s 1974. The music world is rocking with bellbottoms, platform shoes, and lots and lots of drugs. This year’s sensation is an American band called Downtown Exit and their latest album has just gone gold.
For high school dropout Levi Jaxon, things aren’t so great. After bouncing around foster homes for years, he’s living in his best friend’s basement. His dream is to someday be a rock star, but he has a problem—his own band has just broken up.
In an uncanny stroke of luck, Levi lands an audition for Downtown Exit, who are now recording their second album at Abbey Road Studios. He arrives in London and aces his audition, only to learn he’s not really in the band. No, Levi’s job is to sit in the wings and cover for the band’s real guitarist when he inevitably starts tripping on stage.
Levi sticks with it, hoping to step into the role he’s always dreamed of. But he must first navigate egos, jealousies, and deceptions. Frankie, the band’s front man, has it out for him. And Levi has fallen for Ariadne, the band’s photographer. All of them have their secrets, Levi included. And as the band tours through Europe and struggles to finish their new album, Levi comes face to face with unanswered questions from his past and the impossible price that fame demands.
Utterly magical and transporting, Bootleg Stardust is a one-of-a-kind joyride about the power of music to bring people together—and break them apart—and the courage it takes to find your own voice.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2021
4 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Dixon
10 books73 followersGlenn Dixon's new novel, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, will be published April 7, 2026 (Atria books in the US, HarperCollins in Canada and Australia). It's set in the near future in a Smart House where the appliances (especially a young Roomba vacuum cleaner named Scout) hope to save their elderly Humans from the insidious Grid that runs the City.
His previous novel, "Bootleg Stardust" was published in April 2021 (Simon & Schuster). It is the story of the fictional band Downtown Exit and their disastrous 1974 European Tour where the secrets that each character keep finally emerge in the burning down of hotel rooms, punches on stage and finally the theft of the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Truck. The soundtrack is available on Spotify.
Glenn Dixon's third book was "Juliet's Answer" (Simon & Schuster, January 2017). As the lone male secretary at the Club di Giulietta in Verona, he answered the real letters to Juliet and he learned something of love, of Shakespeare and of the sun splashed hills of this ancient Italian city.
Publishers Weekly gave his second book, "Tripping the World Fantastic", a starred rating, saying it "succeeds by connecting readers intimately with the souls of music-makers all over the world." From a trip to Bob Marley's grave in Jamaica to sitar lessons on the banks of the Ganges, Dixon tells the story of music and just why it has such a powerful effect on us all. www.tripping-the-world.com
Like a cross between Nick Hornby and Roddy Doyle, Dixon has written stories and articles for the New Yorker, National Geographic, the Globe and Mail and Psychology Today.
His first book was Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: a journey through the 6000 languages of Earth.
He lives and works in Calgary, Canada.
His previous novel, "Bootleg Stardust" was published in April 2021 (Simon & Schuster). It is the story of the fictional band Downtown Exit and their disastrous 1974 European Tour where the secrets that each character keep finally emerge in the burning down of hotel rooms, punches on stage and finally the theft of the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Truck. The soundtrack is available on Spotify.
Glenn Dixon's third book was "Juliet's Answer" (Simon & Schuster, January 2017). As the lone male secretary at the Club di Giulietta in Verona, he answered the real letters to Juliet and he learned something of love, of Shakespeare and of the sun splashed hills of this ancient Italian city.
Publishers Weekly gave his second book, "Tripping the World Fantastic", a starred rating, saying it "succeeds by connecting readers intimately with the souls of music-makers all over the world." From a trip to Bob Marley's grave in Jamaica to sitar lessons on the banks of the Ganges, Dixon tells the story of music and just why it has such a powerful effect on us all. www.tripping-the-world.com
Like a cross between Nick Hornby and Roddy Doyle, Dixon has written stories and articles for the New Yorker, National Geographic, the Globe and Mail and Psychology Today.
His first book was Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: a journey through the 6000 languages of Earth.
He lives and works in Calgary, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
dnf
June 22, 2021I DNF'd this.
It was tag-lined to appeal to people like me who loved Daisy Jones and the Six, but it seemed the only similarity was that it was set in the 1970s and about a guy trying to make it big.
I found the dialogue to be really one-dimensional and the writing style just did not appeal to me; it felt very young (almost middle grade) in the descriptions and depictions so I found it hard to take the story seriously and to even place who this story's target audience was (was it YA? Was it adult, since the main character is, technically an adult? I'll never know).
There was nothing that helped set this in the 1970s either, other than the synopsis and a few song references. There was nothing atmospheric about this and I was bored so I decided not to finish it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was tag-lined to appeal to people like me who loved Daisy Jones and the Six, but it seemed the only similarity was that it was set in the 1970s and about a guy trying to make it big.
I found the dialogue to be really one-dimensional and the writing style just did not appeal to me; it felt very young (almost middle grade) in the descriptions and depictions so I found it hard to take the story seriously and to even place who this story's target audience was (was it YA? Was it adult, since the main character is, technically an adult? I'll never know).
There was nothing that helped set this in the 1970s either, other than the synopsis and a few song references. There was nothing atmospheric about this and I was bored so I decided not to finish it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2021
Click here to see this review and others on my blog Reading With Daniella
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bootleg Stardust was extremely disappointing.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, I was instantly intrigued. I honestly didn’t expect to receive an ARC, but I requested it anyway. I was beyond thrilled when I was accepted. But it only went downhill from there.
I was most excited for this book for the promising backdrop of the rock and roll music scene in the 1970’s. As a big fan of ‘70s music, and also because this book was compared to Daisy Jones and the Six which I adored, I was so looking forward to this story. I did not at all get what I had been anticipating in terms of setting (or anything really).
Sure, I was TOLD that we were in 1974, but I didn’t FEEL it. It was very much lacking in atmosphere.
The writing style was extremely immature.
I am still struggling to decipher what the target age group for this book is supposed to be. Based on the synopsis, I had assumed that it was an adult novel, and that is how it is advertised on both Netgalley and Godreads. It sure doesn’t feel that way. The protagonist was 20 years old, so perhaps it was supposed to be YA? But at the same time, the writing style is often so juvenile that it almost reads like a middle grade novel. Here are a few examples:
I took my guitar and Rudy had his bass. Katrina had her sticks but we left the rest of the gear, and peeled out of there, out through the back door, out into the cold, our breaths huffing out in cloudy blasts.
The writing style in passages like this reminded me of the way that I wrote in elementary school (I'm sorry that sounds harsh). It's very choppy and full of straight across descriptions.
Rudy’s dad, but he died a few years ago. It was cancer, one of the really bad ones.
Lines like this made me question if this was really intended to be for adults. This is a weird statement to find in an adult novel, in my opinion.
I always liked their band name. I liked the letter X in it. I always thought X was the coolest letter in the alphabet.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
The writing was also extremely bland.
The author seemed dependent on the frequent use of statements like “if you didn’t know”, and “if you ask me”, which I found to be repetitive, irritating, and, again, juvenile. Here are a couple of examples:
Evelyn was amazing on the piano. She’d gone to Julliard – which if you don’t know, is about the most important music school in the world.
It was that pirate thing again which was pretty cool if you ask me.
I wrote a great big L for Levi then squiggled out my last name. My handwriting was pretty messy if you really want to know the truth.
It seriously never ended!
All of the characters are lifeless. From main characters, to background characters, to everyone in between, they were underdeveloped and uninteresting. I did not feel an ounce of attachment to a single character in the story.
Levi was honestly a very unlikeable protagonist. Outside of his narration being painfully immature and boring, I did not like his arrogance and the manner in which he treated others. I thought that he was unnecessarily mean to his friend, Rudy.
”Rudy,” I said. “Please. Don’t wreck this for me.” [...] It’s not that I didn’t want to help Rudy. It’s just that he didn’t really belong here. This wasn’t his world at all.
“I need to go,” I said. “There’s nothing for me here.”“No,” he said. “You can’t go yet.”“Please,” I managed. “I have to be a musician. I’m going to be famous.” “You can live in my mom’s basement. She said so.” “Evelyn said that?” He considered me. His lower lip was trembling just a bit. “I’m going to be famous,” I said again, like that counted for anything.
The romance was painfully underdeveloped. There was very little connection before Levi was all of a sudden professing his love to a full audience at a concert, might I add. If I were Adriane, I think that I would have been running in the other direction from this guy after that.
I disliked the plot. I found that it was filled with many ridiculous plot twists that honestly just made for a whole lot of unnecessary drama that did not seem to serve any actual purpose to the plot, setting, or character development. The overarching story got lost in the muddle of superfluous drama.
If you’re looking for a fun, atmospheric read that set in the 1970’s Rock’n’Roll scene, this ain’t it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bootleg Stardust was extremely disappointing.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, I was instantly intrigued. I honestly didn’t expect to receive an ARC, but I requested it anyway. I was beyond thrilled when I was accepted. But it only went downhill from there.
I was most excited for this book for the promising backdrop of the rock and roll music scene in the 1970’s. As a big fan of ‘70s music, and also because this book was compared to Daisy Jones and the Six which I adored, I was so looking forward to this story. I did not at all get what I had been anticipating in terms of setting (or anything really).
Sure, I was TOLD that we were in 1974, but I didn’t FEEL it. It was very much lacking in atmosphere.
The writing style was extremely immature.
I am still struggling to decipher what the target age group for this book is supposed to be. Based on the synopsis, I had assumed that it was an adult novel, and that is how it is advertised on both Netgalley and Godreads. It sure doesn’t feel that way. The protagonist was 20 years old, so perhaps it was supposed to be YA? But at the same time, the writing style is often so juvenile that it almost reads like a middle grade novel. Here are a few examples:
I took my guitar and Rudy had his bass. Katrina had her sticks but we left the rest of the gear, and peeled out of there, out through the back door, out into the cold, our breaths huffing out in cloudy blasts.
The writing style in passages like this reminded me of the way that I wrote in elementary school (I'm sorry that sounds harsh). It's very choppy and full of straight across descriptions.
Rudy’s dad, but he died a few years ago. It was cancer, one of the really bad ones.
Lines like this made me question if this was really intended to be for adults. This is a weird statement to find in an adult novel, in my opinion.
I always liked their band name. I liked the letter X in it. I always thought X was the coolest letter in the alphabet.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
The writing was also extremely bland.
The author seemed dependent on the frequent use of statements like “if you didn’t know”, and “if you ask me”, which I found to be repetitive, irritating, and, again, juvenile. Here are a couple of examples:
Evelyn was amazing on the piano. She’d gone to Julliard – which if you don’t know, is about the most important music school in the world.
It was that pirate thing again which was pretty cool if you ask me.
I wrote a great big L for Levi then squiggled out my last name. My handwriting was pretty messy if you really want to know the truth.
It seriously never ended!
All of the characters are lifeless. From main characters, to background characters, to everyone in between, they were underdeveloped and uninteresting. I did not feel an ounce of attachment to a single character in the story.
Levi was honestly a very unlikeable protagonist. Outside of his narration being painfully immature and boring, I did not like his arrogance and the manner in which he treated others. I thought that he was unnecessarily mean to his friend, Rudy.
”Rudy,” I said. “Please. Don’t wreck this for me.” [...] It’s not that I didn’t want to help Rudy. It’s just that he didn’t really belong here. This wasn’t his world at all.
“I need to go,” I said. “There’s nothing for me here.”“No,” he said. “You can’t go yet.”“Please,” I managed. “I have to be a musician. I’m going to be famous.” “You can live in my mom’s basement. She said so.” “Evelyn said that?” He considered me. His lower lip was trembling just a bit. “I’m going to be famous,” I said again, like that counted for anything.
The romance was painfully underdeveloped. There was very little connection before Levi was all of a sudden professing his love to a full audience at a concert, might I add. If I were Adriane, I think that I would have been running in the other direction from this guy after that.
I disliked the plot. I found that it was filled with many ridiculous plot twists that honestly just made for a whole lot of unnecessary drama that did not seem to serve any actual purpose to the plot, setting, or character development. The overarching story got lost in the muddle of superfluous drama.
If you’re looking for a fun, atmospheric read that set in the 1970’s Rock’n’Roll scene, this ain’t it.
June 15, 2021
Famous Almost YA
Review of the Simon & Schuster Canada paperback edition (April 2021)
[TW: Drug use, self-harming behaviour, foster home upbringing]
I wanted to love this first novel by a Canadian author as it is in one of my favourite historical fiction genres of the imagined 1970s/1980s rock or jazz group e.g. such as Adrianne Geffel: A Fiction, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, Daisy Jones & The Six etc. The marketing seemed to point in the direction of Daisy Jones, but the final product is in a much lighter YA direction. That is fine, I love good Young Adult fiction at times as well. But Bootleg Stardust wears its influences a bit too broadly and there was a distinct whiff of poor editing (e.g. we hear a few times that protagonist Jaxon loves the letter x in a name, we hear a few times that band member Miguel has named his accordeon, etc.). Anyway, it all combined to make it a 2 rating on GR's 'it was ok' scale.
When it became evident on how the book was going to proceed, the main game was to spot the real-life influence behind the fiction, the following were my main tick-offs. I don't know how to insert a table in GR, so this has to be point form (BS = Bootleg Stardust, IRL = In Real Life). Some might consider these spoilers although I don't give away any major plot points, so I've blocked it accordingly.
Trivia and Link
Several of the 'fictional' songs performed and recorded by Downtown Exit have been written and recorded by the author Glenn Dixon and his band the Barrel Dogs and you can hear them on Soundcloud.
There is an article about the recording here from the Calgary Herald, July 3, 2020.
Review of the Simon & Schuster Canada paperback edition (April 2021)
[TW: Drug use, self-harming behaviour, foster home upbringing]
I wanted to love this first novel by a Canadian author as it is in one of my favourite historical fiction genres of the imagined 1970s/1980s rock or jazz group e.g. such as Adrianne Geffel: A Fiction, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, Daisy Jones & The Six etc. The marketing seemed to point in the direction of Daisy Jones, but the final product is in a much lighter YA direction. That is fine, I love good Young Adult fiction at times as well. But Bootleg Stardust wears its influences a bit too broadly and there was a distinct whiff of poor editing (e.g. we hear a few times that protagonist Jaxon loves the letter x in a name, we hear a few times that band member Miguel has named his accordeon, etc.). Anyway, it all combined to make it a 2 rating on GR's 'it was ok' scale.
When it became evident on how the book was going to proceed, the main game was to spot the real-life influence behind the fiction, the following were my main tick-offs. I don't know how to insert a table in GR, so this has to be point form (BS = Bootleg Stardust, IRL = In Real Life). Some might consider these spoilers although I don't give away any major plot points, so I've blocked it accordingly.
Trivia and Link
Several of the 'fictional' songs performed and recorded by Downtown Exit have been written and recorded by the author Glenn Dixon and his band the Barrel Dogs and you can hear them on Soundcloud.
There is an article about the recording here from the Calgary Herald, July 3, 2020.
June 22, 2021
I loved this book! Levi's voice was so strong and fitting for that time period. I'm really looking forward to listening to Downtown Exit's music on Spotify!
February 1, 2021
Bootleg Stardust was ultimately a supreme disappointment. I came into it with high hopes because of it’s similarities to Daisy Jones & the Six which is my most favourite book of all time. Ultimately there was very little comparison between the two besides the 70’s setting.
The novel is about 20 year Levi who’s whole life has been one big screw up after another. He was abandoned as a baby by his birth parents and has spent his whole life being shuffled from foster home to foster home. When he was in middle school he discovered the piano and to his surprise was actually good at it. He soon went from the piano to the guitar and started playing rock music with his best friend Rudy. The book starts off with Levi being a high school dropout living in Rudy’s Mom’s basement with no prospects to think of. It is his dream to be a musician but he has no idea how to make that happen. Rudy’s Mom Evelyn is pushing the both of them to find real jobs so in one last ditch effort Levi sends out demos to a bunch of different record labels and shockingly one actually bites. In a matter of days he’s whisked off to London to audition for the band Downtown Exit. Which begins to this wild series of crazy events.
I really wanted to like this novel, stories about bands and musicians are alway endlessly entertaining but I just feel like it completely failed in the execution. Levi was such a bland protagonist with almost no agency. He just felt so passive and nondescript, there was nothing at all intriguing about him. The novel seems to spend very little time actually developing him as character just to make room for all the crazy plot turns that arose in every chapter. I also was not a big fan of the writing style, Levi’s voice was very grating and I hated how the author would describe certain things.
None of the other characters fared much better with almost every one of them being very one note acting as either plot devices or caricatures. There was just far too much going on to spend any decent amount of time on character work. Frankie was the worst of them all. He was just a bunch of cliches melded together and seemed to be an antagonist simply because the plot called for it not for any particular reason. You couldn’t even enjoy his antagonistic ways at all. He was just plain insufferable. And honestly just seemed plain stupid.
The only person I actually liked in this story was Ariadne. She was caring and sweet and I loved her passion for poetry and how badly she wanted to make her mark on the world. I could understand so fully why Levi was drawn to her so quickly but once again the author didn’t seem to want to do anything interesting with her and relegated her to the background.
Overall there was nothing about this novel that entertained me or hooked me and I was just waiting for this story to be over.
Thank you to netgalley and simon & schuster for sending me this for review.
The novel is about 20 year Levi who’s whole life has been one big screw up after another. He was abandoned as a baby by his birth parents and has spent his whole life being shuffled from foster home to foster home. When he was in middle school he discovered the piano and to his surprise was actually good at it. He soon went from the piano to the guitar and started playing rock music with his best friend Rudy. The book starts off with Levi being a high school dropout living in Rudy’s Mom’s basement with no prospects to think of. It is his dream to be a musician but he has no idea how to make that happen. Rudy’s Mom Evelyn is pushing the both of them to find real jobs so in one last ditch effort Levi sends out demos to a bunch of different record labels and shockingly one actually bites. In a matter of days he’s whisked off to London to audition for the band Downtown Exit. Which begins to this wild series of crazy events.
I really wanted to like this novel, stories about bands and musicians are alway endlessly entertaining but I just feel like it completely failed in the execution. Levi was such a bland protagonist with almost no agency. He just felt so passive and nondescript, there was nothing at all intriguing about him. The novel seems to spend very little time actually developing him as character just to make room for all the crazy plot turns that arose in every chapter. I also was not a big fan of the writing style, Levi’s voice was very grating and I hated how the author would describe certain things.
None of the other characters fared much better with almost every one of them being very one note acting as either plot devices or caricatures. There was just far too much going on to spend any decent amount of time on character work. Frankie was the worst of them all. He was just a bunch of cliches melded together and seemed to be an antagonist simply because the plot called for it not for any particular reason. You couldn’t even enjoy his antagonistic ways at all. He was just plain insufferable. And honestly just seemed plain stupid.
The only person I actually liked in this story was Ariadne. She was caring and sweet and I loved her passion for poetry and how badly she wanted to make her mark on the world. I could understand so fully why Levi was drawn to her so quickly but once again the author didn’t seem to want to do anything interesting with her and relegated her to the background.
Overall there was nothing about this novel that entertained me or hooked me and I was just waiting for this story to be over.
Thank you to netgalley and simon & schuster for sending me this for review.
January 8, 2021
I was super excited for Bootleg Stardust. After hearing comparisons to Daisy Jones & the Six and reading the synopsis, it sounded like it would be right up my alley. Set in the 70s, it follows Levi Dixon, a young musician from Calgary, Alberta (whose favourite letter is X?) as he is thrust into stardom after going to Europe and joining a rock band.
Music lovers will appreciate the intricate details and references to instruments, song writing, recording and what goes into a live show. I did enjoy the nods to famous bands and fashion from the era. Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. I found the plot to be a bit far fetched and was frustrated with a lot of the characters for most of the book. There were a lot of random conflicts and dramatic moments that didn't feel natural to the story. I went into the book expecting it to be about a rockstar who becomes disillusioned with the lifestyle. The book was something else completely.
There were a lot of ominous and cryptic warnings from the characters for Levi to "watch out" and "be careful". Anytime a character tried to tell Levi something, he cut them off which was a bit infuriating. I think the phrase "if you want to know the truth" was used at least 30 times. I would have liked a bit more resolution (and purpose) to all the dramatic details and reveals. Overall, an easy read with a bit of an implausible plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advance copy of this e-book in exchanged for a review
Music lovers will appreciate the intricate details and references to instruments, song writing, recording and what goes into a live show. I did enjoy the nods to famous bands and fashion from the era. Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. I found the plot to be a bit far fetched and was frustrated with a lot of the characters for most of the book. There were a lot of random conflicts and dramatic moments that didn't feel natural to the story. I went into the book expecting it to be about a rockstar who becomes disillusioned with the lifestyle. The book was something else completely.
There were a lot of ominous and cryptic warnings from the characters for Levi to "watch out" and "be careful". Anytime a character tried to tell Levi something, he cut them off which was a bit infuriating. I think the phrase "if you want to know the truth" was used at least 30 times. I would have liked a bit more resolution (and purpose) to all the dramatic details and reveals. Overall, an easy read with a bit of an implausible plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advance copy of this e-book in exchanged for a review
June 8, 2021
In a work of fiction, one of the most enjoyable experiences to read about is a protagonist striking it big, finding the perfect person, landing that killer job, or realizing one’s dreams, whatever that may be. Bootleg Stardust by Glenn Dixon is a great example of what makes fiction so damn fun to read; as an author, you can make the impossible happen, and in this books’ case, you can make a foster care kid into a rock star with the flick of a pen or the turn of a page. Glenn is a friend of mine, so I’m always a bit hesitant to read books by people I know and like — what if I don’t like it? But this is Glenn’s first work of fiction and it has received lots of fabulous attention already, plus I enjoyed his equally successful non-fiction so I had a pretty good sense that I’d like this one too. Not surprisingly I loved it and I’m hoping he writes more novels going forward because I think this is my favourite book of his so far!
Plot Summary
Reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six, this book follows the lives of a famous band in the year 1974, working hard to impress their record company but battling the inner demons that seem to follow around so many rock stars. We meet Levi Jaxon while he’s living in his friend’s mother’s basement in Calgary, having dropped out of high school he doesn’t have many bankable skills, but he does play guitar extremely well and regularly sends demo tapes to record companies in hopes of making it big. He is offered an audition in London, England, so he sells his few possessions to pay for a plane ticket and scores a role in Downtown Exit, a band with a a couple of hits but a dangerous mix of members who struggle with drugs and alcohol. After an existing bandmate has an unfortunate accident, Levi finds himself directly in the spotlight as they tour around Europe. They are working under the deadline of an unfair record contract, and combined with the stress of unruly band members and their hysterical manager, Levi finds himself in an almost impossible situation, with one crisis coming right after the next. This book isn’t so much about fame and fortune as much as it is an adventure that whisks us to Cannes, Switzerland, and Paris to name just a few stops. It sounds cliché, but it’s quite literally, a really fun ride.
My Thoughts
Levi is generally an easy-going character, and his buddy Rudy tags along for a good portion of the joyride so we get to witness both young men living out their dreams in an almost fantastical way. I lived vicariously through their naïve excitement, and although some of the situations seemed a bit too coincidental at times, it didn’t detract from the impact of the plot, I was simply enjoying myself too much to care.
The book is told from Levi’s perspective, and he has a very distinctive voice. He cycles through a few different sayings that at first, annoyed me, because as I reader, I tend to view repetition as a mistake in writing. However, as we get to know Levi even more, we realize that this way of speaking is critical to his character. He often says “If you want to know the truth” right after an observation about someone else, but about half way through the novel a very shocking revelation comes out about Levi which justifies the repetition in his inner dialogue. So there’s my one quibble about the book eliminated, there is nothing else for me to complain about!
Dixon is a musician himself, and he plays in a band that recorded actual songs to match the album that Downtown Exit is working on in this book. Not only that, there’s lots of musical history that will delight music-lovers, but if you’re like myself and enjoy music but not obsessed with it, the story doesn’t get too bogged down in musical details that won’t make sense to us bookworms. The rhythm of the storytelling is what’s so impressive here, the narrative clips along at such an easy pace, I was thoroughly entertained from the first to last page. I’d recommend this one to a wide range of readers, young, old, man, woman, everyone can pick up this book and become enthralled with the journey of making Levi’s dreams come true.
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Plot Summary
Reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six, this book follows the lives of a famous band in the year 1974, working hard to impress their record company but battling the inner demons that seem to follow around so many rock stars. We meet Levi Jaxon while he’s living in his friend’s mother’s basement in Calgary, having dropped out of high school he doesn’t have many bankable skills, but he does play guitar extremely well and regularly sends demo tapes to record companies in hopes of making it big. He is offered an audition in London, England, so he sells his few possessions to pay for a plane ticket and scores a role in Downtown Exit, a band with a a couple of hits but a dangerous mix of members who struggle with drugs and alcohol. After an existing bandmate has an unfortunate accident, Levi finds himself directly in the spotlight as they tour around Europe. They are working under the deadline of an unfair record contract, and combined with the stress of unruly band members and their hysterical manager, Levi finds himself in an almost impossible situation, with one crisis coming right after the next. This book isn’t so much about fame and fortune as much as it is an adventure that whisks us to Cannes, Switzerland, and Paris to name just a few stops. It sounds cliché, but it’s quite literally, a really fun ride.
My Thoughts
Levi is generally an easy-going character, and his buddy Rudy tags along for a good portion of the joyride so we get to witness both young men living out their dreams in an almost fantastical way. I lived vicariously through their naïve excitement, and although some of the situations seemed a bit too coincidental at times, it didn’t detract from the impact of the plot, I was simply enjoying myself too much to care.
The book is told from Levi’s perspective, and he has a very distinctive voice. He cycles through a few different sayings that at first, annoyed me, because as I reader, I tend to view repetition as a mistake in writing. However, as we get to know Levi even more, we realize that this way of speaking is critical to his character. He often says “If you want to know the truth” right after an observation about someone else, but about half way through the novel a very shocking revelation comes out about Levi which justifies the repetition in his inner dialogue. So there’s my one quibble about the book eliminated, there is nothing else for me to complain about!
Dixon is a musician himself, and he plays in a band that recorded actual songs to match the album that Downtown Exit is working on in this book. Not only that, there’s lots of musical history that will delight music-lovers, but if you’re like myself and enjoy music but not obsessed with it, the story doesn’t get too bogged down in musical details that won’t make sense to us bookworms. The rhythm of the storytelling is what’s so impressive here, the narrative clips along at such an easy pace, I was thoroughly entertained from the first to last page. I’d recommend this one to a wide range of readers, young, old, man, woman, everyone can pick up this book and become enthralled with the journey of making Levi’s dreams come true.
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February 14, 2021
Set in the “70’s” during the “Golden Years of Rock & Roll” with its “drugs, bellbottoms, platform shoes and rock music” “Bootleg Stardust” which I received through Goodreads Giveaways opens when Levi Jaxon, a foster child and high school dropout from Calgary, Alberta lands a gig as backup guitarist for “Downtown Exit” in London, England. But when the lead singer and guitar player Pete Gunnerson dies in an accident in a hotel, Levi gets swept up in the undercurrents of contract subterfuge, and petty jealousies after being signed up as a integral member of the band.
Swept up in a European Tour with "Downtown Exit” the problems build with increased tension in the group and with an overflow of drugs and alcohol. As the band struggles to maintain their popularity and finish its second album, Levi not only will uncover the truth about his past, but the price he must pay to be part of the band.
In a well-written, riveting plot intensity and suspense build as hostility grows between Frankie Novak and Levi; with Frankie’s use of drugs to stifle his depression; with Rudy’s arrival; and with contractual terms that rob a musician of his rights. And amid the turmoil that ignites because of stolen money, drugs, and an expensive fire, there are twists that include that truth about Levi’s past and Frankie’s torment in losing Pete Gunnerson. Yet defusing the upheaval is the romance that slowly sparks between photographer Ariadne Christos daughter of a renowned film director and Levi, as the plot flows to a surprising climax.
Infusing tension and interest into this musical joyride are a host of compelling characters like twenty-year-old Levi Jaxon, a gifted musician and songwriter who’s smart and determined even though he can’t read; the arrogant, untrustworthy and aristocratic Sir Charles Blackmore; band manager, the surly and secretive Charles Malone; as well as the depressed, drug addicted but talented musician Frankie Novak.
Set in an atmosphere of uncertainty and secrets while showcasing the popular music and bands of that period, I enjoyed “ Bootleg Stardust” as Levi Jaxon struggles to make his mark in the music industry.
Swept up in a European Tour with "Downtown Exit” the problems build with increased tension in the group and with an overflow of drugs and alcohol. As the band struggles to maintain their popularity and finish its second album, Levi not only will uncover the truth about his past, but the price he must pay to be part of the band.
In a well-written, riveting plot intensity and suspense build as hostility grows between Frankie Novak and Levi; with Frankie’s use of drugs to stifle his depression; with Rudy’s arrival; and with contractual terms that rob a musician of his rights. And amid the turmoil that ignites because of stolen money, drugs, and an expensive fire, there are twists that include that truth about Levi’s past and Frankie’s torment in losing Pete Gunnerson. Yet defusing the upheaval is the romance that slowly sparks between photographer Ariadne Christos daughter of a renowned film director and Levi, as the plot flows to a surprising climax.
Infusing tension and interest into this musical joyride are a host of compelling characters like twenty-year-old Levi Jaxon, a gifted musician and songwriter who’s smart and determined even though he can’t read; the arrogant, untrustworthy and aristocratic Sir Charles Blackmore; band manager, the surly and secretive Charles Malone; as well as the depressed, drug addicted but talented musician Frankie Novak.
Set in an atmosphere of uncertainty and secrets while showcasing the popular music and bands of that period, I enjoyed “ Bootleg Stardust” as Levi Jaxon struggles to make his mark in the music industry.
June 6, 2021
It's 1974 and Levi is a broke 20-year-old living in Calgary, Alberta. He's a high school drop-out and the band he is in has just broken up. He spent his life in foster care and is now living in the basement of his best friend's mom's house.
After sending demo cassettes of his songs, he gets a call to try out for an American band called Downtown Exit, whose songs he covers in his band. With very little money and lots of hope, he heads to London, England, where the band is recording their second album. He gets the gig but realizes it's not actually in the band but playing in the background when the band's guitarist is too out of it ... the crowd thinks it's Pete playing and singing but it's actually Levi. Levi eventually becomes a real part of the band but soon discovers it's not how he had envisioned fame would be.
I liked this book and the writing style. It's written in first person perspective in Levi's voice and at times it's conversational as if Levi is talking to us. As a head's up, there is swearing.
In an interesting twist, the author has recorded the Downtown Exit's songs and you can listen to them on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6YsMp...) and other sources of music and it sounds pretty good.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2021/06...
After sending demo cassettes of his songs, he gets a call to try out for an American band called Downtown Exit, whose songs he covers in his band. With very little money and lots of hope, he heads to London, England, where the band is recording their second album. He gets the gig but realizes it's not actually in the band but playing in the background when the band's guitarist is too out of it ... the crowd thinks it's Pete playing and singing but it's actually Levi. Levi eventually becomes a real part of the band but soon discovers it's not how he had envisioned fame would be.
I liked this book and the writing style. It's written in first person perspective in Levi's voice and at times it's conversational as if Levi is talking to us. As a head's up, there is swearing.
In an interesting twist, the author has recorded the Downtown Exit's songs and you can listen to them on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6YsMp...) and other sources of music and it sounds pretty good.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2021/06...
July 24, 2021
There's a lot to love about this novel. I've seen the criticisms of the author's writing style but I don't share those opinions. It's written conversationally - think Holden Caufield - and the more we learn about the protagonist, Levi Jaxon, the more the reasons for the style emerge.
I loved the characters' experiences inside the music biz. Crummy contracts. Confusion. The joy of playing. Songwriting. Egos. All of that stuff.
No spoiler, but I found one central character not quite believable and there were times where I felt the author skimmed over some details. (The novelist's adage, show don't tell, came to mind on a few occasions.) BUT this is a fun read and if the subject matter of the music industry in the time of Led Zeppelin appeals to you, I'd suggest you go for it. Plus, you'd be supporting a budding Canadian novelist and that's a good thing.
I loved the characters' experiences inside the music biz. Crummy contracts. Confusion. The joy of playing. Songwriting. Egos. All of that stuff.
No spoiler, but I found one central character not quite believable and there were times where I felt the author skimmed over some details. (The novelist's adage, show don't tell, came to mind on a few occasions.) BUT this is a fun read and if the subject matter of the music industry in the time of Led Zeppelin appeals to you, I'd suggest you go for it. Plus, you'd be supporting a budding Canadian novelist and that's a good thing.
October 23, 2024
I was hoping to like this book because the author is Calgarian and it is recommended for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. Unfortunately I didn’t feel that intrigued by the storyline or connected to any of the characters, and the writing felt pretty amateurish.
March 24, 2021
The writing is extremely repetitive and I am unable to connect with the story or the characters. I made it to the 49% mark before deciding to stop reading.
August 26, 2021
I really enjoyed Botleg Stardust, it was so much fun! I grew up dreaming of rockstars and the rockstar life, and that's what this book is. A young man's dream of becoming a rock star suddenly becomes imminent as he grabs his guitar and heads to Abby road for a dream audition.
This book is full of rockstar cameos, complicated relationships, and hardcore partying!
This book is full of rockstar cameos, complicated relationships, and hardcore partying!
dnf
May 22, 2021I really wanted to love this book, especially since it's touted as appealing to fans of Daisy Jones. Unfortunately, I am DNF'ing this book at about the 30% mark. I can't bring myself to pick it back up. The writing is painful and repetitive and I'm having a hard time believing this book is supposed to take place in the 70s, not to mention the fact that some unknown musician from Calgary gets picked out of the blue to replace a member in a famous band. Perhaps if this book was marketed to a younger audience I would have gone in with different expectations. Oh well, can't win them all. Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
February 25, 2021
dnf at 34%
trigger warning
Levi Jaxon gets a call from Abbey Road studios - the Abbey Road studios - that he is wanted there and should get over asap. Do they want the whole band? No. They want him.
This is one instance at which I hate to be right. I asked for this book, but even before I got it I regretted that request. This book is marketed as in the vein of Daisy Jones & the Six, as a full-on blast of 70-ies vibes, intermingled with drama.
My problem was that I saw the author is a white, possibly hetero and possibly cis guy and that I try to not go there anymore.
This book lives by name dropping, and is trying to make you so dazzled you don't ask for more. The plot is straightforward and I don't mind, musicians on a tour doesn't sound complicated. My problem is more to do with the characters and the writing. Like, the only detailed description we get is of the woman the main guy is horny for since first sight. And she's not like other girls, she's Greek and into photography. Also, he's repeatedly told by a band member to stay away from her.
Look, look! Sir Blackmoor! No, we don't have pacing or three dimensional characters, but look, we have a real toff! We're in London! Cheer up! At this venue, Led Zeppelin played! On these floor boards! Where my foot is right now! Jimmy Page's foot touched this!
Then a childhood friends drops over to help, and Levi is so embarrassed. Nobody should see the clumsy guy, hide him away, his best friend.
I had the feeling that the author might have seemed more sympathetic if he'd decided to make a blog about the tour through London, about going all the places and discovering them for himself. Oh heck, it's 2021, make it a vlog, I don't care.
Or a travellogue style book if it has to be one. It would have felt more real than this sorry excuse of a novel. And please, dear authors, get it in your head that past trauma is not an excuse for flat characters.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
trigger warning
Levi Jaxon gets a call from Abbey Road studios - the Abbey Road studios - that he is wanted there and should get over asap. Do they want the whole band? No. They want him.
This is one instance at which I hate to be right. I asked for this book, but even before I got it I regretted that request. This book is marketed as in the vein of Daisy Jones & the Six, as a full-on blast of 70-ies vibes, intermingled with drama.
My problem was that I saw the author is a white, possibly hetero and possibly cis guy and that I try to not go there anymore.
This book lives by name dropping, and is trying to make you so dazzled you don't ask for more. The plot is straightforward and I don't mind, musicians on a tour doesn't sound complicated. My problem is more to do with the characters and the writing. Like, the only detailed description we get is of the woman the main guy is horny for since first sight. And she's not like other girls, she's Greek and into photography. Also, he's repeatedly told by a band member to stay away from her.
Look, look! Sir Blackmoor! No, we don't have pacing or three dimensional characters, but look, we have a real toff! We're in London! Cheer up! At this venue, Led Zeppelin played! On these floor boards! Where my foot is right now! Jimmy Page's foot touched this!
Then a childhood friends drops over to help, and Levi is so embarrassed. Nobody should see the clumsy guy, hide him away, his best friend.
I had the feeling that the author might have seemed more sympathetic if he'd decided to make a blog about the tour through London, about going all the places and discovering them for himself. Oh heck, it's 2021, make it a vlog, I don't care.
Or a travellogue style book if it has to be one. It would have felt more real than this sorry excuse of a novel. And please, dear authors, get it in your head that past trauma is not an excuse for flat characters.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
April 7, 2021
4 Stars
I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for my complimentary copy of "Bootleg Stardust". I absolutely adored this novel. To be honest I wasn't sure what I would think about this book when I first started reading it as it had some mixed reviews. I really enjoyed it and I feel it's a perfect read for the upcoming summer season.
The story focuses on Levi, an aspiring musician from Calgary, Alberta. He can sing, write songs, and play the guitar. When an opportunity arises for an audition with a chart topping band called Downtown Exit, Levi finds himself traveling to the other side of the world to London. He is about to learn that fame comes with a price. Levi is then thrown into a world of cut-throat relationships, drug parties, and violence. Will he loose himself; or will he be able to succeed?
"Bootleg Stardust" takes readers back to the 70's and makes references to some of the decades favourite bands including "The Rolling Stones", and "Led Zeppelin" to name a few. The story provides some insight into how drugs were at the forefront of that time and it also gives readers some awareness of the process of recording a record during earlier times. Parts of the book are poetic and it references popular poets such as Keating and Levi uses these poems as inspiration for his songwriting. This makes for a beautiful storyline and for readers who enjoy poetry, you will most likely enjoy this aspect of the book.
"Bootleg Stardust" also offers a love story between Levi and another character named Ariadne. She is the band's photographer and a writer at heart. Ariadne is sure to capture your heart just as she has captured Levi's. I love a book that takes me down memory lane and "Bootleg Stardust" was perfect.
The author Glenn Dixon has written "Juliet's Answer: One Man's Search for Love and the Elusive Cure for Heartbreak", and "Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: A Journey through the 6,000 Languages of Earth". I have added both of these books to my TBR as I am now really interested in reading these ones as well.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for my complimentary copy of "Bootleg Stardust". I absolutely adored this novel. To be honest I wasn't sure what I would think about this book when I first started reading it as it had some mixed reviews. I really enjoyed it and I feel it's a perfect read for the upcoming summer season.
The story focuses on Levi, an aspiring musician from Calgary, Alberta. He can sing, write songs, and play the guitar. When an opportunity arises for an audition with a chart topping band called Downtown Exit, Levi finds himself traveling to the other side of the world to London. He is about to learn that fame comes with a price. Levi is then thrown into a world of cut-throat relationships, drug parties, and violence. Will he loose himself; or will he be able to succeed?
"Bootleg Stardust" takes readers back to the 70's and makes references to some of the decades favourite bands including "The Rolling Stones", and "Led Zeppelin" to name a few. The story provides some insight into how drugs were at the forefront of that time and it also gives readers some awareness of the process of recording a record during earlier times. Parts of the book are poetic and it references popular poets such as Keating and Levi uses these poems as inspiration for his songwriting. This makes for a beautiful storyline and for readers who enjoy poetry, you will most likely enjoy this aspect of the book.
"Bootleg Stardust" also offers a love story between Levi and another character named Ariadne. She is the band's photographer and a writer at heart. Ariadne is sure to capture your heart just as she has captured Levi's. I love a book that takes me down memory lane and "Bootleg Stardust" was perfect.
The author Glenn Dixon has written "Juliet's Answer: One Man's Search for Love and the Elusive Cure for Heartbreak", and "Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: A Journey through the 6,000 Languages of Earth". I have added both of these books to my TBR as I am now really interested in reading these ones as well.
May 12, 2021
“Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere ... “
— ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’, Journey
‘Bootleg Stardust’ doesn’t begin quite this way, but near enough:
“Our keyboard player quit but we turned up for the gig anyway. It didn’t matter. At most, the Salty Dog pub had about five people in it, and that included the bartender, who felt sorry for us and brought us a pitcher of Milano beer. He said he liked the way we placed ‘Space Oddity’. Not many bands covered David Bowie, he said, so it was pretty good to even try.”
The overview of Calgary author and musician Glenn Dixon’s novel describes it as “Daisy Jones & the Six meets Nick Hornby”, which, in my opinion does his novel a disservice. While I love both “Daisy Jones” and Hornby’s “High Fidelity”, “Bootleg Stardust” has a beat and rhythm all its own.
Set in 1974, when the music scene is alight with Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie, the novel is about a young musician, Levi Jaxon, who wins a dream gig with Downtown Exit, an already-established band who invites him to join them on a European tour and recording session at Abbey Road Studios.
Downtown Exit’s debut album has just gone gold and the band is desperately trying to put together a follow-up album but it’s not going well. They’re on tour in Europe, fighting on stage, bingeing on drugs and alcohol and burning down hotel rooms.
Levi is an endearing protagonist. He is very talented but twenty years old and too young and inexperienced to be thrown into a maelstrom of prima donna egos and rivalries, cut-throat record label executives and age old secrets.
I loved this book, the humour, the offbeat characters, the authentic 70’s vibe. Read it!
A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @simonschusterca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere ... “
— ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’, Journey
‘Bootleg Stardust’ doesn’t begin quite this way, but near enough:
“Our keyboard player quit but we turned up for the gig anyway. It didn’t matter. At most, the Salty Dog pub had about five people in it, and that included the bartender, who felt sorry for us and brought us a pitcher of Milano beer. He said he liked the way we placed ‘Space Oddity’. Not many bands covered David Bowie, he said, so it was pretty good to even try.”
The overview of Calgary author and musician Glenn Dixon’s novel describes it as “Daisy Jones & the Six meets Nick Hornby”, which, in my opinion does his novel a disservice. While I love both “Daisy Jones” and Hornby’s “High Fidelity”, “Bootleg Stardust” has a beat and rhythm all its own.
Set in 1974, when the music scene is alight with Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie, the novel is about a young musician, Levi Jaxon, who wins a dream gig with Downtown Exit, an already-established band who invites him to join them on a European tour and recording session at Abbey Road Studios.
Downtown Exit’s debut album has just gone gold and the band is desperately trying to put together a follow-up album but it’s not going well. They’re on tour in Europe, fighting on stage, bingeing on drugs and alcohol and burning down hotel rooms.
Levi is an endearing protagonist. He is very talented but twenty years old and too young and inexperienced to be thrown into a maelstrom of prima donna egos and rivalries, cut-throat record label executives and age old secrets.
I loved this book, the humour, the offbeat characters, the authentic 70’s vibe. Read it!
A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @simonschusterca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2021
Books about fictional rock bands from the late ’60s and early-to-mid ’70s are suddenly now in vogue. Last year, David Mitchell published a book about a rock band called Utopia Avenue, a book I intend to review soon. More recently, a book about a ’70s band with a female Black protagonist at its centre is being published on March 30, 2021, and it is called The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. To this fray comes Canadian author Glenn Dixon, who is publishing his debut novel — also a rock ’n’ roll tale from the mid-‘70s — Bootleg Stardust. The book is kind of an Almost Famous tale of a young man who gets to live the rock and roll dream in all its sex and drugs glory by joining one of his favourite bands. Too bad that the book is so ineptly written because there was some real gold to be mined in the telling of this tale.
The year is 1974. Levi Jaxon lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a member of a fledgling rock band. However, he’s about to hit rock bottom when the band breaks up. He’s living in his best friend’s mother’s home and is completely unemployed and is possibly unemployable in any substantial way because he’s illiterate. However, he’s been sending out demo tapes to various labels in the hopes that he’ll get a big break. One day, he gets a phone call from Abbey Road Studios in London, England, where a band called Downtown Exit is recording. Would Levi like to come to London to audition for the band? Faster than you can say, “yes,” Levi is whisked off in an adventure that sees him go from being an anonymous sideman (to cover up the real band member’s deficiencies on guitar in a live setting) to a full member of the group. However, trouble seems to follow Downtown Exit around every corner. Will Levi be swept up by it?
Read the rest of the review here: https://zachary-houle.medium.com/a-re...
The year is 1974. Levi Jaxon lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a member of a fledgling rock band. However, he’s about to hit rock bottom when the band breaks up. He’s living in his best friend’s mother’s home and is completely unemployed and is possibly unemployable in any substantial way because he’s illiterate. However, he’s been sending out demo tapes to various labels in the hopes that he’ll get a big break. One day, he gets a phone call from Abbey Road Studios in London, England, where a band called Downtown Exit is recording. Would Levi like to come to London to audition for the band? Faster than you can say, “yes,” Levi is whisked off in an adventure that sees him go from being an anonymous sideman (to cover up the real band member’s deficiencies on guitar in a live setting) to a full member of the group. However, trouble seems to follow Downtown Exit around every corner. Will Levi be swept up by it?
Read the rest of the review here: https://zachary-houle.medium.com/a-re...
May 25, 2021
Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom on your way to the top.
Bootleg Stardust is a novel set in 1974 about a young high school dropout, Levi Jaxon. Levi hasn’t had the easiest road in life, being put in one foster home after another and then living in his best friend’s basement along with Rudy (his best friend) and Evelyn (Rudy’s mother). The two seem to have taken Levi into their home and family.
With a touch of luck, Levi is thrust into the spotlight with a famous band, Downtown Exit.. or has he? He’s actually auditioning to cover for the band’s guitarist when things go awry onstage. He is forced to quickly deal with jealousy, drama, and big egos that are often drug-fueled. There is a love story entwined in this.
This novel was compared to Daisy Jones & The Six, so I went into it with high hopes, but the similarities ended at a band in the 70s. This was much different, and I wish it would have been marketed a bit differently. I get why it was marketed this way, as the “Daisy Jones” trope is quite popular right now, but it was not at all similar. It was enjoyable, but not my favourite. I felt like it was quite rushed at times and we didn’t see as much character development as there could have been, a lot of it seemed repetitive at times in regard to dialogue, when we could have had a little more development. I also was confused at times with some of the characters and their intentions, their names and nicknames, and whether or not this wanted to be a YA or adult book. I think it was somewhere in the middle?
All in all, it was a good little beach read that you can polish off in an afternoon.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for a fair and honest review, and I’d like to thank them for the advance copy.
Bootleg Stardust is a novel set in 1974 about a young high school dropout, Levi Jaxon. Levi hasn’t had the easiest road in life, being put in one foster home after another and then living in his best friend’s basement along with Rudy (his best friend) and Evelyn (Rudy’s mother). The two seem to have taken Levi into their home and family.
With a touch of luck, Levi is thrust into the spotlight with a famous band, Downtown Exit.. or has he? He’s actually auditioning to cover for the band’s guitarist when things go awry onstage. He is forced to quickly deal with jealousy, drama, and big egos that are often drug-fueled. There is a love story entwined in this.
This novel was compared to Daisy Jones & The Six, so I went into it with high hopes, but the similarities ended at a band in the 70s. This was much different, and I wish it would have been marketed a bit differently. I get why it was marketed this way, as the “Daisy Jones” trope is quite popular right now, but it was not at all similar. It was enjoyable, but not my favourite. I felt like it was quite rushed at times and we didn’t see as much character development as there could have been, a lot of it seemed repetitive at times in regard to dialogue, when we could have had a little more development. I also was confused at times with some of the characters and their intentions, their names and nicknames, and whether or not this wanted to be a YA or adult book. I think it was somewhere in the middle?
All in all, it was a good little beach read that you can polish off in an afternoon.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for a fair and honest review, and I’d like to thank them for the advance copy.
December 17, 2020
What a fun story! Levi, from Calgary, AB is a musician and his entire life he has known that it is what he wants to do - he simply can't do anything as as the music swirls in his head. Living in his friend's family's basement he plays with his band, doing a mix of covers and original songs hoping to make it into the big leagues. Just as the drummer quit, Levi and bff Rudy send tapes off to different labels. A label from London calls Levi and tells him to come for an audition. Selling his best guitar to cover his airfare, he packs all of his belongings in a duffle, and along with his acoustic guitar starts on a journey that isn't what he expected, but then again, he didn't know what to expect.
Playing 'backstage' guitar for a band to stand in for the lead guitarist who sometimes takes such a trip that he can't play coherently, Levi goes along for the ride, just happy to play.
Then, when the frontman dies, Levi is catapulted from backstage to on stage and struggles to find his place where there is much he doesn't know or understand, just that he gets to play. Following the band on a disastrous tour designed to buy them time to finish recording their second album, you get an insider's look at the music scene in the 70s, the manipulation of record labels, and how Levi will do anything just to keep making music.
The story is told from Levi's perspective, as if he is recounting his adventures, this first person narrative is not just a story about following dreams, but about identity, family, and the connections that unite us.
Playing 'backstage' guitar for a band to stand in for the lead guitarist who sometimes takes such a trip that he can't play coherently, Levi goes along for the ride, just happy to play.
Then, when the frontman dies, Levi is catapulted from backstage to on stage and struggles to find his place where there is much he doesn't know or understand, just that he gets to play. Following the band on a disastrous tour designed to buy them time to finish recording their second album, you get an insider's look at the music scene in the 70s, the manipulation of record labels, and how Levi will do anything just to keep making music.
The story is told from Levi's perspective, as if he is recounting his adventures, this first person narrative is not just a story about following dreams, but about identity, family, and the connections that unite us.
April 30, 2021
Bootleg Stardust by Glenn Dixon follows the incredible rise to fame of a guitar player from Calgary in the early 70s.
Levi travels to Abbey Road studios after he submits a demo tape and finds himself embarking on a road that sees him first backing up a lead guitarist for a rock band just on the rise and then becoming the lead and budding songwriter in the recording studio and on stage in a short European tour. Given the fact that we are in the 70s, bell bottoms, drug use and alcohol consumed by the bottle is prevalent and it must be said that Dixon does a fantastic job of transporting us to that moment in rock history. Jim Morrison references, a Keith Richards sighting, etc all lend a hand.
Going in, I was hoping for a glimpse behind the curtain and I did get that but only in a romanticized way. The novel reads like one of those schlocky television movies that is one part silly fun and one part completely dismissible. Almost every single turn you can see coming and many times you read something and just challenge yourself to believe it. For example, our main character driving a bus in a place he has never been with no help but also no issues. I enjoy escapism but ensure the rest of your book follows that vision.
At the very best I might suggest this as a beach read but beyond that, if you are looking for a novel that allows you some thrills behind the scenes in the music industry, this isn’t it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing a copy for review.
Levi travels to Abbey Road studios after he submits a demo tape and finds himself embarking on a road that sees him first backing up a lead guitarist for a rock band just on the rise and then becoming the lead and budding songwriter in the recording studio and on stage in a short European tour. Given the fact that we are in the 70s, bell bottoms, drug use and alcohol consumed by the bottle is prevalent and it must be said that Dixon does a fantastic job of transporting us to that moment in rock history. Jim Morrison references, a Keith Richards sighting, etc all lend a hand.
Going in, I was hoping for a glimpse behind the curtain and I did get that but only in a romanticized way. The novel reads like one of those schlocky television movies that is one part silly fun and one part completely dismissible. Almost every single turn you can see coming and many times you read something and just challenge yourself to believe it. For example, our main character driving a bus in a place he has never been with no help but also no issues. I enjoy escapism but ensure the rest of your book follows that vision.
At the very best I might suggest this as a beach read but beyond that, if you are looking for a novel that allows you some thrills behind the scenes in the music industry, this isn’t it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing a copy for review.
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March 14, 2021I am bailing on this at page 63. I was excited to read this - what with it being set right when I was a teenager and big into the music scene and all that stuff - and it did hit some of those nostalgic notes for me. But...
I have to trust - hope - that Levi’s voice is meant to be ‘representative’ of someone of his age and circumstance at that moment in time… but no matter, it just grates on one. Levi’s interior thoughts are juvenile and repetitive…. And he is incredibly rude - mean - to his friend Rudy whose mother took him in when he aged out of foster care. I absolutely don’t care about Levi and his adventure or anything that is happening to him… he is his own worst enemy. Yes, I get he came up through the foster care system so maybe was lacking in role models, but he seems to have had some guidance - and a loving surrogate mom - in Rudy’s mom.
Then there is the plot - which hinges on the reader buying into that this hot band would pick this random - totally unknown - kid from halfway around the world to take over a spot in the band (eventually). I find this fundamental premise to be absolutely ludicrous… which means that I am unable to suspend the necessary disbelief regarding everything that follows upon that.
There’s more, but it’s time to move on for this reader.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
I have to trust - hope - that Levi’s voice is meant to be ‘representative’ of someone of his age and circumstance at that moment in time… but no matter, it just grates on one. Levi’s interior thoughts are juvenile and repetitive…. And he is incredibly rude - mean - to his friend Rudy whose mother took him in when he aged out of foster care. I absolutely don’t care about Levi and his adventure or anything that is happening to him… he is his own worst enemy. Yes, I get he came up through the foster care system so maybe was lacking in role models, but he seems to have had some guidance - and a loving surrogate mom - in Rudy’s mom.
Then there is the plot - which hinges on the reader buying into that this hot band would pick this random - totally unknown - kid from halfway around the world to take over a spot in the band (eventually). I find this fundamental premise to be absolutely ludicrous… which means that I am unable to suspend the necessary disbelief regarding everything that follows upon that.
There’s more, but it’s time to move on for this reader.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
March 17, 2021
I actually enjoyed this book for the most part. I read a few reviews before I began, so I was prepared for this to be more young adult than the adult it was described as and I’m glad I did because it was quite juvenile. In the writing style and the personalities of the characters.
I also haven’t read Daisy Jones, so I had nothing to compare it to.
I enjoyed the conflicts and the drama. I loved the foreshadowing of the chapter titles, it was super unique.
However, I felt like Levi could have been... more. He bothered me a little bit. I assumed this would be a character driven story due to the blurb and the rock and roll aspect but it was more a plot driven novel with very little character development and I was a little disappointed by that.
All in all I liked it, but I didn’t love it. It definitely wasn’t what was expected when I requested it. It could be described as a fun read where I was expecting it to have way more depth due to its topics.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I also haven’t read Daisy Jones, so I had nothing to compare it to.
I enjoyed the conflicts and the drama. I loved the foreshadowing of the chapter titles, it was super unique.
However, I felt like Levi could have been... more. He bothered me a little bit. I assumed this would be a character driven story due to the blurb and the rock and roll aspect but it was more a plot driven novel with very little character development and I was a little disappointed by that.
All in all I liked it, but I didn’t love it. It definitely wasn’t what was expected when I requested it. It could be described as a fun read where I was expecting it to have way more depth due to its topics.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
March 25, 2021
Bootleg Stardust is a fun romp into '70's rock and roll - what happens if your dreams come true?
Levi Jaxon (from Calgary, Alberta) has the opportunity to audition for Downtown Exit, an emerging rock band. He travels to Europe to audition, join the band, and gets on the wildest ride of his short life.
Bootleg Stardust is a pretty fun read - it has some Almost Famous vibes in the beginning of it - Levi is in over his head. In the first half of the book, the character development is not bad - there are some interesting and unexpected dimensions added to the main players, but those dimensions are not fully developed. The plot moves along quickly, but the last 1/4 of the book really fell flat for me - the resolution just did not work.
This novel is an easy and fast read, but it definitely loses steam in the final quarter. This book may be a great summer/ long weekend read if you like your rock and roll.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Levi Jaxon (from Calgary, Alberta) has the opportunity to audition for Downtown Exit, an emerging rock band. He travels to Europe to audition, join the band, and gets on the wildest ride of his short life.
Bootleg Stardust is a pretty fun read - it has some Almost Famous vibes in the beginning of it - Levi is in over his head. In the first half of the book, the character development is not bad - there are some interesting and unexpected dimensions added to the main players, but those dimensions are not fully developed. The plot moves along quickly, but the last 1/4 of the book really fell flat for me - the resolution just did not work.
This novel is an easy and fast read, but it definitely loses steam in the final quarter. This book may be a great summer/ long weekend read if you like your rock and roll.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2021
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this book to review.
Bootleg Stardust is an entertaining homage to the 70s music industry, centred around a young guy named Levi who is determined to become a star. I really enjoyed it.
It did cause me some anxiety though - I spent a lot of the book anticipating a train wreck. Levi seemed so unprepared and way too trusting to survive that kind of life. He made a series of mistakes that left me convinced his career was going to crash and burn. I won’t even go into the crazy things he learned about his past that left him pondering some heavier questions.
The story touches on some pretty dark themes and features quite a bit of drug and alcohol abuse. But even with all of that, Bootleg Stardust felt rather light on the heavier emotions and ended on a happier note. It was a nice balance.
Oh! And apparently Dixon recorded the songs he wrote for the book and I neeeeed to find out where I can listen to them!
Bootleg Stardust is an entertaining homage to the 70s music industry, centred around a young guy named Levi who is determined to become a star. I really enjoyed it.
It did cause me some anxiety though - I spent a lot of the book anticipating a train wreck. Levi seemed so unprepared and way too trusting to survive that kind of life. He made a series of mistakes that left me convinced his career was going to crash and burn. I won’t even go into the crazy things he learned about his past that left him pondering some heavier questions.
The story touches on some pretty dark themes and features quite a bit of drug and alcohol abuse. But even with all of that, Bootleg Stardust felt rather light on the heavier emotions and ended on a happier note. It was a nice balance.
Oh! And apparently Dixon recorded the songs he wrote for the book and I neeeeed to find out where I can listen to them!
February 17, 2021
Bootleg Stardust feels more like mature YA to me than an adult dramatic novel. Our main character Levi is a young, naive and immature 20-year-old who joins the hot new band Downtown Exit. As an adult, I found it difficult to relate to Levi, because he was written so young that at times I thought he was a teen. As he embarks on his journey into rock and roll stardom, he keeps learning a lot about people, life, relationships, the big world and himself. Even describing it makes me feel like I'm writing about an after school special.
I have no issues reading some YA every now and then, but Bootleg Stardust is described like an adult book. If this was aimed at a younger audience, I would have went in with different expectations and probably come out enjoying the story more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy for an honest review.
I have no issues reading some YA every now and then, but Bootleg Stardust is described like an adult book. If this was aimed at a younger audience, I would have went in with different expectations and probably come out enjoying the story more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy for an honest review.
January 13, 2021
Bootleg Stardust was a fun romp through the 'golden years' of rock music. With a cast of period-perfect characters; Slick Record Exec's, Crazy Musicians, Groupies etc. all set in the 70's musical landscape of studios, stages and mansions. It played out like a classic Rock Docu-Drama in my head.
I was also surprised to discover there's even a soundtrack! Check out Spotify (and the others) where I found the first 'album' by the band 'Downtown Exit' - All those songs from the book? Well, there they are!
I was also surprised to discover there's even a soundtrack! Check out Spotify (and the others) where I found the first 'album' by the band 'Downtown Exit' - All those songs from the book? Well, there they are!
February 16, 2021
I loved this book! It has one of the most memorable opening scenes that I have ever read. Levi Jaxon (like many young musicians) dreams of becoming a rock star - only to learn that fame carries a price. Right from page one, Levi’s distinct voice shines through.
This book has drama, romance, comedy and most of all music. I was right there along for the ride and everything – from the recording studios to the live concerts - felt authentic (the author is clearly a musician). Bootleg Stardust reminded me of a Nick Hornby novel and I hope to someday see it made into a movie.
This book has drama, romance, comedy and most of all music. I was right there along for the ride and everything – from the recording studios to the live concerts - felt authentic (the author is clearly a musician). Bootleg Stardust reminded me of a Nick Hornby novel and I hope to someday see it made into a movie.
December 13, 2020
Rounded up to 4 stars because it was an interesting story but I felt annoyed during it a lot at how constantly dumb and obviously set up the sort was. You could see miles away what was coming and Levi was so angry about things that made no sense for him to be angry about all the time, he wouldn't listen. The action of the story was good, I do like imagining about bands from the 70s and all the shit that went on then. Some of this story just felt a little formulaic and unnecessary.
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December 28, 2020Fun novel which explores the journey of a young musician from Calgary, Alberta, as he follows his rock and roll dream to Europe and joins a popular band looking to finish recording its newest album and stay afloat. The plot is, at times, a bit ridiculous and some questionable actions and incidents are glossed over but it’s an enjoyable read.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.
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