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Куклите
„Куклите“ е дебютният роман на австралийската писателка Джени Валентиш. Тя работи в областта на музикалната журналистика от десетилетия, но едва в тази книга успява да събере всички наблюдения и впечатления от дългия си опит.
„Куклите“ е определян от някои критици като тийнейджърски роман за възрастни. Разказва историята на Нина и Роуз Дол, първи братовчедки тийнейджърки от Сидни, основателки на супер успешната поп пънк група „Долс“. Нина е талантлива и необуздана, Роуз е интровертна и по-уравновесена. С помощта на легендарната си леля, поп звезда от осемдесетте, те пробиват дебелите стени на австралийския шоу бизнес и едва навършили пълнолетие превземат класациите в Щатите, за да се изкачат на върха на мечтите си.
Типични представителки на своето време, Нина и Роуз са безцеремонни, самовлюбени и не понасят авторитетите. Единственият им критерий за значимост са броят на последователите им в Туитър и Фейсбук, и марките на дрехите, които носят. Алкохолът и наркотиците са техният най-лош съветник, а в любовта срещат по-често предателства и разочарования, отколкото разбиране и подкрепа. В същото време, те вярват в себе си, сигурни са на сто процента в начинанието си.
Главната героиня в романа Нина Дол е ненадежден разказвач. Нейното лутане по пътя към успеха е съпроводено от опитите да се отърси от травматизиращите случки от детството ?.
Дали успехът ще направи „Долс“ кукли на конци или те ще дърпат конците на другите? Каква болезнена тайна от детството им ги свързва по-силно от всичко? Ще овладеят ли вълната на успеха като опитни сърфисти или той ще ги изхвърли изтощени и ненужни на брега?
Авторката Джени Валентиш умело ни въвлича в една задъхана и наситена история за семейството и отчуждението, за мечтите и разочарованията, за успеха и цената му.
„Куклите“ е определян от някои критици като тийнейджърски роман за възрастни. Разказва историята на Нина и Роуз Дол, първи братовчедки тийнейджърки от Сидни, основателки на супер успешната поп пънк група „Долс“. Нина е талантлива и необуздана, Роуз е интровертна и по-уравновесена. С помощта на легендарната си леля, поп звезда от осемдесетте, те пробиват дебелите стени на австралийския шоу бизнес и едва навършили пълнолетие превземат класациите в Щатите, за да се изкачат на върха на мечтите си.
Типични представителки на своето време, Нина и Роуз са безцеремонни, самовлюбени и не понасят авторитетите. Единственият им критерий за значимост са броят на последователите им в Туитър и Фейсбук, и марките на дрехите, които носят. Алкохолът и наркотиците са техният най-лош съветник, а в любовта срещат по-често предателства и разочарования, отколкото разбиране и подкрепа. В същото време, те вярват в себе си, сигурни са на сто процента в начинанието си.
Главната героиня в романа Нина Дол е ненадежден разказвач. Нейното лутане по пътя към успеха е съпроводено от опитите да се отърси от травматизиращите случки от детството ?.
Дали успехът ще направи „Долс“ кукли на конци или те ще дърпат конците на другите? Каква болезнена тайна от детството им ги свързва по-силно от всичко? Ще овладеят ли вълната на успеха като опитни сърфисти или той ще ги изхвърли изтощени и ненужни на брега?
Авторката Джени Валентиш умело ни въвлича в една задъхана и наситена история за семейството и отчуждението, за мечтите и разочарованията, за успеха и цената му.
416 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Valentish
12 books35 followersJournalist Jenny Valentish is best known for her deep dives into the human psyche.
The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the House (Affirm Press) is a more introspective successor to Everything Harder Than Everyone Else (Black Inc), which explored the fine line between hedonism and endurance, and her mea culpa memoir Woman of Substances (Black Inc) which was nominated for a Walkley. She has also written a novel, Cherry Bomb (Allen and Unwin), about a DUI girl band, and co-edited an anthology called Your Mother Would Be Proud (Allen and Unwin).
She writes for the Guardian, the ABC and The Age, and teaches memoir and journalism as a guest lecturer at universities, for literary events, and through her own workshops.
Her preferred form of social media is Instagram, with the handle JennyValentish_Public.
The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the House (Affirm Press) is a more introspective successor to Everything Harder Than Everyone Else (Black Inc), which explored the fine line between hedonism and endurance, and her mea culpa memoir Woman of Substances (Black Inc) which was nominated for a Walkley. She has also written a novel, Cherry Bomb (Allen and Unwin), about a DUI girl band, and co-edited an anthology called Your Mother Would Be Proud (Allen and Unwin).
She writes for the Guardian, the ABC and The Age, and teaches memoir and journalism as a guest lecturer at universities, for literary events, and through her own workshops.
Her preferred form of social media is Instagram, with the handle JennyValentish_Public.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 13, 2014
Psst…here’s a secret. I am not really all that good when it comes to music. I can’t really sing, I can’t really play any instrument and I have trouble separating Rhianna from Lana Del Rey on the radio. Apparently I walked straight past Florence (of Florence and the Machine fame) in the street. But I do love a good rock ‘n’ roll story. These musicians not only have talent, they know how to rock the system to its limits. Cherry Bomb is one of those stories, about fictional group, The Dolls, made up of two cousins (Nina and Rose). Before you start thinking, ‘oh yeah, like The Veronicas’, I’ll stop you and say that Nina Dall is much more of a bad-ass. She’s a hard drinking woman with a thing for older men and a passion for stage diving. Behind the bravado lie some deep inner secrets that even Nina is reluctant to think about…
The Dolls started in the western suburbs of Sydney (Parramatta to be exact) when Nina and Rose were teenagers. Their aunt is famous 80s pop star Alannah Dall, who both the girls want to emulate. Alannah lives a much more quiet existence on the Gold Coast these days, but the girls still think of her as their idol. Alannah sets them up to record a demo with producer John Villiers (never say just John) and their track to stardom is set. It’s a fairly bumpy one though, with their manager Ian Essence (not his real name, but because he always starts off sentences with ‘In essence…’) booking country musters and high school appearances for the pair, who are much more punk and rock than pop. Eventually they tour America (cutting short when Nina gets a little too outrageous) and become the big names that they had planned. But can they maintain the momentum as things become more fractured between the pair and Nina’s problems spiral out of control?
I really enjoyed the insight into the music industry that Cherry Bomb gave me (I’m never going to get there myself and now, I’m not sure that I could handle the drinking, drugs and sex). I loved how Nina broke down important moments by explaining in detail what she and Rose were wearing (always very cool outfits with a punk edge for Nina, girly tone for Rose). I didn’t find Nina an incredibly likeable character – perhaps because she would think I’m too soft, more like Rose but I understood why she acted as she did and I enjoyed her antics. Nina was always unpredictable, which made reading about her addictive – I really didn’t know what was going to happen next, which way she would jump. Rose faded a little into the background for me, as the more sedate and sensible Doll. She did do things a bit out there at times (much to Nina’s disgust at having the limelight taken away from her) but she was more the stabilising half of the group. I think that The Dolls represent is that time in your late teens where anything is possible and nobody is going to tell you what to do. Nina embodies that freedom, that f-you to the world, although she takes things a lot further than your average teenager! Kudos to Jenny Valentish for creating a protagonist who knows she’s not everyone’s favourite and dares you to continue anyway. I love Nina’s sass.
Each chapter of Cherry Bomb starts with a paragraph from Alannah Dall’s memoir, Pour Me Another. This was Nina and Rose’s bible growing up and the excerpts are very humorous – I’m thinking Debbie Harry, Kim Wilde and Transvision Vamp. There’s also a playlist for each chapter of the book – shamefully, I didn’t know all the songs but the ones I did fit perfectly. Nina also makes lists of moments/top 10s – the list of support bands that shouldn’t be put together with big name acts was perfect, except for just one. I think Robbie Williams and Machine Gun Fellatio go together beautifully – can’t you see Robbie rocking along to ‘Summer’ or MGF doing a great rendition of ‘How Peculiar’?
Cherry Bomb is a great debut novel that’s not afraid to tackle the big issues and look at less than conventional ways of dealing with pain and suffering. I’d be really interested to see what Valentish comes up with next.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin and The Reading Room for the ARC - it was a blast, baby!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The Dolls started in the western suburbs of Sydney (Parramatta to be exact) when Nina and Rose were teenagers. Their aunt is famous 80s pop star Alannah Dall, who both the girls want to emulate. Alannah lives a much more quiet existence on the Gold Coast these days, but the girls still think of her as their idol. Alannah sets them up to record a demo with producer John Villiers (never say just John) and their track to stardom is set. It’s a fairly bumpy one though, with their manager Ian Essence (not his real name, but because he always starts off sentences with ‘In essence…’) booking country musters and high school appearances for the pair, who are much more punk and rock than pop. Eventually they tour America (cutting short when Nina gets a little too outrageous) and become the big names that they had planned. But can they maintain the momentum as things become more fractured between the pair and Nina’s problems spiral out of control?
I really enjoyed the insight into the music industry that Cherry Bomb gave me (I’m never going to get there myself and now, I’m not sure that I could handle the drinking, drugs and sex). I loved how Nina broke down important moments by explaining in detail what she and Rose were wearing (always very cool outfits with a punk edge for Nina, girly tone for Rose). I didn’t find Nina an incredibly likeable character – perhaps because she would think I’m too soft, more like Rose but I understood why she acted as she did and I enjoyed her antics. Nina was always unpredictable, which made reading about her addictive – I really didn’t know what was going to happen next, which way she would jump. Rose faded a little into the background for me, as the more sedate and sensible Doll. She did do things a bit out there at times (much to Nina’s disgust at having the limelight taken away from her) but she was more the stabilising half of the group. I think that The Dolls represent is that time in your late teens where anything is possible and nobody is going to tell you what to do. Nina embodies that freedom, that f-you to the world, although she takes things a lot further than your average teenager! Kudos to Jenny Valentish for creating a protagonist who knows she’s not everyone’s favourite and dares you to continue anyway. I love Nina’s sass.
Each chapter of Cherry Bomb starts with a paragraph from Alannah Dall’s memoir, Pour Me Another. This was Nina and Rose’s bible growing up and the excerpts are very humorous – I’m thinking Debbie Harry, Kim Wilde and Transvision Vamp. There’s also a playlist for each chapter of the book – shamefully, I didn’t know all the songs but the ones I did fit perfectly. Nina also makes lists of moments/top 10s – the list of support bands that shouldn’t be put together with big name acts was perfect, except for just one. I think Robbie Williams and Machine Gun Fellatio go together beautifully – can’t you see Robbie rocking along to ‘Summer’ or MGF doing a great rendition of ‘How Peculiar’?
Cherry Bomb is a great debut novel that’s not afraid to tackle the big issues and look at less than conventional ways of dealing with pain and suffering. I’d be really interested to see what Valentish comes up with next.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin and The Reading Room for the ARC - it was a blast, baby!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
December 14, 2015
Nina and Rose Dall have always dreamed of being rock stars. Influenced by her aunty Alannah Dall, a pop sensation in the 1980’s, Nina along with her cousin started a punk band known as The Bain-Maries until being signed and renamed The Dolls. Cherry Bomb tells the story of The Dolls rise to fame and the wild ride they faced while navigating the Australian music scene.
Cherry Bomb is told much like a memoir, where Nina Dall is recounting the career of The Dolls. This allowed Jenny Valentish the ability to write a coming of age story that mixes a “rise to fame” journey with a social commentary of the music industry. Before writing her debut novel, Valenstish worked as a music publicist and journalist with her time spent as a columnist for NME and an editor for Triple J’s magazine Jmag. This knowledge on the music industry allowed her to write a social commentary that focuses on the way woman are treated within the industry.
I picked up this book thinking it was a contemporary and fun read, which it mainly was; I was pleasantly surprised to find the social criticism. Cherry Bomb has shades of The Love Song of Jonny Valentine by Teddy Wayne and High Fidelity by Nick Hornby throughout the novel but for the most part it felt fresh. I was particularly fascinated by the playlist in the back on the book and would love to see a Spotify (Jenny Valentish does have a Cherry Bomb playlist, but it is different to The Doll’s playlist in the back of the book) playlist just so I can list to all those songs.
While this might be something different from what I normally read, I do try to explore all kinds of literature so hopefully people aren’t too surprised to see me read this one. However I will mention that I picked up this novel because the blurbs for the book were all done by Australian musicians, instead of other authors and I thought that was a unique concept and made me feel that Jenny Valentish may have captured the music industry correctly. Cherry Bomb is an entertaining read full of sex, drugs and rock and roll and I look forward to reading Valentish’s next novel.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2015/...
Cherry Bomb is told much like a memoir, where Nina Dall is recounting the career of The Dolls. This allowed Jenny Valentish the ability to write a coming of age story that mixes a “rise to fame” journey with a social commentary of the music industry. Before writing her debut novel, Valenstish worked as a music publicist and journalist with her time spent as a columnist for NME and an editor for Triple J’s magazine Jmag. This knowledge on the music industry allowed her to write a social commentary that focuses on the way woman are treated within the industry.
I picked up this book thinking it was a contemporary and fun read, which it mainly was; I was pleasantly surprised to find the social criticism. Cherry Bomb has shades of The Love Song of Jonny Valentine by Teddy Wayne and High Fidelity by Nick Hornby throughout the novel but for the most part it felt fresh. I was particularly fascinated by the playlist in the back on the book and would love to see a Spotify (Jenny Valentish does have a Cherry Bomb playlist, but it is different to The Doll’s playlist in the back of the book) playlist just so I can list to all those songs.
While this might be something different from what I normally read, I do try to explore all kinds of literature so hopefully people aren’t too surprised to see me read this one. However I will mention that I picked up this novel because the blurbs for the book were all done by Australian musicians, instead of other authors and I thought that was a unique concept and made me feel that Jenny Valentish may have captured the music industry correctly. Cherry Bomb is an entertaining read full of sex, drugs and rock and roll and I look forward to reading Valentish’s next novel.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2015/...
Read
October 7, 2014It's a wild romp we go on with Nina. She's fast-talking, sexually sparked, narcissistic. Valentish's ironic, flat take, reminds me of Brett Easton Ellis style, transposed to the seedy streets of Kings Cross. It's refreshing to see teenage girl characters who confront us, talk back, are more than just nice - while the adults around her are falling apart. As they often are. Slick and memorable. When's the movie coming out?
No star rating - I know the author:-)
No star rating - I know the author:-)
July 9, 2014
This book is fast and furious, and so is the narrator, Nina Dall. She fronts Sydney band The Dolls, which is she and her cousin Rose, and a bunch of interchangeable men (“the handsomes”) backing them up. Between them they manipulate the industry men surrounding the band, almost as if they feel they need to strike the first blow. Nina’s favourite method is to sex, or at least the suggestion of it, and Rose is quite happy to go along with that if it helps the band. The pair have a co-dependent, love-hate relationship that’s compelling to observe.
The Dolls remind me of The Veronicas (maybe because there are two of them) or The Gingers, remember them? But there are also references to Valley Of The Dolls in the book, and lots of talk about the ballsy women of decades gone by. Alannah Dall, the pop star aunt = Renee Geyer?
But putting side from the guessing game, this is a powerful book indeed. Author Jenny Valentish tells the story of The Dolls through lyrics, charts and reviews as well as ordinary prose, and it’s a story of self-destruction and bravado, under which we see the glimpses of vulnerability. Nina Dall is an interesting narrator: she dares us to dislike her, but her humour and momentary pangs of conscience often redeem her just as we’re about to give up on her.
The Dolls remind me of The Veronicas (maybe because there are two of them) or The Gingers, remember them? But there are also references to Valley Of The Dolls in the book, and lots of talk about the ballsy women of decades gone by. Alannah Dall, the pop star aunt = Renee Geyer?
But putting side from the guessing game, this is a powerful book indeed. Author Jenny Valentish tells the story of The Dolls through lyrics, charts and reviews as well as ordinary prose, and it’s a story of self-destruction and bravado, under which we see the glimpses of vulnerability. Nina Dall is an interesting narrator: she dares us to dislike her, but her humour and momentary pangs of conscience often redeem her just as we’re about to give up on her.
July 10, 2014
Read this in two days flat and loved it. Nina Dall is in a Sydney punk band with her cousin Rose, with whom she has a pretty gnarly, resentful relationship (you find out why halfway through, and oh my gosh. They start off working their asses off around Sydney venues, before their aunt steps in and uses her connections as a musician to secure them a deal. Their aunt, by the way, is a pretty intriguing character: proud, selfish and manipulative at times, benevolent and charming at other times. From the point on, The Dolls are catapulted to fame - through TV syncs, a ute muster, a support tour with a dodgy band - but they realise it comes at the price of their sanity and relationships. I really enjoyed seeing the world through NIna's eyes, although maybe "enjoyed" isn't the right world. She's flawed, and often mean-spirited, but you start to comprehend why as the book goes on. It's a must-read for anyone in the record industry (you're probably in it) or anyone who would like to be, but there's so much more to it than that.
August 22, 2014
Don't judge a book by a cover - this may look like chick lit, but it's anything but. The author is a music journalist, so she's got some crazy inside knowledge into the industry. Warning: this book is set very much in Australia, so you probably won't get most of the references if you're not from Down Under. Nina and Rose Dall are cousins in a band, but they've got absolutely nothing in common and have very different outlooks on life. Nina is self-destructive and is constantly threatening to drag the band down with her, while Rose is your garden variety narcissist who's more obsessed with taking selfies and being seen with the right kind of famous boyfriend. Underneath the pop froth there's a very dark side. I won't spoil it, but we learn something very disturbing about protagonist Nina that suddenly makes all her erratic behaviour make perfect sense. A platinum disc to the author for tackling a difficult topic.
August 5, 2014
Delving into the familiar trope of sex, drugs and rock and roll – albeit with a distinct Australian twist and a mercurial female narrator in the form of Nina Dall – debut novelist Jenny Valentish chronicles the meteoric rise of teen pop-punk band The Dolls. Drawing on her years of experience as both a musician and a music journalist, Valentish uses her novel as a launchpad to explore the weighty topics of child abuse, parental neglect and drug exploitation.
Read more of my review on ArtsHub: http://publishing.artshub.com.au/news...
Read more of my review on ArtsHub: http://publishing.artshub.com.au/news...
June 28, 2014
Cherry Bomb, the debut novel from Australian music journalist Jenny Valentish, is a roller coaster ride through the world of fame, sex, drugs and most importantly, rock and roll. Seen through the eyes of twenty-one year old Nina Dall, the novel tells the story of the rise to fame and inevitable fall of the Dolls, a band that Nina formed as a teenager with her cousin Rose. Running alongside the Dolls own rise to fame is the story of their Aunt, Alannah Dall who is trying to make a career comeback and who may just be a little bit threatened by her nieces and their rise to fame.
Cherry Bomb offers readers a no-holes-barred view of the Australian music industry as it is at present--from the indignity of the Dolls having to perform at the local shopping centre to their eventual success overseas--as well as giving an account of Nina's own troubled upbringing and her personal difficulties surrounding addiction and overcoming child sexual abuse. There is also the interesting backstory of Alannah, her dealings with her family and just who and what she is willing to sacrifice to get what she wants. Alannah's own story allows readers the chance to have a glimpse at the history of Australian music and at a look at the music scene in the days before Australian Idol, YouTube etc. The author offers some brilliant insights into human nature and I found that even some of the minor characters, such as Hank to be well-drawn. With all that said (and there is lots in this book to like,) I struggled slightly with the narrative in places and found the lists and reviews that appeared within the middle of chapters to be a little distracting. (Though I do love the soundtrack at the end.) Overall though it is an well written book with an interesting and well executed plot.
Shout out to Allen & Unwin and The Reading Room for my review copy.
This review also appears on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox.
Cherry Bomb offers readers a no-holes-barred view of the Australian music industry as it is at present--from the indignity of the Dolls having to perform at the local shopping centre to their eventual success overseas--as well as giving an account of Nina's own troubled upbringing and her personal difficulties surrounding addiction and overcoming child sexual abuse. There is also the interesting backstory of Alannah, her dealings with her family and just who and what she is willing to sacrifice to get what she wants. Alannah's own story allows readers the chance to have a glimpse at the history of Australian music and at a look at the music scene in the days before Australian Idol, YouTube etc. The author offers some brilliant insights into human nature and I found that even some of the minor characters, such as Hank to be well-drawn. With all that said (and there is lots in this book to like,) I struggled slightly with the narrative in places and found the lists and reviews that appeared within the middle of chapters to be a little distracting. (Though I do love the soundtrack at the end.) Overall though it is an well written book with an interesting and well executed plot.
Shout out to Allen & Unwin and The Reading Room for my review copy.
This review also appears on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox.
December 17, 2014
Described by its author as "an adults-only teenage psychodrama set in the music industry", 'Cherry Bomb' is unlike any novel I've ever read. Its narrator is Nina Dall, who alongside her cousin Rose performs in the Parramatta-born pop-punk band The Dolls. The story charts their rise from small Sydney clubs to international success, with plenty of interesting detours and informed asides. Author Jenny Valentish is a music journalist of many years' standing, and a former editor of mine at Triple J Magazine; her knowledge of the personalities and egos drawn to the thought of making a career out of making music is on full display here.
Nina Dall is a narcissist and an alcoholic; a back-cover blurb by You Am I frontman Tim Rogers accurately calls her "as singular and mercurial a character as I've ever been charmed and terrified to meet". While Nina's narrative voice occasionally grates due to her sheer unwillingness to understand those around her, this is more a case of fine character delivery than any fault on Valentish's part. The ending leaves the door open to the possibility of a sequel and I'd certainly read that, too, as the rock-and-roll world the author has created here is so vivid you can practically hear the power chords roaring from the pages.
Nina Dall is a narcissist and an alcoholic; a back-cover blurb by You Am I frontman Tim Rogers accurately calls her "as singular and mercurial a character as I've ever been charmed and terrified to meet". While Nina's narrative voice occasionally grates due to her sheer unwillingness to understand those around her, this is more a case of fine character delivery than any fault on Valentish's part. The ending leaves the door open to the possibility of a sequel and I'd certainly read that, too, as the rock-and-roll world the author has created here is so vivid you can practically hear the power chords roaring from the pages.
September 8, 2014
Rock journalist Jenny Valentish’s debut book, Cherry Bomb, takes the reader on a wild journey through the Australian music industry. The story follows a fictional pop-punk band, the Dolls, headed by cousins Nina and Rose Dall. Through the narration of Nina, one half of the duo, we learn of the Doll’s inception as teenagers in Sydney to gaining a record deal. We experience the scandal, fame, sex, drugs and booze filled rocknroll lifestyle, while also feeling the extreme highs and lows of being in the music industry. Overall, I found this a stylish and edgy book, but the narrative style which intersperses Nina’s voice with band reviews, lists and song lyrics was a little disjointed at times. However, through the Author, Jenny Valentish’s expert knowledge, I feel the book provides the reader with an authentic and memorable view of the Australian music industry.
I would like to thank the publisher, Allen & Unwin, for a free copy of this book.
I would like to thank the publisher, Allen & Unwin, for a free copy of this book.
July 14, 2014
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
What a roller coaster of a story Cherry Bomb was!... and in more ways than one! It was filled with the incredible highs and gut wrenching lows of an international pop (oops I mean punk) singer. The story line was intense, unpredictable and quite often simply thrilling. The style of writing verged on an almost fictional memoir, and while I initially found this difficult to engage in, I soon realised this form of writing allowed us complete access to the hilarious, sarcastic sass of Nina. Overall I found Cherry Bomb highly entertaining and look forward to seeing what else Jenny Valentish will produce.
What a roller coaster of a story Cherry Bomb was!... and in more ways than one! It was filled with the incredible highs and gut wrenching lows of an international pop (oops I mean punk) singer. The story line was intense, unpredictable and quite often simply thrilling. The style of writing verged on an almost fictional memoir, and while I initially found this difficult to engage in, I soon realised this form of writing allowed us complete access to the hilarious, sarcastic sass of Nina. Overall I found Cherry Bomb highly entertaining and look forward to seeing what else Jenny Valentish will produce.
September 13, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this book and for more reasons than I bargained for. I, ashamedly, judged this book by its cover and brought it with the full intention of it being an easy chick read that I could read without much effort from the brain. I was wrong.
Right from the start this book dragged me in with the darker undertones I had not seen coming. This book manages to deal with some really heavy issues in a fast paced and raw way which meant I could get through the really hard parts without too much pain. Two parts salty to one part sweet - just enough sweet to break intensity, right til the very end!
Right from the start this book dragged me in with the darker undertones I had not seen coming. This book manages to deal with some really heavy issues in a fast paced and raw way which meant I could get through the really hard parts without too much pain. Two parts salty to one part sweet - just enough sweet to break intensity, right til the very end!
August 7, 2014
A fictional account of a current Oz band with worldwide fame. V. entertaining and endorsed by the people that should know - the real musos. Now pardon me while I tell my 16 year old daughter to stop playing the drums and to take up ... golf. ;-)
October 11, 2014
Loved this book....it captured the music industry perfectly! Valentish's characters were always believable and the dialogue snappy. It's the sort of book I will read again and again. Highly recommended.
June 13, 2018
I liked it but I didn't love it. It took me a bit to get into this book, partly because of the writing style which is a bit all over the place (but that is because the main character Nina is all over the place) and partly because I found Nina a bit annoying. The book explains why the character is the way she is due to past experiences but even with that she still comes across as whiny and selfish. The book supposedly has three main characters including Nina's bandmate/cousin Rose and their famous aunt Alannah but the story all comes from Nina's perspective. Nina is fixated on how punk her and Rose are but from the descriptions given of them in the book they are about as punk as The Veronicas and at one point Nina has a country phase while Rose turns boho. There are a lot of events in the book that just sort of happen all of a sudden and there isn't much aftermath/further explanation. The ending suited the story but was a little abrupt. I guess I kind of found the whole thing a little fake and clichéd but I was never a teen punk/pop star so...I did think the soundtrack to the book at the end was a nice touch however and I plan to give it a run on Spotify.
July 25, 2018
I didn’t love it, or even really like it all that much. Each & every one of the characters is thoroughly unlikeable. I’ve pondered the question: can you enjoy a book if you can neither relate to or empathise with any of the main players?
Two and a half stars maybe.
Two and a half stars maybe.
August 12, 2017
Put it simply, this was a fun read. Won't remember much of it, but like a well crafted pop song it was really catchy at the time.
February 10, 2022
It started with some interest but quickly petered out for me and was well not that memorable. Certainly no Daisy Jones.
September 1, 2014
Cherry Bomb, music journalist Jenny Valentish’s debut novel, follows cousins Nina and Rose Dall on their journey from lowly Western Suburbs teenagers to edgy rock stars in their pop-punk band, The Dolls. Mentored by their ‘has-been’ 80’s icon Aunt Alannah Dall, the two are determined to carve a name for themselves in the music industry leaving havoc and heartbreak in their wake. The novel explores the familiar themes of sex, drugs and rock and roll, and delves into the nit and gritty of the Australian music industry where scandal and exploits run riot. Juggling sexy but untouchable producers, skeezy managers and manipulating record companies the girls struggle to remain true to their music and themselves as the web of deceit, lies and betrayal thickens. Will they continue to rise to fame and fortune or will their rocky relationship and underlying problems lead to a permanent downward spiral?
Okay, I’m going to be honest here and admit that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wished I could have.
It was slow starting and often disjointed in the way it jumped from one scene to another and I found it quite difficult to identify the timeline it followed.
Neither the narrator Nina Dall nor her cousin Rose Dall were terribly likeable. In fact, none of the characters were and I think that was a real let down. This did however add to the realism of the novel as of course in life, and ESPECIALLY the music industry, no person is completely perfect or likeable, but, and I don’t know if it’s just me, I really can’t enjoy a book if not one of the characters is likeable. I think such a complex and issue riddled character can still be written in a way that makes a reader like them or want to root for them, but in this case I just didn’t feel that.
Everything about Nina Dall irked me. She was so self-absorbed with her own problems that I often found myself getting annoyed with her. I did admire her unpredictability and her ‘I don’t care what you think’ attitude, something I definitely wish I had, but that did not make up for her mean-spirited and silly antics.
Slowly her story does unravel throughout the novel and you understand why she acts the way she does but still, I felt bad that I couldn’t sympathise with her. And boy did I want to! But her many ridiculous and downright selfish decisions just far outweighed the underlying issues she was dealing with. (I hope that doesn’t make me a bad person for saying that)
And her cousin Rose, although a touch more likeable than Nina at the beginning of the novel, just became way too self-centered and silly. I mean the fact that she could be so obtuse and blind to some of the things Nina was going through was just ridiculous. I can however understand what it’s like to be close to someone that’s going through a rough time, especially when you don’t know how to react without making things worse… but everything this girl did just irked me more. Basically this book was just a whole lot of me being irritated with Nina and Rose :P
I will however give props to Jenny Valentish for the realism of the characters and the overall storyline. There’s no way you could describe either of the main girls bland or boring, far from it in fact and I really admire her decision to portray these characters in a no holds bared kind of way. Once I eventually got into the novel I understood better the fast paced decision, obviously likened to the often fast-paced rise of a band to fame and I did like the occasional bursts of Nina Dall’s ‘Inner Critic’ that had me confused when I initially started the novel.
I definitely love the way Valentish took a potentially clichéd concept and gave it a fresh and gritty spin, I’ve not yet read a fictional book based in the music industry as real as this one. I definitely think her music journalist background paid off in adding to the authenticity of the story and providing an outlook that only someone in the music industry would know.
Overall I was left pretty disappointed with this novel. I had such high hopes because the premise sounded fantastic and wonderfully edgy, yet as hard as I tried I just couldn’t like it. However, the general consensus around this novel (well, from the reviews I found on Goodreads) was mostly positive, and I can definitely see why many people like it…so maybe it’s just me! I will not rule out reading another book by Jenny Valentish as I definitely appreciated her style of writing.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin Australia for providing a physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, I’m going to be honest here and admit that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wished I could have.
It was slow starting and often disjointed in the way it jumped from one scene to another and I found it quite difficult to identify the timeline it followed.
Neither the narrator Nina Dall nor her cousin Rose Dall were terribly likeable. In fact, none of the characters were and I think that was a real let down. This did however add to the realism of the novel as of course in life, and ESPECIALLY the music industry, no person is completely perfect or likeable, but, and I don’t know if it’s just me, I really can’t enjoy a book if not one of the characters is likeable. I think such a complex and issue riddled character can still be written in a way that makes a reader like them or want to root for them, but in this case I just didn’t feel that.
Everything about Nina Dall irked me. She was so self-absorbed with her own problems that I often found myself getting annoyed with her. I did admire her unpredictability and her ‘I don’t care what you think’ attitude, something I definitely wish I had, but that did not make up for her mean-spirited and silly antics.
Slowly her story does unravel throughout the novel and you understand why she acts the way she does but still, I felt bad that I couldn’t sympathise with her. And boy did I want to! But her many ridiculous and downright selfish decisions just far outweighed the underlying issues she was dealing with. (I hope that doesn’t make me a bad person for saying that)
And her cousin Rose, although a touch more likeable than Nina at the beginning of the novel, just became way too self-centered and silly. I mean the fact that she could be so obtuse and blind to some of the things Nina was going through was just ridiculous. I can however understand what it’s like to be close to someone that’s going through a rough time, especially when you don’t know how to react without making things worse… but everything this girl did just irked me more. Basically this book was just a whole lot of me being irritated with Nina and Rose :P
I will however give props to Jenny Valentish for the realism of the characters and the overall storyline. There’s no way you could describe either of the main girls bland or boring, far from it in fact and I really admire her decision to portray these characters in a no holds bared kind of way. Once I eventually got into the novel I understood better the fast paced decision, obviously likened to the often fast-paced rise of a band to fame and I did like the occasional bursts of Nina Dall’s ‘Inner Critic’ that had me confused when I initially started the novel.
I definitely love the way Valentish took a potentially clichéd concept and gave it a fresh and gritty spin, I’ve not yet read a fictional book based in the music industry as real as this one. I definitely think her music journalist background paid off in adding to the authenticity of the story and providing an outlook that only someone in the music industry would know.
Overall I was left pretty disappointed with this novel. I had such high hopes because the premise sounded fantastic and wonderfully edgy, yet as hard as I tried I just couldn’t like it. However, the general consensus around this novel (well, from the reviews I found on Goodreads) was mostly positive, and I can definitely see why many people like it…so maybe it’s just me! I will not rule out reading another book by Jenny Valentish as I definitely appreciated her style of writing.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin Australia for providing a physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2015
If Jenny Valentish’s debut novel, Cherry Bomb was a song it would be a dance floor banger. A rock journalist and former member of a few bands herself, Valentish is fully qualified to be writing about the Australian music industry, fame and and all it’s flaws.
Cherry Bomb charts the success of fictional pop punk band The Dolls. The two members are cousins, Nina and Rose Dall. While the main characters are teenagers, The Dolls are playing in the very adult world of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Written in Nina’s voice, the badass guitarist with no fear, Cherry Bomb is full of attitude. Nina is the rock and roll half of The Dolls. “The Richards to her Jagger.” She’s tough, she sleeps around, shaves her head, and at one point rips her shirt off during a show to throw it to the audience. Her cousin Rose is the air-kissing darling diva of The Dolls with the songstress voice and outrageous backstage Mariah Carey-esque requests.
The girls idolise their aunt, famous 80s pop star Allanah Dall and willingly live in her shadow, copying her style, her clothes, her sound, and her addictions to booze and men. The story begins while The Dolls are still in high school, playing in a small lounge bar and living in Parramatta, and follows as they walk the red carpet at the ARIAS, record their album, hit it big with their song Fight like a girl, tour Australia and the US, and navigate interviews, photo shoots and videoclips; tweeting and instagramming everything as they go.
Be warned, readers older than Gen Y may tire or have trouble with the endless pop culture references. From name dropping artists like Ke$ha, Goyte, The Veronicas, Good Charlotte, and Fall Out Boy to referencing emo vampires, Boohoo.com, Tumblr, and Geordie Shore; Cherry Bomb is youth culture beamed right back at its audience. Plus there are endless tips on how to take a good selfie (hint, double or triple filter photos via an app and the best cameras for selfies have a flip-out viewfinder).
Cherry Bomb could have easily been a shallow and insubstantial read, however Valentish has added layers and twists enough to create a more complex character out of Nina than her obsession with what everyone is wearing would suggest.
A soundtrack listing includes hits by artists like The Runaways, Blondie, the Ramones, Lana Del Rey, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to accompany each chapter. Unfortunately the list is badly placed at the back of the book and many readers will probably discover it after they have finished the story and miss out on listening to the carefully selected songs while reading the accompanying chapters.
Despite being too long and losing some momentum, Cherry Bomb is still a banger and readers will enjoy the fame trip viewed through Nina Dall’s boozey gaze complete with her ballsy narration.
Cherry Bomb charts the success of fictional pop punk band The Dolls. The two members are cousins, Nina and Rose Dall. While the main characters are teenagers, The Dolls are playing in the very adult world of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Written in Nina’s voice, the badass guitarist with no fear, Cherry Bomb is full of attitude. Nina is the rock and roll half of The Dolls. “The Richards to her Jagger.” She’s tough, she sleeps around, shaves her head, and at one point rips her shirt off during a show to throw it to the audience. Her cousin Rose is the air-kissing darling diva of The Dolls with the songstress voice and outrageous backstage Mariah Carey-esque requests.
The girls idolise their aunt, famous 80s pop star Allanah Dall and willingly live in her shadow, copying her style, her clothes, her sound, and her addictions to booze and men. The story begins while The Dolls are still in high school, playing in a small lounge bar and living in Parramatta, and follows as they walk the red carpet at the ARIAS, record their album, hit it big with their song Fight like a girl, tour Australia and the US, and navigate interviews, photo shoots and videoclips; tweeting and instagramming everything as they go.
Be warned, readers older than Gen Y may tire or have trouble with the endless pop culture references. From name dropping artists like Ke$ha, Goyte, The Veronicas, Good Charlotte, and Fall Out Boy to referencing emo vampires, Boohoo.com, Tumblr, and Geordie Shore; Cherry Bomb is youth culture beamed right back at its audience. Plus there are endless tips on how to take a good selfie (hint, double or triple filter photos via an app and the best cameras for selfies have a flip-out viewfinder).
Cherry Bomb could have easily been a shallow and insubstantial read, however Valentish has added layers and twists enough to create a more complex character out of Nina than her obsession with what everyone is wearing would suggest.
A soundtrack listing includes hits by artists like The Runaways, Blondie, the Ramones, Lana Del Rey, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to accompany each chapter. Unfortunately the list is badly placed at the back of the book and many readers will probably discover it after they have finished the story and miss out on listening to the carefully selected songs while reading the accompanying chapters.
Despite being too long and losing some momentum, Cherry Bomb is still a banger and readers will enjoy the fame trip viewed through Nina Dall’s boozey gaze complete with her ballsy narration.
December 1, 2014
Jenny Valentish's cherry bomb is a great work of art.
As a Gen Y reader from Sydney (also a musician) I felt excited to read a novel that was set in my home town. The character of Nina Dall was refreshing and honest - wild antics aside, her obsessions, hangups and observations on life certainly mirrored my own feelings during my late teens and early twenties; I felt a lot of empathy towards her.
The music industry was presented perfectly - and not just in a way that appealed to a Gen Y reader like myself. The anecdotes from Alannah Dall's book "Pour Me Another" (presented at the start of each chapter) helped bridge the gap between the music industry of old and how it works in current day. Alannah's sage advice offered sincere and true glimpses into the recording industry behind all the smoke and mirrors, but also (through Nina and Rose's imitation of their Aunt) how much we really owe to the icons of the 80s and 90s who have paved the way and already set most of the trends and ideas that a lot of bands and artists are using today.
However, behind the sugar coating of recording studios, photo-shoots, regrettable stage antics and backstage passes is the real story of Nina Dall. Without giving too much away, Cherry Bomb deals with real issues that have mainly been considered taboo, especially in the majority of art making for fear of being too confronting. It is refreshing to see an author bring these topics to the surface and try to address them in a way that will get people talking in a comfortable setting.
If at first glimpse you read Cherry Bomb and think it will "just be another book about a band" or "a coming of age novel about an emotionally stretched adolescent finding her feet", you haven't looked hard enough.
Scratch beneath the showbiz veneer and you will find an excellently written book that is both humorous and hard hitting, dealing with topics that for many people are largely unspoken and too close to home.
I loved it. 5 stars!
P.S Performing in a shopping centre IS the absolute worst!
As a Gen Y reader from Sydney (also a musician) I felt excited to read a novel that was set in my home town. The character of Nina Dall was refreshing and honest - wild antics aside, her obsessions, hangups and observations on life certainly mirrored my own feelings during my late teens and early twenties; I felt a lot of empathy towards her.
The music industry was presented perfectly - and not just in a way that appealed to a Gen Y reader like myself. The anecdotes from Alannah Dall's book "Pour Me Another" (presented at the start of each chapter) helped bridge the gap between the music industry of old and how it works in current day. Alannah's sage advice offered sincere and true glimpses into the recording industry behind all the smoke and mirrors, but also (through Nina and Rose's imitation of their Aunt) how much we really owe to the icons of the 80s and 90s who have paved the way and already set most of the trends and ideas that a lot of bands and artists are using today.
However, behind the sugar coating of recording studios, photo-shoots, regrettable stage antics and backstage passes is the real story of Nina Dall. Without giving too much away, Cherry Bomb deals with real issues that have mainly been considered taboo, especially in the majority of art making for fear of being too confronting. It is refreshing to see an author bring these topics to the surface and try to address them in a way that will get people talking in a comfortable setting.
If at first glimpse you read Cherry Bomb and think it will "just be another book about a band" or "a coming of age novel about an emotionally stretched adolescent finding her feet", you haven't looked hard enough.
Scratch beneath the showbiz veneer and you will find an excellently written book that is both humorous and hard hitting, dealing with topics that for many people are largely unspoken and too close to home.
I loved it. 5 stars!
P.S Performing in a shopping centre IS the absolute worst!
January 30, 2015
Nina and her cousin Rose have wanted to be rock stars for years. Inspired and mentored by their famous – but rather washed up – musician aunt, they embark on a wild ride of drugs, alcohol, touring and recording and all the ups and downs that go with it.
I saw this book described as a wild romp, and I think it’s the perfect way to describe it. Narrated as if it’s a tell-all memoir written by Nina (the sullen one with the attitude), it’s a little like riding a roller coaster as she takes the reader through all the highlights and lowlights of the rock star lifestyle. To add to the ups and downs, there’s Nina’s rather explosive uncovering of abuse she went through as a child – you could only imagine the fall out after her ‘memoir’ was published.
Although a lot goes on in the story, I have to admit there were times when it almost felt repetitive. I kept waiting for something really huge to blow up, and it never really seemed to happen. In fact, then ending felt a little disappointing, like all the anticipation which had been built sort of just fizzled away.
There’s a huge amount of music related references and acknowledgements – if you’re a music fan or know a lot of Australian pop culture, you’d probably get a kick out of that. Although I got quite a few of the references, I’m sure there were ones I missed. I’m not sure if ‘getting’ all of them would add to enjoyment of the book or start to feel like name-dropping after a while, though.
This isn’t going to be one of those books heavily featured in literary awards. However, it’s a good one to pick up for an enjoyable, high energy read. And it’s entirely possibly, you’ll hear Molly Meldrum asking questions in your head after you read it – though I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether that’s a good thing or not!
Originally reviewed at Subversive Reader
I saw this book described as a wild romp, and I think it’s the perfect way to describe it. Narrated as if it’s a tell-all memoir written by Nina (the sullen one with the attitude), it’s a little like riding a roller coaster as she takes the reader through all the highlights and lowlights of the rock star lifestyle. To add to the ups and downs, there’s Nina’s rather explosive uncovering of abuse she went through as a child – you could only imagine the fall out after her ‘memoir’ was published.
Although a lot goes on in the story, I have to admit there were times when it almost felt repetitive. I kept waiting for something really huge to blow up, and it never really seemed to happen. In fact, then ending felt a little disappointing, like all the anticipation which had been built sort of just fizzled away.
There’s a huge amount of music related references and acknowledgements – if you’re a music fan or know a lot of Australian pop culture, you’d probably get a kick out of that. Although I got quite a few of the references, I’m sure there were ones I missed. I’m not sure if ‘getting’ all of them would add to enjoyment of the book or start to feel like name-dropping after a while, though.
This isn’t going to be one of those books heavily featured in literary awards. However, it’s a good one to pick up for an enjoyable, high energy read. And it’s entirely possibly, you’ll hear Molly Meldrum asking questions in your head after you read it – though I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether that’s a good thing or not!
Originally reviewed at Subversive Reader
November 25, 2014
The Dolls are not a real band, and Nina Dall is not a real Sydney-born singer and guitarist. And yet, right from the first chapter, I felt like I’d been thrown into the long-awaited autobiography of a wild, talented, misunderstood rock star. I felt like I would finally learn who Nina Dall really was, and how she and her cousin Rose Dall rose to pop-punk stardom – only to crash and burn.
I raced through Cherry Bomb in less than a week. Through the Dolls’ career – recording their first tracks, doing support slots for has-been rockers, tripping through media mindfields, making it in America – author and rock journalist Jenny Valentish shares her incredibly rich (and dirty) experiences of the music industry. She peppers Nina’s first-person narrative with fictional music reviews, how-to guides to Instagram infamy, and excerpts from the autobiography of the girls’ aging pop star aunt Alannah. Some of Nina’s (and, we assume, Valentish’s) insights into the music industry are at once hilarious and incredibly true: my personal favourite was Nina’s rant about female guitarists. “Women… often played like an apology. They would grimace through a hesitant dual-fingered solo and telegraph their commiserations to the front rows. How often did you see a woman playing with a righteous grin, or shredding behind her head? Arrogance when playing electric guitar was a beautiful thing. I did what I could.”
It’s too simplistic to say that this is just a book about the music industry. It’s a coming-of-age novel, too. Brilliant and single-minded yet angry and vulnerable, Nina’s not always likeable, but her wry humour and raw honesty is intoxicating.
I raced through Cherry Bomb in less than a week. Through the Dolls’ career – recording their first tracks, doing support slots for has-been rockers, tripping through media mindfields, making it in America – author and rock journalist Jenny Valentish shares her incredibly rich (and dirty) experiences of the music industry. She peppers Nina’s first-person narrative with fictional music reviews, how-to guides to Instagram infamy, and excerpts from the autobiography of the girls’ aging pop star aunt Alannah. Some of Nina’s (and, we assume, Valentish’s) insights into the music industry are at once hilarious and incredibly true: my personal favourite was Nina’s rant about female guitarists. “Women… often played like an apology. They would grimace through a hesitant dual-fingered solo and telegraph their commiserations to the front rows. How often did you see a woman playing with a righteous grin, or shredding behind her head? Arrogance when playing electric guitar was a beautiful thing. I did what I could.”
It’s too simplistic to say that this is just a book about the music industry. It’s a coming-of-age novel, too. Brilliant and single-minded yet angry and vulnerable, Nina’s not always likeable, but her wry humour and raw honesty is intoxicating.
November 8, 2015
"Cherry Bomb" is one of the more unique debuts I've read in a long time, which charts the meteoric rise of "The Dolls" - a teen punk duo comprising cousins Nina Dall and Rose Dall repackaged, over the course of the book, into a pop-punk outfit in the vein of The Veronicas.
There are so many things to love about Valentish's writing.
Nina's voice:
"They swallowed us up like quicksand. Fans always wanted to tell you their experience of you, to try to emblazon themselves upon your memory....I nodded along, but one girl was just staring like her eyeballs were molesting me and I thought I'd scream if I had to stand there another second."
The book-within-a-book effect of the Alannah Dall (former 80s rock star and aunt of the Dalls) memoir chapter openers:
"My carefully cultivated image was both a mask and a trap. By 1983 I couldn't afford to be seen looking like anything less than Alannah Dall, 'Australia's most successful export'.
The lists:
"Top 10 Rose and Nina Bedroom Band Names...
6. The Lesbians...
8. Miso Horny..."
The street press band reviews and suggested chapter-by-chapter soundtrack from the likes of The Runaways and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
All this lent an incredible veracity to Nina's story, which also explores the awful reality of child sex abuse and how the acts of bad men reiterate endlessly in an abused woman's life.
I love how "Cherry Bomb" was open-ended and didn't tie things neatly up into pretty bows. It's an exhilarating, exhausting, destructive industry, the music industry, and Valentish captures this perfectly.
There are so many things to love about Valentish's writing.
Nina's voice:
"They swallowed us up like quicksand. Fans always wanted to tell you their experience of you, to try to emblazon themselves upon your memory....I nodded along, but one girl was just staring like her eyeballs were molesting me and I thought I'd scream if I had to stand there another second."
The book-within-a-book effect of the Alannah Dall (former 80s rock star and aunt of the Dalls) memoir chapter openers:
"My carefully cultivated image was both a mask and a trap. By 1983 I couldn't afford to be seen looking like anything less than Alannah Dall, 'Australia's most successful export'.
The lists:
"Top 10 Rose and Nina Bedroom Band Names...
6. The Lesbians...
8. Miso Horny..."
The street press band reviews and suggested chapter-by-chapter soundtrack from the likes of The Runaways and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
All this lent an incredible veracity to Nina's story, which also explores the awful reality of child sex abuse and how the acts of bad men reiterate endlessly in an abused woman's life.
I love how "Cherry Bomb" was open-ended and didn't tie things neatly up into pretty bows. It's an exhilarating, exhausting, destructive industry, the music industry, and Valentish captures this perfectly.
July 21, 2014
I had such high hopes for this book it combined the things I love in real life, music, punk rock with a dash of pop. I've photographed more than a few of these artists over time before my hand injury.
I felt like this could have in many ways been the story of two real locals girls of the same era and style who hit the heights of stardom (they were not cousins) but the rest was very similar in a lot of way to their lives so unfortunately it just didn't hit the mark for me at all.
I did like the retrospective quotes from the aunts "book" at the beginning of each chapter, that added a nice touch as it tried to combine the two generations and enhance the link from the previous generation and showcase their differences but also their similarities.
Now before you send me hate messages like I get from time to time if I down rate your favourite book please know THIS IS MY OPINION - it should in no way affect your like/dislke of the book or your reading pleasure, for me it missed the mark which as I said was disappointing as I went into reading it with a positive attitude.
sadly for me only a 2/5 it was a bomb, cherry or not (again personal opinion) you may love it and if you do awesome :)
I felt like this could have in many ways been the story of two real locals girls of the same era and style who hit the heights of stardom (they were not cousins) but the rest was very similar in a lot of way to their lives so unfortunately it just didn't hit the mark for me at all.
I did like the retrospective quotes from the aunts "book" at the beginning of each chapter, that added a nice touch as it tried to combine the two generations and enhance the link from the previous generation and showcase their differences but also their similarities.
Now before you send me hate messages like I get from time to time if I down rate your favourite book please know THIS IS MY OPINION - it should in no way affect your like/dislke of the book or your reading pleasure, for me it missed the mark which as I said was disappointing as I went into reading it with a positive attitude.
sadly for me only a 2/5 it was a bomb, cherry or not (again personal opinion) you may love it and if you do awesome :)
July 11, 2016
The wine on the tables was free. When we watched the recording a few days later we could clearly see Rose in the background at one point, sitting on the floor with her glass, but we couldn’t for the life of us remember why she was there. John Villiers laughed a lot, but he stopped introducing us to people halfway through the evening. I’m not blaming John Villiers, but perhaps if he’d given us some of the cocaine I now don’t doubt for a minute that he was packing, we wouldn’t have got quite as drunk as we did.
I loved this book.
It is like The Runaways meets The Veronicas, 'a wild ride into Australia's music scene'.
This book is told through the eyes of Nina Dall, one half of Sydney's pop-punk band, The Dolls.
Nina's cousin Rose Dall makes up the other half.
I think they would look similar to this lol.
The book follows their rise to fame, which is full of sex, drugs, teenage angst and of course Rock’n’Roll.
It deals with some serious topics such as, child abuse, parental neglect and drug exploitation.
Despite those tough issues, the book is a fun, easy read that I just couldn't put down.
December 5, 2014
Cherry Bomb by Jenny Valentish is a fantastic read and immerses the reader into the music world and the struggles of Nina Dall, one half of the Dolls a punk/pop band trying to make it big. The Dolls are out to make it big not just in Australia but the world, and it charts their struggles and strife to make it to number one. Nina is plagued by her demons which driver her to drink and self destruct, while her cousin Rose copes in her own unique ways. I found this book to be a really good read, it managed to take me on a journey that I never thought possible and enjoyed the story and characters immensely. This book would definetly suit readers in their 20s and 30s particularly with the amount of pop culture references that are present. This book doesn't fail to miss with the popular themes of sex, drugs and rock and roll, and it left me want The Dolls to be a real band rather than fictional.
I was supremely pleased to receive this book as an advanced reading copy and would like to thank The Reading Room and Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to review this book.
I was supremely pleased to receive this book as an advanced reading copy and would like to thank The Reading Room and Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to review this book.
January 25, 2015
As Nina and Rose try to market their Punk Rock duo, The Dolls, they are mentored by their once famous Aunt, Allanah Dall. A behind the scenes look at an aspiring girl band. The highs, the lows, the drugs, the alcohol and the abuse of fame.
This is a very confronting read as we find out why Nina thinks, feels and acts the way she does. It seems Nina is on a spiral of self destruction with bravado fuelled by drugs and alcohol. Written in the first person I never had a sense of how anyone else was feeling. I didn’t feel connected to any of the other characters.
It was like watching a train wreck. It was confronting and uncomfortable but you just had to keep reading.
I think if you are into the music scene you may get more from this book than I did. I think that most of it just went way over my head.
This is a very confronting read as we find out why Nina thinks, feels and acts the way she does. It seems Nina is on a spiral of self destruction with bravado fuelled by drugs and alcohol. Written in the first person I never had a sense of how anyone else was feeling. I didn’t feel connected to any of the other characters.
It was like watching a train wreck. It was confronting and uncomfortable but you just had to keep reading.
I think if you are into the music scene you may get more from this book than I did. I think that most of it just went way over my head.
February 5, 2015
This book is good when I start reading after half an hour, but it's not a book that I could read for hours on end and "not put down" No offense. Yes I did get this book free in June last year and didn't start reading it until now, but that is because I read books at my own speed and my own terms no matter what. This book wasn't entirely terrible, but I can put it down and not think about it. I did quite like the main character Lina Dall, and I liked how Rose was bisexual. haha. I didn't get to finish this book because I've ben reading it for two months, and I've hardly been reading do, e Theo my new job and the responsibility of being an adult. Also I'm a very slow reader and too many words on a page for me. Even though I'm intelligent, I'm naturally very slow at everything
December 15, 2014
For anyone who has ever loved music and live bands this is a great book to lose yourself in. Not only is it a walk through memory lane with references to many great ( and not so great) Australian bands it is funny ( I like the lists) and gives insight into what it is required to succeed in the music industry and what it is like to live a famous but at the same time grungy existence as pop rock chicks. Its not all about music though - it also talks about how the impact of childhood trauma impacts on Nina in an insightful but non lecturing way and I'm sure many could relate to the relationship between the two cousins. By the end I wanted to listen to the band's singles and read their famous Aunt's book, I could almost believe they were part of my musical heritage.
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