FLESH GUITAR
Geoff Nicholson

This books was strange. I believe it was recommended to me because of the Cronenbergesque descriptions in the first chapter of a guitar that seems to be alive (later this unfolds into a half-funny, half-irritating guitar version of Kafka's Metamorphosis), and because, of course, it pertains to the guitar, my instrument of choice. It was a good quick read for the bus ride home, and I found it entertaining. The thought of Frank Zappa at the age of 14 was reward enough for me, and seemed to outweigh the cheesier parts, like the aforementioned Kafka rip-off, a contrived Moby Dick parody, and the excerpts from a fictional fanzine. The interesting ideas about experimental music were probably the most edifying aspects of this weird little novel. I gleaned a bit of good musical history, too. I don't know whether this would fall into a list of recommended reads, but it was fun while it lasted. Thanks, Rodin.

22 January, 2001