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The Relix 40: Words and Music (40 Novels)

Roddy Doyle The Commitments (1987) Unemployed friends living in Dublin form a soul band.

Mark Childress Tender (1990) Tupelo, Mississippi resident Leroy Kirby rises to renown (and echoes the life of Elvis).

Lewis Shiner Glimpses (1993) Ray Shackleford starts to hear new music in his head from deceased artists such as Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix.

Nick Hornby High Fidelity (1995) Rob Fleming makes Top 5 lists and re-establishes a romance, while working at London’s Championship Vinyl.

Sherman Alexie Reservation Blues (1995) – A rock band forms on a Spokane Indian Reservation (Robert Johnson appears as well).

Jay McInerney The Last of the Savages (1996) Will Savage become a record producer while his lifelong friend Patrick Keane opts for the life of a lawyer.

William Gibson Idoru (1996) Rez is an aging rock star who wants to marry a product of artificial intelligence.

Tom Perotta The Wishbones (1997). A New Jersey wedding band makes the rounds.

Camden Joy The Last Rock Star Book or: Liz Phair, A Rant (1998) An author is hired to write a quickie biography of Liz Phair and becomes obsessed.

Pagan Kennedy The Exes (1998) A band comprised of lovers and former lovers works the alternative rock circuit.