Scan barcode
thinkspink's review
3.0
Contrasting the peak of Motown with the Detroit riots and the events at the Algiers motel is a great concept. And while the story of how some of the greatest music ever recorded came from a deeply divided city is fascinating, I think there are problems with the structure. It's split into 12 roughly equal chapters for each month of the year, but given that we know the key events all happen in July, the early sections feel padded, and could definitely use a better edit. And then the July and August chapters seem way too short when you get to them. Plus the sections on the MC5 and the counter culture never really intersect the other themes, and there are sections about events on the west coast for reasons which are not made clear. Needed more focus on the key protagonists and the city of Detroit, and a less rigorous structure, but well worth reading anyway if you love Motown music.
billynev's review
informative
medium-paced
4.25
An excellently informative account of a tumultous year in soul history. Cosgrove’s finest skill is the way he manages to evoke the atmosphere of the specific time and place of Detroit in 1967. The descriptions are precise, the different plots he outlines - from the Supremes’ break-up to the police persecution of the city’s counterculture movement - are interesting, sometimes even riveting. The chapters on the Detroit riot and its aftermath are superb.
As well written as it is, the pace varies and a few chapters which describe the relationship between the three Supremes and that of other actors within the Motown machine can be a bit of a slog. However, mostly it is an excellent read and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in music history.
As well written as it is, the pace varies and a few chapters which describe the relationship between the three Supremes and that of other actors within the Motown machine can be a bit of a slog. However, mostly it is an excellent read and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in music history.
robreads123's review
informative
slow-paced
2.75
The first thing I have to say is that this book was extremely slow paced. At times I felt like I was reading the same things over again. Partly due to the fact that the book is non-fiction(not my favourite) when I wasn’t reading it I had little to no motivation to pick it up.
I feel the author has bias against Florence Ballard and at times whilst what I was reading corresponded with slight anti-police, anti-establishment views the subtle wording made me think the Cosgrove thinks differently.
On the other hand this book does provide an informative insight into the year of 1967 with regards to Motown. The parts that I thought were best written were not actually about the Motown empire but the life of Detroit and the riots. Those passages were the most captivating.
I gave this only 3 stars as I enjoyed it but the biggest flaw for me was the slow paced style and how it didn’t make me excited to read it.
I feel the author has bias against Florence Ballard and at times whilst what I was reading corresponded with slight anti-police, anti-establishment views the subtle wording made me think the Cosgrove thinks differently.
On the other hand this book does provide an informative insight into the year of 1967 with regards to Motown. The parts that I thought were best written were not actually about the Motown empire but the life of Detroit and the riots. Those passages were the most captivating.
I gave this only 3 stars as I enjoyed it but the biggest flaw for me was the slow paced style and how it didn’t make me excited to read it.
aoife_brown's review
2.0
2.5/5
When the women in this book disagree Cosgrove describes them as ‘bickering’ or ‘bitching’, whereas the males are ‘bulls locking horns’ -eye roll-
The word ‘quixotic’ is also massively overused, but apart from that this was enjoyable.
When the women in this book disagree Cosgrove describes them as ‘bickering’ or ‘bitching’, whereas the males are ‘bulls locking horns’ -eye roll-
The word ‘quixotic’ is also massively overused, but apart from that this was enjoyable.
More...