The Vinyl Underground
It’s my turn on The Vinyl Underground by Rob Rufus Book Tour hosted by TBR and Beyond Tours.
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About the Book
Title: The Vinyl Underground
Author: Rob Rufus
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publishing Date: March 20, 2020
Find it Here:
Dig it.
During the tumultuous year of 1968, four teens are drawn together: Ronnie Bingham, who is grieving his brother’s death in Vietnam; Milo, Ronnie’s bookish best friend; “Ramrod,” a star athlete who is secretly avoiding the draft; and Hana, the new girl, a half-Japanese badass rock-n-roller whose presence doesn’t sit well with their segregated high school.
The four outcasts find sanctuary in “The Vinyl Underground,” a record club where they spin music, joke, debate, and escape the stifling norms of their small southern town. But Ronnie’s eighteenth birthday is looming. Together, they hatch a plan to keep Ronnie from being drafted. But when a horrific act of racial-charged violence rocks the gang to their core, they decide it’s time for an epic act of rebellion.
Content Warning: Racial violence and harassment, grief, drug use, underage drinking
Review for The Vinyl Underground
The cover and title intrigued me enough to pick up the book. The description pulled me to read it as I feel the Vietnam War has been a taboo subject. I wanted to learn more about life in America at this time in history.
Told from four distinct perspectives, the author did a great job laying out the story for the reader to form their own opinions. It started a bit slow but soon ramped up to full speed. I can’t imagine being a guy in the late 60’s and knowing the draft is waiting to claim your future. Ronnie, is on the brink of being eighteen and has lost his brother to the war. What would you do?
The rampant racism of the times is broached head on with no sugar on it. In all honesty, it made me sick, but it’s another part of history we can learn from. The author has a way of spinning words to form a beautiful melody and to pull at your heartstrings. I’m grateful for the chance to have read this book.
About the Author
Rob Rufus is a musician and writer living in Nashville. His band, Blacklist Royals, has released two full-length albums and played in sixteen countries over the past five years. His new project, The Bad Signs, released their first single in 2015. He is the author of Die Young with Me.
Find him here: Website – Twitter – Goodreads
The Vinyl Underground Tour Schedule
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