Rare Singles
'A heartwarming summer read' independent.co.uk
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4.0 • 5 Ratings
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
A warm, tender and funny story about unlikely friendships, second chances, and the magic of soul music
'A book of rare charm by a writer who understands the magic of music' Ian Rankin
'An entertaining tale of grit, fecklessness and Northern Soul' Daily Telegraph
'The book you didn't know you need' Bobby Palmer
'A tale of soul music and second chances' Guardian
'The laureate of friendship, a chronicler of unexpected, transformative connection' Wendy Erskine
'A meditation on grief, love, and the redemptive power of music' Observer
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A warm, tender and funny story about unlikely friendships, second chances, and the magic of soul music
'A book of rare charm by a writer who understands the magic of music' Ian Rankin
'An entertaining tale of grit, fecklessness and Northern Soul' Daily Telegraph
'The book you didn't know you need' Bobby Palmer
'A tale of soul music and second chances' Guardian
'The laureate of friendship, a chronicler of unexpected, transformative connection' Wendy Erskine
'A meditation on grief, love, and the redemptive power of music' Observer
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Dinah has always lived in Scarborough. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, her one release comes at her town's Northern Soul nights, where she gets to lose herself in the classics.
Over in Chicago, Bucky Bronco has been down on his luck since the loss of his beloved Maybellene. The best he can hope for is to make ends meet, and try and stay high. But then an invitation arrives, from someone he's never met, to come to somewhere he's never heard of. In need of the cash, Bucky boards a plane.
And so he finds himself in rainy Scarborough, where everyone seems to know who he is - preparing to play for an audience for the first time in nearly half a century...
Wise, hilarious and profound, Rare Singles is an unforgettable story about the power of music and friendship to bring us back to ourselves.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Rare Singles by novelist and music writer Benjamin Myers is an accomplished portrait of grief and resilience. Set during a music festival in the seaside town of Scarborough, England, it intertwines the story of Bucky Bronco, an ageing soul musician who hasn’t played music in years, and Dinah, his local chaperone and longtime fan. Dinah, worn down by her own life, spurs Bucky’s journey back to his music, bringing him fresh enthusiasm and unwavering support. The novel’s connection to soul music, with its expressions of sorrow and joy, echoes throughout the book, and the festival setting provides a beautiful background for sharing these two characters’ stories. The prose is rich and immersive, with long, flowing, almost lyrical sentences, and the novel thrums with rhythm. Myers’ ability to connect setting, character, and emotion makes this novel a standout.
