memoir, nonfiction
I'm a big fan of Cameron Crowe's. I think his story of being a
successful teenage rock journalist, as portrayed in his movie and
musical, Almost Famous, is fascinating and he has written some of my
favorite movies, so I was eager to read The Uncool and learn more about his life from his
perspective.
Ultimately though, I'm not sure what to think and I wonder if that's because, at the end of this memoir, Crowe also seems to still be searching for a larger meaning. A lot of this memoir seems to skate along the surface of the events of his life. It's a catalog of really remarkable events that he witnessed and was a part of, particularly as a young rock journalist and witness to some of the best bands of the 70s, 80s and beyond as they trusted him to tell their stories on the pages of Rolling Stone. What did these musicians see in this teenager that got him in the door? I wish that had been explored more deeply. Instead there was a lot of, "I went to this town, saw this band while they played these songs and these other cool people were there." And that's pretty much how the first 3/4 of the book goes. Interesting, but not riveting.
It gets a little more interesting when Crowe talks about his family dynamic which is woven throughout the book. The relationship between his parents and siblings, his own difficulty at school being a smart kid who skipped multiple grades, the mental health struggles within his household, the love of music shared between his siblings and how his mother eventually grew to accept music and his love for it were packed with an emotional punch. I also enjoyed learning more about his films; I would have liked to read more about each of them.
Overall, there is some good stuff in The Uncool, but also a lot of navel gazing. I expect navel gazing in a memoir, but there was more here than usual. Fans of 70s rock will find some interesting stories and the makings of a great playlist. I was adding songs to an Uncool playlist as I read through the book and listened to it as I read, which may end up being my favorite parting gift from any book this year.
Thanks to Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. The Uncool will be published on October 28, 2025.
Ultimately though, I'm not sure what to think and I wonder if that's because, at the end of this memoir, Crowe also seems to still be searching for a larger meaning. A lot of this memoir seems to skate along the surface of the events of his life. It's a catalog of really remarkable events that he witnessed and was a part of, particularly as a young rock journalist and witness to some of the best bands of the 70s, 80s and beyond as they trusted him to tell their stories on the pages of Rolling Stone. What did these musicians see in this teenager that got him in the door? I wish that had been explored more deeply. Instead there was a lot of, "I went to this town, saw this band while they played these songs and these other cool people were there." And that's pretty much how the first 3/4 of the book goes. Interesting, but not riveting.
It gets a little more interesting when Crowe talks about his family dynamic which is woven throughout the book. The relationship between his parents and siblings, his own difficulty at school being a smart kid who skipped multiple grades, the mental health struggles within his household, the love of music shared between his siblings and how his mother eventually grew to accept music and his love for it were packed with an emotional punch. I also enjoyed learning more about his films; I would have liked to read more about each of them.
Overall, there is some good stuff in The Uncool, but also a lot of navel gazing. I expect navel gazing in a memoir, but there was more here than usual. Fans of 70s rock will find some interesting stories and the makings of a great playlist. I was adding songs to an Uncool playlist as I read through the book and listened to it as I read, which may end up being my favorite parting gift from any book this year.
Thanks to Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. The Uncool will be published on October 28, 2025.
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