BOOK INFO: The Vinyl Underground by Rob Rufus. GENRE: Young Adult Contemporary. PUBLISHING DATE: March 20, 2020.
SYNOPSIS: 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.
MY REVIEW:
The Vinyl Underground is a story set in 1968 about a group of four unlikely friends brought together by their shared love for music and their desire to challenge the societal norms. Ronnie Bingham, still mourning the death of his brother in Vietnam, finds solace and companionship with Milo, his bookish best friend. They are joined by Ramrod, a skilled athlete secretly avoiding the draft, and Hana, a half-Japanese rock-n-roller who refuses to conform to the racial segregation in their high school. Together, these four outcasts seek refuge in The Vinyl Underground, a record club where they can escape the stifling realities of their lives and immerse themselves in the transformative power of music. As they spin records, joke, debate, and share their passion for music, The Vinyl Underground becomes more than just a club — it becomes their sanctuary. The Vinyl Underground provides a gripping narrative that captures the essence of rebellion and camaraderie during a pivotal time in our history. As the tumultuous events of 1968 unfold, The Vinyl Underground explores themes of grief, friendship, and the desire for change. This book moved me with its raw depiction of the struggles and aspirations of these four teenagers in a divided society. Drawing inspiration from historical events, Rob Rufus crafts a compelling story that resonates with readers despite the passage of time. The Vinyl Underground delves into the inner contradictions of rock music during this era, where it served as both a commercial product and a symbol of countercultural resistance. The influence of popular music as a means of communication and rebellion among the younger generation is evident throughout the story, one that rarely explored in such depth.
You’ve gotta figure out the world around you if you ever want to figure out your place in it, man.” This quote captures the essence of The Vinyl Underground because it highlights the central theme of self-discovery and navigating one’s identity within a tumultuous time in history. This raw and compelling story captivated my attention from beginning to end. The first few pages of the book were a bit slow for my taste, but once the story picked up, I became fully immersed in the lives of Ronnie, Milo, Ramrod, and Hana. Not only was this book evocative and powerfully written, but it’s also a strong testament to the transformative power of change in our society. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves the Fiction and Historial Fiction genre.
I rate this book: 🪷🪷🪷🪷.
BOOK LINKS:
GoodReads.
Amazon.
Barnes & Noble.
IndieBound.
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.
AUTHOR LINKS:
WEBSITE.
TWITTER.
GoodReads.
SYNOPSIS: 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.
MY REVIEW:
The Vinyl Underground is a story set in 1968 about a group of four unlikely friends brought together by their shared love for music and their desire to challenge the societal norms. Ronnie Bingham, still mourning the death of his brother in Vietnam, finds solace and companionship with Milo, his bookish best friend. They are joined by Ramrod, a skilled athlete secretly avoiding the draft, and Hana, a half-Japanese rock-n-roller who refuses to conform to the racial segregation in their high school. Together, these four outcasts seek refuge in The Vinyl Underground, a record club where they can escape the stifling realities of their lives and immerse themselves in the transformative power of music. As they spin records, joke, debate, and share their passion for music, The Vinyl Underground becomes more than just a club — it becomes their sanctuary. The Vinyl Underground provides a gripping narrative that captures the essence of rebellion and camaraderie during a pivotal time in our history. As the tumultuous events of 1968 unfold, The Vinyl Underground explores themes of grief, friendship, and the desire for change. This book moved me with its raw depiction of the struggles and aspirations of these four teenagers in a divided society. Drawing inspiration from historical events, Rob Rufus crafts a compelling story that resonates with readers despite the passage of time. The Vinyl Underground delves into the inner contradictions of rock music during this era, where it served as both a commercial product and a symbol of countercultural resistance. The influence of popular music as a means of communication and rebellion among the younger generation is evident throughout the story, one that rarely explored in such depth.
You’ve gotta figure out the world around you if you ever want to figure out your place in it, man.” This quote captures the essence of The Vinyl Underground because it highlights the central theme of self-discovery and navigating one’s identity within a tumultuous time in history. This raw and compelling story captivated my attention from beginning to end. The first few pages of the book were a bit slow for my taste, but once the story picked up, I became fully immersed in the lives of Ronnie, Milo, Ramrod, and Hana. Not only was this book evocative and powerfully written, but it’s also a strong testament to the transformative power of change in our society. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves the Fiction and Historial Fiction genre.
I rate this book: 🪷🪷🪷🪷.
BOOK LINKS:
GoodReads.
Amazon.
Barnes & Noble.
IndieBound.
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.
AUTHOR LINKS:
WEBSITE.
TWITTER.
GoodReads.
My Bookish Ways 
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