Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
15th out of 25 books
—
3 voters
Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory
Pitch Perfect is a behind-the-scenes look at the bizarre, often inspiring world of collegiate a cappella groups.The first collegiate a cappella group, the Yale Whiffenpoofs, was founded by Cole Porter back in 1909. But what had been largely an Ivy League phenomenon has, in the past fifteen years, exploded. And it's not what you think. There are now more than 1,200 a cappel...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
May 29th 2008
by Gotham
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,434)
This book was acca-awesome! When I discovered that Pitch Perfect the movie came from this book I just knew I had to read it! I love a good non-fiction book that reads like fiction. If you love to know "behind-the-scenes" details then this is a great book for you. Not only did I love how it was told, each group (UVA's Hullabahoos, U of Oregon's Divisi and Tuft's Beelzebubs) got a chapter that related to their part of the shared journey. I read a review that said it was hard to follow, but if you'...more
Go ahead, make all the fun of me you want, I love a cappella. It's probably my mom's fault, she loved Broadway musicals and I grew up knowing all the lyrics to My Fair Lady and Oklahoma and, yes, The Music Man, where Professor Harold Hill keeps seducing the town council away from their duty into four-part harmony. I loved the Spike Lee documentary about a cappella, too. So it follows that I loved Pitch Perfect, that great little 2012 film about two collegiate a cappella teams, one all-boy, one a...more
I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did.
As someone who sang a cappella in college, and who's been a fan of collegiate a cappella since being introduced to it at around the age of ten, I was easily caught up in the book's first several chapters, which introduce the featured groups and delve a bit into the history and cultural relevance of collegiate a cappella.
Ultimately, though, the book didn't sustain my interest. I found Rapkin's authorial voice to be inappropriately sly and sm...more
As someone who sang a cappella in college, and who's been a fan of collegiate a cappella since being introduced to it at around the age of ten, I was easily caught up in the book's first several chapters, which introduce the featured groups and delve a bit into the history and cultural relevance of collegiate a cappella.
Ultimately, though, the book didn't sustain my interest. I found Rapkin's authorial voice to be inappropriately sly and sm...more
The Deal:
Pitch Perfect follows 3 college A Capella groups through one collegiate season as each tries to do... something.
Divisi, an all-female group from the University of Oregon is trying to prove that they belong as one of the nation's elite college groups after a crushing loss in nationals and the exodus of their core singers.
The Hullabahoos, an all male group from University of Virginia, is trying to get drunk (a lot) and sing at a Lakers game.
And the Beelzebubs, an all male group from Tuft...more
Pitch Perfect follows 3 college A Capella groups through one collegiate season as each tries to do... something.
Divisi, an all-female group from the University of Oregon is trying to prove that they belong as one of the nation's elite college groups after a crushing loss in nationals and the exodus of their core singers.
The Hullabahoos, an all male group from University of Virginia, is trying to get drunk (a lot) and sing at a Lakers game.
And the Beelzebubs, an all male group from Tuft...more
Rapkin's book "Theater Geek" about the Stagedoor Manor theatre camp is truly one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read...inspiring. Perhaps if my background were in collegiate a cappella instead of theatre, I'd feel the same about "Pitch Perfect." The structure is nearly identical: three intimate, current case studies interspersed with well-written big picture history lessons. It's a structure that may or may not work with a lessor storyteller, but Rapkin is simultaneously an excellent st...more
Perusing my non-fiction selections, it's clear I enjoy reading about geeks, cults, and the fringe groups of society. LARPers. Scientologists. Mormons. So a book about the dishy underbelly of competitive collegiate a cappella groups? I'm sold!
The recent movie Pitch Perfect borrowed its premise from this book, and a few of its characters seem to have be lifted right from these pages. (alas, no Fat Amy). Rapkin takes readers into the world of three different groups from varying college campuses, a...more
The recent movie Pitch Perfect borrowed its premise from this book, and a few of its characters seem to have be lifted right from these pages. (alas, no Fat Amy). Rapkin takes readers into the world of three different groups from varying college campuses, a...more
Jill is The Best for finding this book for me. My knowledge of a cappella is limited to 3 seasons of the Sing-Off, a few college friends in groups (including AVP from UVA!), and a friend of a friend knowing the guys from Straight No Chaser.
So I was DELIGHTED to see that a cappella drama is as ridiculous as I had hoped. All of the overwrought interviews from the Sing Off aren't just made for TV. Glorious!
This book follows several groups through an academic year and a capella season. The book trie...more
So I was DELIGHTED to see that a cappella drama is as ridiculous as I had hoped. All of the overwrought interviews from the Sing Off aren't just made for TV. Glorious!
This book follows several groups through an academic year and a capella season. The book trie...more
My hopes where high for this book. I heard how good the movie was (still on my to-view list, but pretty high up there!) so my expectations for the book the movie was based on were pretty high. The book was meh. I am not going to hold the movie against it, but I will say to all the fans out there, don't bother. It was too clicky. It was too "rich boy". It was too college, and not the type of college books I enjoy reading about. The girls part was probably the best, because it's a major growth ind...more
Movie was much better than the book
This well paced non-fiction book about three college a cappella groups was a fun and breezy read. The movie could be argued to have loosely used Divisi, the only all women group profile, as the basis for the movie.
The two other groups, Beezlebubs and Hullabaloos, are all male and better known in the world of a cappella. It's a bit difficult to keep track of all the members in the groups (except Divisi whose members have much more interesting personal problems than just juggling the singing group...more
The two other groups, Beezlebubs and Hullabaloos, are all male and better known in the world of a cappella. It's a bit difficult to keep track of all the members in the groups (except Divisi whose members have much more interesting personal problems than just juggling the singing group...more
Interesting reading about Collegiate A Cappella. I liked that Mickey Rapkin wrote each chapter to primarily focus on one group, with a little over lapping, so that the different groups wouldn't just muddle together. It is interesting to learn that unlike other activities that people are involved in during college and then use when applying for careers after graduation that being a member of an a cappella group is forgotten about and not really spoken about after graduation. This is the second bo...more
view all 4 comments
It was interesting in parts, but other parts I felt like it went off and didn't make sense. I felt like I learned a lot about collegiate a cappella, and I actually found it fascinating even though I'm not a singer or performer.
I wouldn't recommend this book, but I'm glad I stumbled upon it because now I have a large playlist of a cappella groups that I wouldn't have known about had I not read this book.
Also, the book is nothing like the movie; I didn't read the description before I purchased...more
I wouldn't recommend this book, but I'm glad I stumbled upon it because now I have a large playlist of a cappella groups that I wouldn't have known about had I not read this book.
Also, the book is nothing like the movie; I didn't read the description before I purchased...more
Pitch Perfect tells the story of three collegiate a cappella groups and so much more. Rapkin gives you a behind the scenes look at the competitions, the history of the music, and if there’s a cappella life after college. He also tells the story of the students in the groups and how it impacts the music, the gigs, and the group as a whole. You don’t fully appreciate what an industry this is until Rapkin takes you on this journey.
My only complaint was the gender break down. Co-ed groups are just a...more
My only complaint was the gender break down. Co-ed groups are just a...more
As a preface, I spent more of my college career rehearsing, performing, and embracing college a cappella than doing anything else. I was in two group during my undergrad career, been to a cappella conventions, and have spent innumerable hours watching/reading/listening/researching a cappella. That being said...
When this book was first announced, I said to myself, "Oh my god, this is going to be the best book ever! College a cappella?! That's, like, totally me!" While this was a book about colleg...more
When this book was first announced, I said to myself, "Oh my god, this is going to be the best book ever! College a cappella?! That's, like, totally me!" While this was a book about colleg...more
Okay... so let me preface this review by noting that I did not purchase this book. In fact, it was a birthday present from the glorious Becky Hammer who suffered through at least a dozen a cappella concerts on my behalf throughout our four years in college, so she can buy my whatever books she damn well pleases.
So Pitch Perfect, written by a witty guy who does some neat magazine work, uncovers the seedy underbelly of collegiate a cappella. He does this by interweaving the story of three groups...more
So Pitch Perfect, written by a witty guy who does some neat magazine work, uncovers the seedy underbelly of collegiate a cappella. He does this by interweaving the story of three groups...more
I've been going through a spell of reading journalism. It happens that way sometimes. I'll read three or four books, on ants or earthworms or rats or corpses, then move on to glut myself on fiction, for a while.
The quality of long-form journalistic non-fiction varies; the author is usually competent, at least, but many writers can't resist the impulse to insert themselves into the narrative, as if they are Hunter S. Thompson, only (far, far) less interesting. This was a problem in both "Bringin...more
The quality of long-form journalistic non-fiction varies; the author is usually competent, at least, but many writers can't resist the impulse to insert themselves into the narrative, as if they are Hunter S. Thompson, only (far, far) less interesting. This was a problem in both "Bringin...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
8/6/10-This book is interesting in its approach - switching between 3 a cappella groups and then a cappella history each chapter. I can admit that I didn't really like that. The book was interesting and clever, but I grew tired of most of the college drinking antics and sexual escapades that were so heavily embedded in the story (especially about the 2 male groups). I was most interested in the female group Divisi and their story. I skipped whole chapters about the arguing and politics of the a...more
Given how much I adored the movie, I was hoping to like this book a lot more than I did. I was the most enchanted with the chapters on Divisi, but rapidly lost interest in the Beezlebubs and the Hullabahoos as the book progressed. I really would have liked to see more on the Divisi Divas and I imagine they could have had a whole book to themselves if some chapters had been fleshed out. They definitely had the best story as well as the heart that was seemingly lacking in the other groups' stories...more
Definitely a nice wave of a cappella nostalgia. Somehow I got it into my head that this book was supposed to be fall-out-of-your-chair-hilarious, and while it was amusing, it was definitely more informative than anything else. It provides a lot of background info to those who don't know much about a college a cappella culture, which was cool for me, since my experience of a cappella was pretty much limited to my own group. I never knew much about the movers and shakers within the subculture.
Anne...more
Anne...more
Pretty good sportswriting, though I would have liked to read more technical explanations of how harmony effects are achieved, how beatboxing works, and how the art of a capella has developed, as well as how the lesser groups train inexperienced singers to do harmony. The contest narrative and emotional ups and downs got a bit tedious. I was struck by his observation that this is a form of college pop stardom, starring your classmates.
Ugh. So wanted this to be good. It has all the ingredients for a cracking non-fiction read, but the author's voice ruined the experience. Strange tense shifts mid-chapter, a snide, smug tone, and the most jarring and inappropriate remarks and asides (for example: "he was handsome - the kind of guy even your dad would want to sleep with." I mean what???!?). If it was written better I would have finished this.
As an a cappella singer and follower, I'm finding this book quite fascinating -- particularly since I've seen the Bubs a number of times in concert and have their amazing CD, "Code Red." Very interesting finding familiar names, arrangers whose songs my group has sung -- and kind of following the history behind the modern collegiate a cappella world. If you're into a cappella, this could be a "must read."
I liked the movie so I was curious about the book... eh. This book was the perfect "right before bed" book because it was interesting enough to want to read, but not so interesting that it kept me up all night wanting to finish it. If you're interested in reading about college a cappella, read this. If you are looking for a book about the movie, this isn't it.
This started out as a fun read and then dragged by the end. If you are feeling nostalgic for collegiate a cappella (and I do tune into my favorite W&M group's webpage from time to time for an a cappella fix) you'll probably find this book interesting until about page 150 and then it delves into details about a cappella than you ever really needed to know. Did I need to know the minutia about how a venture capitalist former a cappella singer tried to corner the marked on providing arrangement...more
Love this!
I've seen the movie and it doesn't disappoint. Reading the book made me wonder how the numbers were performed, the rivalry between the Troubles and the Bellas and I was left wanting more. Gotta say, it's definitely one of those books that you shouldn't judge by the cover. This was like rotting away in my shelf and I didn't know it was that good!
I've seen the movie and it doesn't disappoint. Reading the book made me wonder how the numbers were performed, the rivalry between the Troubles and the Bellas and I was left wanting more. Gotta say, it's definitely one of those books that you shouldn't judge by the cover. This was like rotting away in my shelf and I didn't know it was that good!
Apr 03, 2013
Erica
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
checked-out-from-the-library
Non-fiction is not my favorite genre, but I love the movie so much, I wanted to read the book. The book is enjoyable and reads like non-fiction, and you can see where some of the movie plot came from, but where in the movie the different groups interact, in the book, the different groups are described separately, which didn't excite me as much.
Having started my own a cappella group at the high school at which I teachthis book gives insight into how things work at the collegiate level. While the author talks some about the musical aspect of the groups in questionthe book is more about the members' life stories and how they affect the performance of the group. Very compelling.
Aug 29, 2012
Heather
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who find youthful douchebaggery endearing
Recommended to Heather by:
book club
Shelves:
kindle,
nonfiction-or-memoir
Two words: So what?
Ooh, douchebaggy college students engage in an extracurricular activity that has extramural competition and a social component. What daring breaking of ground.
Also, in a description of a fight about to happen, "Although he was openly gay, this wasn't the kind of man-on-man action he was after"? Ferchrissake.
Ooh, douchebaggy college students engage in an extracurricular activity that has extramural competition and a social component. What daring breaking of ground.
Also, in a description of a fight about to happen, "Although he was openly gay, this wasn't the kind of man-on-man action he was after"? Ferchrissake.
Oddly riveting for a book about a cappella. Gotta admit I'm obsessed with the movie. This is a good read if you like the movie, ever sang a cappella, ever wondered what a cappella was all about, or like those long Vanity Fair articles that go really in-depth into a certain world.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
