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Stations of the Cross: A Musical Novel of Obsession

Robert Dunn (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 5 ratings · 3 reviews

Legendary singer-songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dyson Burnette has been living in New York City for the last 10 years waiting for inspiration. One spring day, he decides to travel back to Los Parques, the Mexican town where he found his true self 40 years earlier at age 18, and immediately becomes infatuated with lovely young school teacher Serena Rodri ...more

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Paperback, 236 pages

Published June 1st 2013 by Coral Press (first published January 1st 2013)

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May 31, 2013 Kasandra rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book in a Goodreads First-Reads giveaway. As a big fan of music, in particular the foundations of Rock'N'Roll, I enjoyed reading this story. Imagine a Singer Songwriter whose music and writing styles can be compared to those of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young. Dyson Burnette this the main character, the poetic writer, who over time, loses his ability to write good songs. On a whim he decides to leave his normal NYC life to travel to Mexico, the location where he foun I won this book in a Goodreads First-Reads giveaway. As a big fan of music, in particular the foundations of Rock'N'Roll, I enjoyed reading this story. Imagine a Singer Songwriter whose music and writing styles can be compared to those of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young. Dyson Burnette this the main character, the poetic writer, who over time, loses his ability to write good songs. On a whim he decides to leave his normal NYC life to travel to Mexico, the location where he found himself to kick-start his entire music career. Dyson comes across a young woman who reminds him of his first love and the song he wrote but forgot. Inspiration strikes again as he decides to recreate this song.

The book in almost entirely in Dyson's head, there is not a ton of dialogue in the book. You get to see him dip on the verge of insanity in parts of the story. He argues with himself, ignores his own advice, continually struggling with himself to write this song. As the story progresses verse after verse appear but it is not as though Dyson interprets or explains his lyrics, they pour out, he accepts them and realizes he has no control over the meaning behind the song. I was relieved it was not full of interpretations. The majority of conflict is internal. I liked the way Dyson jumped into his work. His guitar being an extension of himself, he didn't sit around coming up with rhymes and lyrics surrounding them.

The bit of Spanish in his was normally translated or reexplained in English (ie a question being asked Dyson would rephrase it in English to himself). There's a few parts regarding chord progression but without any knowledge of music you can get by it without missing anything too crucial (maybe just the tone or some subtext). This is a fairly quick read nothing overly complicated.

If you really like music for the song writing check it out. It's also great if you like books about internal struggle. The biggest annoyance I felt was Spears Munson, the critic. Dyson is rather obsessive about this guy who has made a living writing and critiquing and analyzing Dyson yet he recalls vividly parts of his articles, but scoffs at how close but so wrong Spears is about his life or his work. He even has this incredibly awkward inner monologue of how Spears Munson will critique his new song. Dyson felt real except these parts, he never seems to really care about people viewed him,he prefers being alone or ignored in public, it didn't seem natural for him to be so obsessed over Munson. It doesn't fit. Short of the film Almost Famous take on music critics, it doesn't make any sense that Dyson would care so much about Munson or have his words memorized. Plus Spear Munson's writing was awful! Maybe not the end but it felt extremely fake and while Dyson feels real, it ended up clashing. Despite this hiccup in the story, I enjoyed the book. ...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Winfreda Donald rated it it was amazing

Stations of the Cross
By Robert Dunn
Published by Coral Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-935512-21-9

I received this book as a free copy through Library Thing.
This multi-layered story within a changing music industry is brought to teeming life through the experiences of a fictional high profile rock composer and performer. Dyson Burnette is under pressure from his manager to produce a new album, or be dumped by his life-long record company.
Painfully aware of a declining ability to replicate an early effortless Stations of the Cross
By Robert Dunn
Published by Coral Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-935512-21-9

I received this book as a free copy through Library Thing.
This multi-layered story within a changing music industry is brought to teeming life through the experiences of a fictional high profile rock composer and performer. Dyson Burnette is under pressure from his manager to produce a new album, or be dumped by his life-long record company.
Painfully aware of a declining ability to replicate an early effortless and prolific work rate, he feels driven to leave New York. A subconscious urge takes him back to the fading Mexican coastal resort where first love María unleashed his talents forty years previously.
“back then his words came fast as quicksilver, spouting onto the white sheet curled in his typewriter. What would he write about? All the world, and more.”
Amidst the vibrancy, mystery, dark and light, recognised sameness and difference in this community Dyson’s troubled reflections unravel the power and source of his original inspiration, as he seeks to reignite the muse and produce a new song for an album. The new rendering of Stations of the Cross will be for himself – “a song about the mystery, how little we know, how when we need shape and beauty most, they elude us—dance beyond us in . . . mysterious ways’. The original version meant for María had become lost in smoke.
Dyson, with his small travel guitar, and in fits and starts of despair, elation and arrogance, composes his new song – verse by agonising verse.
All the while readers are taken on a breathless journey, as Dyson’s feverish recollections alternate between his past international successes and the phantom connection with a beautiful young teacher as he struggles towards the fourteenth and final verse.
I highly recommend this book for its engaging portrait of a complex character, immersion in the atmosphere of an unknown place, and the lyrical prose. It is a story for musicians, artists of all kinds, anyone with an interest in creativity or the nostalgia of looking back.
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May 13, 2013 Melissa Herston rated it really liked it

In compliance with FTC guidelines; I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Stations of the Cross: A Musical Novel of Obsession was an interesting glance into a world many people have no idea about.

The story had wonderful musical references that are easily recognisable no matter how young or old you are. They tie in great to the main characters back story and are believable. They give the story a unique flare and are fun to read.

The main character is not always easy to relate t ...more

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About Robert Dunn

Robert Dunn

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Robert Dunn is a writer, teacher, and musician. He has published widely, including work in the New Yorker and an O. Henry Prize story, as well as the musical novels Pink Cadillac (a Book Sense 76 pick), Cutting Time, Soul Cavalcade, Meet the Annas, Look at Flower, and Stations of the Cross.

Dunn has worked for the New Yorker magazine and Sports Illustrated, as well as teaching fiction writing at ...more