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1969: A Brief And Beautiful Trip Back
Take a trip down the rabbit hole without ever leaving the comfort of your living room… This is a novel in which history meets science fiction and psychedelics meet spirituality through a seamless blend of fact and fantasy. 1969: A Brief and Beautiful Trip Back is one girl’s account of her fantastic and unique experience of the hippie counterculture and how it changed her and those around her for the rest of their lives. From a run-of-the-mill existence in the ultra-conservative town of Fresno, California, formerly naïve teenager and rock devotee Rhiannon Karlson takes the trip of a lifetime after a drug dealer sells her a particularly potent and mysterious substance, sparking her unparalleled journey of soul-searching, consciousness-expansion, and unyielding search for the Truth. The rest, you may say, is history.
571 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 8, 2021
It’s 1999 and teenager Rhiannon Karlson is at constant odds with her Mother, Meredith, whose outlook on life could not be more different. Her Father, George, although an interestingly eccentric character mentally dropped out years ago and provides little support. Rhiannon’s sole enjoyment comes from playing drums with her friends in their band, The Descendants. On the eve of the band’s big break in San Francisco, she takes a decision that will see her travel back thirty years…
1969: A Brief And Beautiful Trip Back is a work of staggering creativity, insight and historical depth. It is difficult to digest that this is a debut and also that Ms Gudinski was not present during the late 60s. Rhiannon and her friends are typically disenfranchised late teens but the writing is so accomplished that you sense this read is going to be elevated far about the normal coming of age fiction. Despite not being present for the majority of the book, her 90s friends are clearly realised and the dialogue is convincing. Rhiannon, as central character is both vulnerable and slightly emotionally aloof at this stage. Then, we travel back to 1969. Rhiannon finds herself as drummer with The Day Trippers, an original band who eventually find themselves in Los Angeles on the cusp of fame. The band members, Mary-Jane, Space, Billy, Bobby, Al and their muse, Faye, are brilliantly and singularly portrayed. Al, in particular, gives some fundamentally intelligent and penetrating observations on the human condition and Rhiannon’s development is authentic and nuanced. She enters 1969 as a bewildered, one note teenager and emerges as a damaged yet ultimately rounded young woman. Ms Gudinski’s understanding of the 60s counterculture and its fundamental ethos is astounding and only matched by the creativity and profundity of her prose.
There are many books that encompass beat generation/counter culture wannabes and their psychedelic adventures, but this book, while giving the reader that hallucinatory and esoteric narrative, is also concerned with bestowing the experience rather than simply reading it.
Further, not only do we embrace all the lovely, shimmering elements of the hippie ideology without it being cliched and soppy; the reader is slowly made aware by creeping conflict and foreboding of the darkness that unfortunately undermined this ideology. The unravelling of Bobby is one of the most relentlessly awful and brutally visceral written descents into drug addiction that I have read.
Ms Gudinski pitches the 60s timing so that we encompass the moon landing, Woodstock, The Manson Family and Altamont providing, as it did, the violent end to the 60s and its flower power, peace and love philosophy. These are not just tacked on events but explored and interwoven in a really intelligent, knowledgeable manner. The Day Trippers journey to Woodstock in The Trips Mobile is brilliant and where the book is strongest. Her description of Woodstock; it’s music, effects and consequences are so immersive and immediate. Personally, I did think when Rhiannon ‘lands’ in 1969, the narrative lost a little pace and plot for a while which did make the book a shade overlong; Rhiannon’s stream of consciousness riffs can become a touch repetitive. I was also not entirely comfortable with the end twist involving Meredith although I thought it worked well in regard to Al and the conclusion was amusingly clever.
1969: A Brief And Beautiful Trip Back is a rich and vivid work from a writer of outstanding ability and imagination. Highly recommended.
1969: A Brief And Beautiful Trip Back is a work of staggering creativity, insight and historical depth. It is difficult to digest that this is a debut and also that Ms Gudinski was not present during the late 60s. Rhiannon and her friends are typically disenfranchised late teens but the writing is so accomplished that you sense this read is going to be elevated far about the normal coming of age fiction. Despite not being present for the majority of the book, her 90s friends are clearly realised and the dialogue is convincing. Rhiannon, as central character is both vulnerable and slightly emotionally aloof at this stage. Then, we travel back to 1969. Rhiannon finds herself as drummer with The Day Trippers, an original band who eventually find themselves in Los Angeles on the cusp of fame. The band members, Mary-Jane, Space, Billy, Bobby, Al and their muse, Faye, are brilliantly and singularly portrayed. Al, in particular, gives some fundamentally intelligent and penetrating observations on the human condition and Rhiannon’s development is authentic and nuanced. She enters 1969 as a bewildered, one note teenager and emerges as a damaged yet ultimately rounded young woman. Ms Gudinski’s understanding of the 60s counterculture and its fundamental ethos is astounding and only matched by the creativity and profundity of her prose.
There are many books that encompass beat generation/counter culture wannabes and their psychedelic adventures, but this book, while giving the reader that hallucinatory and esoteric narrative, is also concerned with bestowing the experience rather than simply reading it.
Further, not only do we embrace all the lovely, shimmering elements of the hippie ideology without it being cliched and soppy; the reader is slowly made aware by creeping conflict and foreboding of the darkness that unfortunately undermined this ideology. The unravelling of Bobby is one of the most relentlessly awful and brutally visceral written descents into drug addiction that I have read.
Ms Gudinski pitches the 60s timing so that we encompass the moon landing, Woodstock, The Manson Family and Altamont providing, as it did, the violent end to the 60s and its flower power, peace and love philosophy. These are not just tacked on events but explored and interwoven in a really intelligent, knowledgeable manner. The Day Trippers journey to Woodstock in The Trips Mobile is brilliant and where the book is strongest. Her description of Woodstock; it’s music, effects and consequences are so immersive and immediate. Personally, I did think when Rhiannon ‘lands’ in 1969, the narrative lost a little pace and plot for a while which did make the book a shade overlong; Rhiannon’s stream of consciousness riffs can become a touch repetitive. I was also not entirely comfortable with the end twist involving Meredith although I thought it worked well in regard to Al and the conclusion was amusingly clever.
1969: A Brief And Beautiful Trip Back is a rich and vivid work from a writer of outstanding ability and imagination. Highly recommended.
November 1, 2020
Time travel, drugs, rock and roll, bad choices, more bad choices, journeying around the west coast and figuring how to trip back to the current 2000’s is what this hefty book is all about. The story of a girl on the brink of adulthood, yet still being treated like a child by her mother takes a long trip into the past. A time when life my have seemed easier and more carefree. No technology and every move being recorded or publicized online like it is now.
Rhiannon dreams of making it big someday, she loves the older 60’s music and often wonders what it would have been like to have lived during that time,1969 in particular. Being a hippie sounds exciting to her. Rhiannon and her band catch a scouts attention and he them to come San Francisco. In celebration, they go looking for some drugs. A dealer gives her some mysterious crystal and she decides to hold this back until a later time. No need to do everything they scored.
As usual, her mother and her are at each other’s throats and Rhiannon decides this crystal is just what she needs to take the edge off. She thought she overdosed and died. Where the hell is she? How did she get to San Fran and in her own car? And she is surrounded by a group of hippies, HIPPIES! She certainly died and is in some other realm. Not so far fetched. The year is 1969!
Beyond belief this is happening, it is also found out that there is a band needing a drummer, and who more perfect than her!? They are quite the group of and it does not take long for Rhiannon to be living the drugs and rock ‘n roll scene daily. And of course, you cannot go to 1969 without visiting Woodstock, but all seems to change with the band after that event.
All hell seems to break loose and it is one bad episode after another with the band, as each member decides if they want to call it quits. Maybe 1969 wasn’t so great after all. Drug overdoses, abuse, stealing, more drugs, more parties, more sleepless nights. Is this really the life of hippies and rock stars?
Rhiannon realizes that maybe 2000 wasn’t so bad after all, and tries to find a new trip to get back. What got her there in the first place, the crystal. She gets back and it is like time did not move and waited for her. Nothing has changed. But when she gets back home to her mother, she realizes the truth about her, and herself from her little trip.
Her band in current time is starting to repeat some of the same mistakes that the one in 1969 did, and when heroin is found, she is not sure quite what to do, but knows they cannot go down that path. It will not end well, for anyone. With a nudge from someone from the past, she sits them down and tells her story- this bring everything full circle!
This novel was an interesting read. I learned a lot about the different drugs, and what can happen during trips and hallucinations. Albeit it is a fairly large story, it does all seem to come together. A few times it does seem to be a bit monotonous but don’t give up if you enjoy reading about this type of life style. I want to thank the author for sending me a free copy of her book. I enjoyed the trip!
Rhiannon dreams of making it big someday, she loves the older 60’s music and often wonders what it would have been like to have lived during that time,1969 in particular. Being a hippie sounds exciting to her. Rhiannon and her band catch a scouts attention and he them to come San Francisco. In celebration, they go looking for some drugs. A dealer gives her some mysterious crystal and she decides to hold this back until a later time. No need to do everything they scored.
As usual, her mother and her are at each other’s throats and Rhiannon decides this crystal is just what she needs to take the edge off. She thought she overdosed and died. Where the hell is she? How did she get to San Fran and in her own car? And she is surrounded by a group of hippies, HIPPIES! She certainly died and is in some other realm. Not so far fetched. The year is 1969!
Beyond belief this is happening, it is also found out that there is a band needing a drummer, and who more perfect than her!? They are quite the group of and it does not take long for Rhiannon to be living the drugs and rock ‘n roll scene daily. And of course, you cannot go to 1969 without visiting Woodstock, but all seems to change with the band after that event.
All hell seems to break loose and it is one bad episode after another with the band, as each member decides if they want to call it quits. Maybe 1969 wasn’t so great after all. Drug overdoses, abuse, stealing, more drugs, more parties, more sleepless nights. Is this really the life of hippies and rock stars?
Rhiannon realizes that maybe 2000 wasn’t so bad after all, and tries to find a new trip to get back. What got her there in the first place, the crystal. She gets back and it is like time did not move and waited for her. Nothing has changed. But when she gets back home to her mother, she realizes the truth about her, and herself from her little trip.
Her band in current time is starting to repeat some of the same mistakes that the one in 1969 did, and when heroin is found, she is not sure quite what to do, but knows they cannot go down that path. It will not end well, for anyone. With a nudge from someone from the past, she sits them down and tells her story- this bring everything full circle!
This novel was an interesting read. I learned a lot about the different drugs, and what can happen during trips and hallucinations. Albeit it is a fairly large story, it does all seem to come together. A few times it does seem to be a bit monotonous but don’t give up if you enjoy reading about this type of life style. I want to thank the author for sending me a free copy of her book. I enjoyed the trip!
May 29, 2021
Being born in 1970, I obviously have a soft spot for late 60’s stories.
The music was glorious – The Beach Boys, The Mammas and the Papas, The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, The Animals, The Doors, The Temptations, I could go on and on!
I can still remember a lot of the phrases from that era - Make Love not War, Peace, Love Child, Sosh, What a drag, Can you dig it, hang loose….
So much fun taking a walk down memory lane. Which made me extra excited to read 1969 by Sea Gudinski.
This one is a whopper, topping out at over 500 pages! I sometimes drag my feet at picking up a Stephen King book (one of my favorite authors) because those books are so darn big. Nevertheless, I dived in and read pages here and there until I could get to the end.
It was an interesting concept and as I always enjoy books that are a little bit different, so this was a fun exploration for me.
The MC, Rhiannon, is a lot like a normal teenage girl. Rebellious, difficult, making bad decisions, thinks she knows better than every other adult, strained relationship with her parent. You know the type….
Integral parts of the stories revolved around drugs. Taking them, experiences while high, etc. I learned some things about that type of lifestyle reading this book, that’s for sure.
And the main theme of this book is how Rhiannon travels back in time to 1969 after a special high, how her life changes living in 69’ and how she realizes that maybe it’s not all she thought it would be.
Lessons learned, self- realization and re-evaluation of priorities are themes of this story and bring everything all together. It was a fun experience to read this book. My biggest challenge was the sheer length of this book. I think the story could have been shorter and still been just as fun.
Thank you to @sea_gudinski for allowing me to read your book! I so appreciate the opportunity!
The music was glorious – The Beach Boys, The Mammas and the Papas, The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, The Animals, The Doors, The Temptations, I could go on and on!
I can still remember a lot of the phrases from that era - Make Love not War, Peace, Love Child, Sosh, What a drag, Can you dig it, hang loose….
So much fun taking a walk down memory lane. Which made me extra excited to read 1969 by Sea Gudinski.
This one is a whopper, topping out at over 500 pages! I sometimes drag my feet at picking up a Stephen King book (one of my favorite authors) because those books are so darn big. Nevertheless, I dived in and read pages here and there until I could get to the end.
It was an interesting concept and as I always enjoy books that are a little bit different, so this was a fun exploration for me.
The MC, Rhiannon, is a lot like a normal teenage girl. Rebellious, difficult, making bad decisions, thinks she knows better than every other adult, strained relationship with her parent. You know the type….
Integral parts of the stories revolved around drugs. Taking them, experiences while high, etc. I learned some things about that type of lifestyle reading this book, that’s for sure.
And the main theme of this book is how Rhiannon travels back in time to 1969 after a special high, how her life changes living in 69’ and how she realizes that maybe it’s not all she thought it would be.
Lessons learned, self- realization and re-evaluation of priorities are themes of this story and bring everything all together. It was a fun experience to read this book. My biggest challenge was the sheer length of this book. I think the story could have been shorter and still been just as fun.
Thank you to @sea_gudinski for allowing me to read your book! I so appreciate the opportunity!
November 10, 2020
1969: A Brief and Beautiful Trip Back is a great book, (don't be intimidated by its length). You get drawn into Rhiannon's world, no matter the era it currently resides in. Rhiannon is a relatable teenager, at odds with her mother, and trying to find her place in the world while following her dream. If you've never really been into the drug scene you may find parts of this a bit unrelatable. The overall story easily smooths over these parts however, so don't let that stop you from diving into this awesome story!
July 16, 2021
A Fun Read
Not what I expected. Better. An unusual read worth enjoying. Fun, interesting, authentic, affecting. So read it, already. Ok? Ok.
Not what I expected. Better. An unusual read worth enjoying. Fun, interesting, authentic, affecting. So read it, already. Ok? Ok.
March 16, 2021
There comes a time, as a reviewer, when you will cross paths with a book that strikes a dissonant chord with you. On one hand, you can recognize the mastery in the writing, the plot, and characters. Yet, on the other, the damn thing is your antithesis. For me 1969: A Brief and Beautiful Trip Back is just such a book. I am not its target audience. But I can still admire the craft.
Bad decisions. Drugs. And of course, Rock and Roll. It is 1999 and Rhiannon is a throwback to the 60’s music she loves. She’s a drummer who dreams of making it big. And her dreams lead her to – time traveling drugs? It isn’t as silly as it sounds, and what follows is a fantasy-esque jaunt back to 1969, and forward to adulthood.
What Sea Gudinski has created here is a well plotted coming of age story, with masterfully crafted characters. This is a deep take on the counterculture, with a surprising fidelity of research. Rhiannon is awkwardly arrogant, and yet also vulnerable – a poignant mix that just screams teenager but carried forward in a way that is authentic. The rest of the cast is equally realized. The nuisance at play between a supportive but enabling father, a protective yet smothering mother, and her gaggle of old (and newly adopted friends and associates) is excellent. Furthermore, the yin-yang celebration of 60’s culture and simultaneous condemnation of its worst elements grounds the book. This is a believable tale, that doesn’t over indulge or glorify. It meets the right sort of balance.
Yet, the novel is at times overlong. Even monotonous in the areas you would expect (i.e., the middle chapters). Further, I can’t relate to any of the cast, personally. I generally find them gross, their habits despicable, and/or mentality rather alien. That is not something I can knock the book for, though, and it is just a reality of my personal experience. After all, how likely would it be for a guy from Alabama born and raised on Southern values to relate too well with Hippie culture? Not likely. Not likely at all mon amie.
For everyone else, though, I am sure they will find 1969: A Brief and Beautiful Trip Back by Sea Gudinsky at least a half-truth. It certainly is a beautifully written piece of work, which I am sure many will love. Yet, this ain’t brief, yall.
Bad decisions. Drugs. And of course, Rock and Roll. It is 1999 and Rhiannon is a throwback to the 60’s music she loves. She’s a drummer who dreams of making it big. And her dreams lead her to – time traveling drugs? It isn’t as silly as it sounds, and what follows is a fantasy-esque jaunt back to 1969, and forward to adulthood.
What Sea Gudinski has created here is a well plotted coming of age story, with masterfully crafted characters. This is a deep take on the counterculture, with a surprising fidelity of research. Rhiannon is awkwardly arrogant, and yet also vulnerable – a poignant mix that just screams teenager but carried forward in a way that is authentic. The rest of the cast is equally realized. The nuisance at play between a supportive but enabling father, a protective yet smothering mother, and her gaggle of old (and newly adopted friends and associates) is excellent. Furthermore, the yin-yang celebration of 60’s culture and simultaneous condemnation of its worst elements grounds the book. This is a believable tale, that doesn’t over indulge or glorify. It meets the right sort of balance.
Yet, the novel is at times overlong. Even monotonous in the areas you would expect (i.e., the middle chapters). Further, I can’t relate to any of the cast, personally. I generally find them gross, their habits despicable, and/or mentality rather alien. That is not something I can knock the book for, though, and it is just a reality of my personal experience. After all, how likely would it be for a guy from Alabama born and raised on Southern values to relate too well with Hippie culture? Not likely. Not likely at all mon amie.
For everyone else, though, I am sure they will find 1969: A Brief and Beautiful Trip Back by Sea Gudinsky at least a half-truth. It certainly is a beautifully written piece of work, which I am sure many will love. Yet, this ain’t brief, yall.
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