Revolver

A male child is hurt and partially disfigured in an incident that may be related to the Beatles. Years later the sensitive young man – now a music reviewer for his high school newspaper – believes it’s his duty to travel to New York City to warn ex-Beatle John Lennon that his life may be in danger. In the hands of a lesser writer, this promising set-up might play out in a dismal way. But Evan Schwartz is a skilled writer who happens to know his subject matter (rock music from Aerosmith to The Who). Schwartz also knows how to write in the unique style of teens: “They had kept on showing up at my house, asking me to go with them, and I’ve learned that means something. I couldn’t control what other people thought when they saw me, but these girls knew how to be from over the line, and I was [OK] with that.” Schwartz uses his skills to produce an engaging tale that concludes in a fully unforeseen – yet highly satisfying, fashion.

Revolver is filled with fascinating characters – real and imagined adult and juvenile. And the story is told with an engaging soundtrack. The reader will want to listen to each and every song mentioned in the pages of this debut novel. Note that the writer allows for some fun, as when one of his characters adroitly explains how the heavy rock band Led Zeppelin extended its career by recording what were covert disco songs. As Beatle Paul might have said, “Oh, yes!”

Revolver is a novel that beautifully expresses the radiant power of music in our lives. In the words of its protagonist, music is “for getting past the sad stuff.” Thank you, Mr. Evan I. Schwartz, for taking a sad song and making it better.