My Wish Lists Login / Join

Lit Riffs

By: Jonathan Lethem, Tom Perrotta, Lester Bangs, Aimee Bender, Amanda Davis

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 August 2006 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
432 Pages

Age
14+

Grade
9+

Dimensions(cm)
20.32 x 12.7 x 2.79

Paperback

$55.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $13.94 with

Ships in 5 to 10 business days

Following in the footsteps of the late great Lester Bangs -- the most revered and irreverent of rock 'n' roll critics -- twenty-four celebrated writers have penned stories inspired by great songs. Just as Bangs cast new light on a Rod Stewart classic with his story "Maggie May," about a wholly unexpected connection between an impressionable young man and an aging, alcoholic hooker, the diverse, electrifying stories here use songs as a springboard for a form dubbed the lit riff.
Alongside Bangs's classic work, you'll find stories by J.T. LeRoy, who puts a recovering teenage drug abuser in a dentist's chair with nothing but the Foo Fighters's "Everlong" -- blaring through the P.A. -- to fight the pain; Jonathan Lethem, whose narrator looks back on his lost innocence just as an extramarital affair careens to an end -- this to the tune "Speeding Motorcycle" as recorded by Yo La Tengo; and Jennifer Belle, who envisions a prequel to Paul Simon's "Graceland" -- one that takes place at a children's birthday party replete with a real live kangaroo.
With original contributions from Tom Perrotta, Nelson George, Amanda Davis, Lisa Tucker, Aimee Bender, Darin Strauss, and many more -- riffing on everyone from Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen to the White Stripes, Cat Power, and Bob Marley -- this is both an astounding collection of short stories and an extraordinary experiment in words and music.
Soundtrack available from Saturation Acres Music & Recording Co.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Literature, Poetry & Plays Anthologies (non-poetry)Fiction Modern & Contemporary Fiction Fiction in Translation and Short Stories Short Stories Arts & Entertainment Music Music Styles & Genres

Introduction
Maggie May (1981)	p. 1
The national anthem	p. 41
Blue guitar	p. 53
Untitled	p. 77
Dirty mouth	p. 81
Hallelujah	p. 95
Why go	p. 99
All the security guards by name	p. 119
She once had me	p. 127
Milestones	p. 141
Death in the alt-country	p. 153
I shot the sheriff	p. 165
A simple explanation of the afterlife	p. 171
The eternal Helen	p. 179
Swampthroat	p. 199
Bouncing	p. 219
Graffiti monk	p. 233
Smoking inside	p. 255
The system	p. 287
Four last songs	p. 307
Dying on the vine	p. 339
Rio	p. 375
King heroin	p. 391
The bodies of boys	p. 397
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Lit Riffs

At a Glance

Paperback

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Modern & Contemporary Fiction

Mire

Stay Buried

A terrifying new psychological thriller, with a touch of 'Picnic at Hanging Rock', THE must-read debut for 2026.

Ransom

The new fast-paced international thriller from the award-winning bestselling author of An Inside Job and A Death in Cornwall

The Frock Shop

Time Travel for Beginners

'Both hilarious and heart-breaking, thoughtful and compelling' Liane Moriarty

Hide and Seek

Chris Carter as you've never read him before: no murder, no gore - just pure, relentless suspense.

Sophie, Standing There

The highly anticipated new novel from the international bestselling author of Sorrow and Bliss

The Someday Garden

Pre-order the brand new high-concept magical rom-com from Ashley Poston, bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip, now!

Twilight 20th Anniversary Edition

Twilight, Book 1

Main Characters

'an epic, heart-wrenching love story' Kate Sawyer

A Particularly Nasty Case

The 'outrageously funny' debut thriller, from the author of This is Going to Hurt

Driven

The Valley of Ravens

Rat Daniels

Contrapposto

She Lied First

The new standalone thriller from the award winning author of The Torrent and Taken, perfect for fans of Dervla McTiernan and Jane Harper

Once Upon a Breakfast Show

Now, Autonomy

Contest

The iconic bestselling thriller

Dreamers of the Full Moon Coffee Shop

Book 3

Lying Is My Love Language

A debut Australian romantic comedy with the wittiest banter you'll read all year - for readers of Emily Henry and Zoë Foster Blake

Gachiakuta 10

Gachiakuta

The Vape Lord of Queanbeyan

Credence

Deluxe Edition

This product is categorised by