Oct 2009
A Love Song That Lingers
29/10/09
A Love Song That Lingers…
October 28, 2009 by cgevans
A review of “Except My Love For You,” a novel by John Hodgert
“Except My Love For You” by John Hodgert tells the story of a 45 year-old man named Gordon from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The novel begins with Gordon’s dramatic decision at the peak of his career to set aside his business and his marriage to explore the simplest way a man of his age can live ‘comfortably’ in the city. Guided by an underlying poetic structure and full of flashbacks and unexpected twists and turns, Gordon’s journey through this changing time in his life with nothing but a few possessions and a handful of friends to call his own is a difficult yet beautiful one.
While the appeal of “Except My Love For You” for the baby-boomer generation is clear, what is surprising is the way in which all readers are moved to journey alongside Hodgert’s protagonist and easily swept up in the questions his life poses of ours. Questions like: what do we idealize in life and should we idealize these things? What would it feel like to simplify our day-to-day and what would be the consequences of this change? Where will our choices lead down the road? How are our parents dealing with their life choices, how are they processing things in this phase of their lives? The way these questions linger in our minds and in our hearts well after we’ve finished reading the book is Hodgert’s greatest accomplishment and fine praise for his debut novel.
Hodgert’s narrative style is dense, however, and at times can seem impenetrable, especially on first reading. The many private jokes, alliteration and witticisms can sometimes leave the reader focused on the wording rather than the story. Although such wordplay in a short poem or scattered throughout a novel can be insightful, the high compression language in “Except My Love For You” can leave the reader grappling to really understand the characters. But, if one perseveres through the adjectives, one is rewarded as these characters are full, varied and outright charming. Indeed, Hodgert’s cleverness is spirited and holds promise for future writing.
The novel is enhanced with an accompanying CD of the author reading extracts of the book as well as performing songs composed for the novel. It is a delight to listen to as the world of the novel jumps off the page, and Hodgert’s love of the way words mix and mingle together shines through. It is our opinion that the novel, with it’s cinematic unfolding of story and character, would work well as a film
“Except My Love For You” is a love song to a specific generation that evokes timeless questions for all readers.
‘The Cool Club’ book club in Toronto, Ontario
October 28, 2009 by cgevans
A review of “Except My Love For You,” a novel by John Hodgert“Except My Love For You” by John Hodgert tells the story of a 45 year-old man named Gordon from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The novel begins with Gordon’s dramatic decision at the peak of his career to set aside his business and his marriage to explore the simplest way a man of his age can live ‘comfortably’ in the city. Guided by an underlying poetic structure and full of flashbacks and unexpected twists and turns, Gordon’s journey through this changing time in his life with nothing but a few possessions and a handful of friends to call his own is a difficult yet beautiful one.
While the appeal of “Except My Love For You” for the baby-boomer generation is clear, what is surprising is the way in which all readers are moved to journey alongside Hodgert’s protagonist and easily swept up in the questions his life poses of ours. Questions like: what do we idealize in life and should we idealize these things? What would it feel like to simplify our day-to-day and what would be the consequences of this change? Where will our choices lead down the road? How are our parents dealing with their life choices, how are they processing things in this phase of their lives? The way these questions linger in our minds and in our hearts well after we’ve finished reading the book is Hodgert’s greatest accomplishment and fine praise for his debut novel.
Hodgert’s narrative style is dense, however, and at times can seem impenetrable, especially on first reading. The many private jokes, alliteration and witticisms can sometimes leave the reader focused on the wording rather than the story. Although such wordplay in a short poem or scattered throughout a novel can be insightful, the high compression language in “Except My Love For You” can leave the reader grappling to really understand the characters. But, if one perseveres through the adjectives, one is rewarded as these characters are full, varied and outright charming. Indeed, Hodgert’s cleverness is spirited and holds promise for future writing.
The novel is enhanced with an accompanying CD of the author reading extracts of the book as well as performing songs composed for the novel. It is a delight to listen to as the world of the novel jumps off the page, and Hodgert’s love of the way words mix and mingle together shines through. It is our opinion that the novel, with it’s cinematic unfolding of story and character, would work well as a film
“Except My Love For You” is a love song to a specific generation that evokes timeless questions for all readers.
‘The Cool Club’ book club in Toronto, Ontario
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Neither sleet not snow ....
15/10/09
I had a bit of bad luck and a bit of good luck for my readings and songs at the Jake Epp library in Steinbach last evening. The bad luck was the weather, basically sleet and a cool wind. So I much appreciated the determination of the small crowd that did show up. The good luck was being able to add Paul to the show at the last minute. He found out late Monday that he had to do some banking in Steinbach, and volunteered to stay in town and join the show. I was relieved and thankful. I had changed the readings for Steinbach by deleting the Grad 1968 bit as not relevant to the crowd. I had substituted a reading from the funeral scene late in the book. I had to re-write it a bit so as not to spoil the ending for those who had not read the book. Neither of the ’third’ songs we had been doing, Across the Norwood Bridge or Hopelessly Lost in Love, worked with the new reading. So, I had decided to use Mercy Mild, being the song that the character Jack sings at the funeral. This was logical but scary. I or we had never before performed Mercy Mild live. I was therefore nervous about how it would go over, especially solo. The song has few lyrics and a simple structure, and is accordingly recorded with two guitar solos (by the absent Senor Tony Buchner). Just about the only person who could step in without notice was Paul Hodgert. Paul had produced all the recordings, including of Mercy Mild. So, on the night before the show, we popped down to the rehearsal studio to see if we could fake it. We could. Paul knew my second guitar part on Except My Love For You, and Tony’s parts from Mercy Mild. For Angel of Truth, Paul cooked up a new lead part, inspired in part by the version that Doug Anderson had written for the Millenium Library show.
Anyway, in the event it worked. We brought my Garnet amp with its old school reverb and tremolo that had been used for the recording of Except My Love For You. Paul ran a clean Garnet signal through his Blues Driver pedal for Angel of Truth, and did something else I can’t remember for Mercy MIld. The room was small, enclosed, and with a vault ceiling - so the sound was gorgeous! I sang and played my Takemine acoustic, both un-amplified. Paul used his arch-top, F hole, semi-acoustic Samax - which adds a killer rockabilly vibe to everything!
The people seemed to enjoy the words and music, and stayed quite a while to ask questions about the book and the music, and, most interestingly, about the inter-relationship of the two. Thanks to the library staff, especially Melissa Froese, and to Alan and Carol at Bendecido for setting things up. Melissa is contacting area book clubs to set up some gigs for me in SE Manitoba. I’d love to come back. And, of course, thanks again and forever to Paul.
Anyway, in the event it worked. We brought my Garnet amp with its old school reverb and tremolo that had been used for the recording of Except My Love For You. Paul ran a clean Garnet signal through his Blues Driver pedal for Angel of Truth, and did something else I can’t remember for Mercy MIld. The room was small, enclosed, and with a vault ceiling - so the sound was gorgeous! I sang and played my Takemine acoustic, both un-amplified. Paul used his arch-top, F hole, semi-acoustic Samax - which adds a killer rockabilly vibe to everything!
The people seemed to enjoy the words and music, and stayed quite a while to ask questions about the book and the music, and, most interestingly, about the inter-relationship of the two. Thanks to the library staff, especially Melissa Froese, and to Alan and Carol at Bendecido for setting things up. Melissa is contacting area book clubs to set up some gigs for me in SE Manitoba. I’d love to come back. And, of course, thanks again and forever to Paul.
The Leaky Boat Song
06/10/09
Paul and I have found some technical problems associated with the audio files for the recording of The Boat Song. They may be able to be corrected with a lot of Pro-Tools magic, but the easiest answer would be to ask Tony Buchner and Luke Bergen to come back into Paul’s One Friday studios and re-do their respective tracks - with our apologies and thanks. However, Tony is teaching in Puerto Vallerta, and Luke is on tour with Boats, so that’s not so easy. So, while we scratch our heads (bald me, literally!) we apologize for the delay, and suggest that you groove on the lyrics (such as they are) for a while.
In the meantime, I’ll be doing a promo on the radio from AM 950/1250 at 8:00 AM on Thursday October 8. The promo is for a show at Jake Epp Library at 7:30PM on October 14.
In the meantime, I’ll be doing a promo on the radio from AM 950/1250 at 8:00 AM on Thursday October 8. The promo is for a show at Jake Epp Library at 7:30PM on October 14.
Booked in the West End
01/10/09
I did my first performance for a book club last night. It was for a new, still small group that meets at Valour Road Community Centre in the West End. My host was Katherine Wiese, and she and her colleagues couldn’t have been nicer. I did the usual three readings and songs, but, for the first time - by myself. It’s funny how you can be nervous and make small mistakes playing and singing songs you’ve done a thousand times. And for an extra treat my guitar fell out of its stand during the second reading. I caught it in time, so there was no damage. It even stayed in tune! Bless you Takemine Guitar. There were smiles and applause afterwards, and some good questions about the writing process and about the characters motivations. The more intimate setting allowed for a more ‘literary’ chat, which was cool for a change. Tea was served (still some debate on the Earl Grey versus Orange Pekoe issue) with fruit loaf slices. I mention these facts because I have not had breakfast this mornig, but have still to develop a menu plan. Avoid retirement - the stress is crushing! Thanks to Carol Lee at Bendecido Books for setting this up.
Next up is radio interviews at 8:00AM next Thursday October 8 on AM 950 and 1250, out of Steinbach. Maybe FM96.3? The promo is in aid of a show at the Jake Epp Library in Steinbach at 7:30PM on Wednesday October 14. I hope Takemine doesn’t ask for a raise.
P.S. Just posted the lyrics to ‘The Boat Song’. Hope to post the song soon.
Next up is radio interviews at 8:00AM next Thursday October 8 on AM 950 and 1250, out of Steinbach. Maybe FM96.3? The promo is in aid of a show at the Jake Epp Library in Steinbach at 7:30PM on Wednesday October 14. I hope Takemine doesn’t ask for a raise.
P.S. Just posted the lyrics to ‘The Boat Song’. Hope to post the song soon.