Book Spotlight: Start With the Backbeat: A Musical Novel by Garine B. Isassi

Title:Start With the Backbeat: A Musical Novel

Author:Garine B. Isassi

Published:April 2016, She Writes Press

Format:Paperback, 273 pages

It is the spring of 1989
in New York City when Jill Dodge, a post-punk rocker from Texas,
finally gets her big promotion at Mega Big Records. She is thrust into a
race to find a gritty, urban rapper before the Gangsta trend passes
their label by. As Jill and her mostly middle-class coworkers search for
the next big rap star, they fluctuate between alliances and rivalries,
tripping over the stereotypes of race, class, and musical genre. They
work to promote their current roster of acts as well as the new rap
artist they sign to a contract. It turns out, he may not be what they
expected. Full of original lyrics and wit, “Start With the Backbeat” is a
compelling examination of the nuances of class, race, and culture in
America which are sometimes ridiculously serious.”

What readers are saying…

“Start with the Backbeat is the touching story of one
idealistic young woman’s journey into the music industry when it was at
its multiplatinum peak. Holding onto those ideals is a challenge, but
Garine Isassi’s clear, smart, good-hearted storytelling is itself a blow
against easy cynicism. She reveals a sharp eye for how quickly greed
and self-interest can displace a love of music—and an equally sharp
understanding of how a dedicated person’s daily principled decisions can
make sure that doesn’t happen. It’s a tale that’s both poignant and
uplifting.” —Anthony DeCurtis, Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone magazine

“Told with an insider’s ear for dialogue and setting . . . Start with
the Backbeat is a fresh, interesting look at a little-known slice of
the music industry.” —Sarah Pekkanen, best-sellling author of The Opposite of Me and Catching Air

“Music, friends, family, love, and a career anyone would envy! It’s
1989 and Jill Dodge is working her way up the ladder at a NYC music
label. Her quirky friends and diverse co-workers saunter in and out of
Jill’s life as she attempts to create a world that’s artistic but also
pays the bills. Insight into the glamorous world of music as rap was
coming on scene provides a backdrop that is unique and dynamic as we
watch Jill move past post-college angst and insecurity. A fun read that
brought a smile to my face and got my feet tapping as I went on Jill’s
journey to fulfillment.” —Kathleen Shoop, bestselling author of Love and Other Subjects

“A joy ride through the heyday of the eighties rap craze with a heroine you can’t help but root for, Start With the Backbeat is smart, stylish, and fun from beginning to end.” —Kamy Wicoff, author of Wishful Thinking

“Fast-paced and entertaining, Start with the Backbeat is about
a young woman’s search for love and success in the exciting but
sometimes cutthroat music industry. It’s a fun and heartwarming―a
genuine pleasure to read. Like your favorite tune, you’ll find yourself
humming it for days.” —Andee Reilly, author of Satisfaction

“Garinè B. Isassi’s funny, tender, and smart novel, Start with the Backbeat,
is one of the few books that give us a woman’s point of view of the
music industry and an ethnically diverse range of characters. Set in the
late ’80s, it tells the story of Jill Dodge, who, after several years
as a temp in the Admin Pit (think, ‘armpit’) of Mega Big Records, is
promoted to a staff position. The brisk pace and breezy style keep the
reader turning pages as Jill struggles to maintain authenticity in the
face of clueless execs, romantic snafus, and a wannabe rapper. Isassi
skewers the racism and sexism at the core of the industry with a light
touch while evoking the deep love of music that drives each of her
delightfully unique characters.” —Céline Keating, author of Layla and Play for Me

Start With the Backbeat: A Musical Novel  by Garine B. Isassi is one of  BookSparks “It’s Raining Books” reading selection picks. 

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