A note to our readers: Greg Kihn promised us an interview on 9/26/13 but failed to call us.
Author: Greg Kihn
Novel: Rubber Soul
Publisher: Premier Digital Publishing
Genre: Historical Music Fiction
Reviewed by: Joseph Hett
Author, rocker and morning radio personality, Greg Kihn, has just released his fifth novel titled “Rubber Soul.” It features The Beatles in a starring role in this historical fiction novel. It is a coming-of-age murder mystery.
It follows the protagonist Bobby Dingle AKA “Dust Bin Bob.” A dust bin is an English term for a trash can, since Bobby is in the second hand store business.
The story follows Bobby’s life from the very moment he meets a couple members of soon-to-be Beatles at a local flea market in Liverpool. That happens while Bobby is trying to sell American R&B records. That chance encounter helps The Beatles learn more songs to cover at their gigs. And before you know it, Bobby is at the heart of the band.
Kihn says, “I asked where the Beatles got their records, and their answers inspired the central character, Dust Bin Bob, and this novel.” Kihn has had interviews with the surviving members of The Beatles and many people associated with the band.
Kihn puts words in The Beatles’ mouths throughout “Rubber Soul.” The plot also follows along with historical events in Beatle history. It is pretty accurate, while being fiction at the same time.
It follows the Beatles from the very beginning all the way to full blown Beatlemania.
Bobby is adventurous and has trials and tribulations throughout the novel. He grows up into a man in front of the reader’s eyes.
The story ends with the answer to the question Kihn originally asked, “Were The Beatles almost assassinated in Manila in 1966?”
It was a very compelling read. Some parts may seem far-fetched, but it’s a work of fiction and is expected to be that way.
It was interesting to see how fame had changed the Beatles, but they never forgot their origins with Dust Bin Bob.
The ending was very well thought-out. As we know the Beatles were not assassinated in Manila, so the novel ended on a happy note. Kihn probably ended the novel this way to avoid the break-up and everything after that.
Younger readers will learn and will appreciate the whole Beatle historical value to society. Beatle fans and overall music fans will like “Rubber Soul.”