A Book Review

By Jeff T. Patterson

Drums, the novel

by writer/drummer Brad Henderson takes the reader where few non-musicians have ever been. Inside the workings of a struggling rock band. As seen from the drummer's perspective, these Rock Star "wanna be's", the people of Drums are coming to terms with what it means to be professional -- and human -- in a world where not every thing is as it seems. This story about the personal dynamics of musicians working and living together to reach their individual and collective goals comes close to the reality that many drummers have lived, in one way or another. On one level this story of ambition, love, lust, secrets, betrayal, and music, or in other words, sex, drugs, and rock and roll is a trashy story, about a trashy group of musicians, with dreams of glory. On another level, however, we have quite a different story about real people doing the best they can to succeed, or merely survive in the real world of Rock and Roll. The rock and roll glitz and glamour doesn't quite measure up when confronted with the issues of what real life is made of. Some times people see this early on and make a certain kind of peace with who they are and what they want out of life, for others it takes a cold hard slap in the face to realize what really matters. The characters that Brad Henderson was drawn for us to people his novel, Drums, have the stuff that real people are made of. They all have plans, and dreams, faults and failings, as well as desires that either propel them on to the great unforeseen future, or that lead them into a tangled and confusing spiral of difficult choices. But when the going gets rough, those in the know go play the drums. Drums is a drum lesson. A lesson in life, like a warning, Drums pounds the message home. Brad takes us back to the beginnings. Back to the rudiments, and the truth that rewards come from hard work. "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" goes the old joke . . . "practice, man, practice." When the rhythm falters or things seem difficult and unsure, Brad takes us back to the rudiments with the reminder -- "paradiddle, paradiddle," interpreted for non drummers to mean: "practice, man, practice." The message of Brad Henderson's novel Drums is like the immortal Rolling Stones lyric "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need."

Brad's novel Drums, published by Fithian Press, can be purchased at: www.amazon.com