Robert Forster, the legendary frontman of the Go-Betweens, has long been a master of both music and words. His memoir, Grant & I, and his music criticism for The Monthly are testaments to his skill. But with Songwriters on the Run, his debut novel, Forster ventures into the realm of fiction, and the results are, unfortunately, a bit of a dud. The story follows Mick Woods and Drew Lovelock, two long-maned, rock-star-wrecked handsome men in their 30s, as they navigate the music industry and a series of misadventures. While Forster's experience and knowledge of music are evident, the story itself falls flat.
What makes this novel particularly disappointing is its lack of emotional resonance. Despite the inclusion of real lyrics from Forster's own music, the story fails to capture the essence of music-making. The prose is overly dialogue-heavy, with little melody or rhythm, and the plot is predictable, with a few unexpected twists. The tongue-in-cheek tone and PG-13 approach might be appealing to some, but it falls short of the 'comic odyssey' or 'crime thriller' it aims to be. The narrative is filled with platitudes and awkward descriptions, such as 'Her prominent feature is a long straight nose, dividing her face into two attractive sides.'
Forster's strength lies in his ability to evoke Australian scenes and locales, as seen in his descriptions of St Kilda in the 1980s and small-town Queensland. These passages provide a sense of place and imagery, but they are too few and far between to sustain the reader's interest. The novel is also filled with nods to music greats, which, while interesting, feel shoehorned in at times. Despite these flaws, Forster's love for music and its makers shines through, and it is this that keeps the reader engaged, even if the story itself is not up to par.
In my opinion, Songwriters on the Run is a missed opportunity for Forster. While his experience and knowledge of music are evident, the novel fails to capture the essence of music-making and storytelling. Perhaps this is a result of the novel's tongue-in-cheek tone and PG-13 approach, but it is a disappointment nonetheless. Personally, I think Forster could have crafted a more engaging and emotionally resonant story, one that truly captures the magic of music and the struggles of the music industry. What makes this novel particularly fascinating is the contrast between Forster's skill in music and his less-than-stellar writing abilities. It raises a deeper question about the relationship between art and storytelling, and the challenges of translating one's own experiences into a compelling narrative. A detail that I find especially interesting is the way Forster uses real lyrics to enhance the story, but even this fails to create a truly immersive experience. What this really suggests is that while Forster may be a master of music, he is still learning the art of storytelling, and this novel is a work in progress.
