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Published: Aug. 23, 2010
Words: 71436 (approximate)
Language: English
Ebook description
Bert Ingram, a former music industry rep, has lost his way. Desperate for redemption, he puts together a band, recruiting musicians each with the need to overcome a significant obstacle in his life. The mix of personalities and backgrounds threatens to derail the band at every opportunity, but in time, the Redeemers realize they have more to gain from one another than they could have imagined.Tags
fiction, novel, music, michael, band, musicians, rock band, miller, ladies, scott, gentlemen redeemersAvailable ebook reading formats
Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.| Format | Full Book | Sample First 20% |
|---|---|---|
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| Online Reading (JavaScript, experimental, buggy) | Buy | View sample |
| Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps) | Buy | Download sample |
| Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others) | Buy | Download sample |
| PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing) | Buy | No sample available |
| RTF (readable on most word processors) | Buy | No sample available |
| LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub) | Buy | Download sample |
| Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices) | Buy | Download sample |
| Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting) | Buy | No sample available |
| Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page) | Buy | No sample available |
Reviews
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Review by:
Susan Helene Gottfried
on July 03, 2011 :
I'd been hearing about this Michael Scott Miller dude and his book, Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers for awhile now. My friend, author Darcia Helle, told me she thought I needed to read it.
How could I say no?
Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers is a heck of a tale. It's the story of down-on-his-luck Bert, who decides to take a bunch of misfits and miscreants and turn them into the band that'll end his down-on-his-luck days. And theirs.
Most bands form because they are drawn together by something intangible. They have chemistry, a shared hunger for success... something. Not the Redeemers. They are drawn together because of Bert and the strength of his ambition to reclaim a part of himself.
Whether or not they'll first find all the people they need to fill out the band properly, if they'll gel as a group, if they'll overcome their natural distrust and, sometimes, dislike of each other... this is what the story is about.
It's a great story. It's one anyone who loves to dream needs to spend time with.
But, of course, this is Susan West of Mars doing a review here, and that automatically means there are faults to be found with this book.
Not many, I'm pleased to say. And in this case, I suspect the fault I found with the Redeemers is one of style.
You see, for me, there is a narrative distance. This means I don't get into the characters' heads, they don't come fully alive. In this book, it drove me nuts. I wanted to really get inside these guys. I wanted to share their thoughts and dreams and desires. I wanted to look to my left and be surprised they weren't real people, right there beside me.
To be honest, I have no idea how Miller could have pulled this off. He's got a huge cast of characters; this point of view was the most logical choice he could have made for telling this particular story. Anything else would have run the risk of turning the book into an absolute mess.
Still, I wanted more of the guys. They are compelling. They have great backstories. They have a great storyline. They probably have a great future, but let's not get ahead of the book here, folks. Although... with a story like this, it is tempting to do.
When I review a piece of rock and roll fiction, I always consider if the page breathes with music. In The Redeemers, it doesn't. It also doesn't need to. This is a book about the personalities behind the music. It's about this band named the Redeemers who are off looking for their own redemption, either personally or musically. These aren't necessarily people who live and breathe music. On the other hand, they are people for whom music is an expression and, in some cases, a way of life. In other cases, it's a dream, something to stretch for and be terrified of.
That is every bit as valid as having the music throb off the page.
Overall, I liked this book. A lot. I'll tell people to read it. I may even hold it up there with some of my top reads although, truthfully, I don't think the (good) execution held up to the (fantastic) concept. It was a hard goal to achieve. Miller did his best, and his best is quite good. I wanted fantastic. I think Miller can and will bring us there in future books.
I can't wait to follow him.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Dream Exprezz
on Feb. 09, 2011 :
Excellent book! Easy to read without being boring or pedestrian, a nicely flowing plot, interesting and well developed characters and a very realistic picture of the music scene. I definitively recommend reading this book :D
(review of free book)
Review by:
Allyson
on Feb. 02, 2011 :
Can't wait to read more by Mr. Miller.
For a longer review, check out my blog:
http://whathasallysonread.blogspot.com/2011/02/ladies-and-gentlemen-redeemers-by.html
(review of free book)
Review by:
Linda Veiszer
on Jan. 03, 2011 :
(no rating)
I thought this book was excellent. It was easy to read (which is great) The characters were awesome and I loved the story line..Would love to read a Part 2...
(review of free book)
Review by:
nehurd
on Dec. 18, 2010 :
We've all passed by a down-and-out musician playing for loose change in the subway.....and wondered how he got there. This book tells a compelling story about a bunch of ragtag and musicians who are brought together by a homeless, former talent manager who's itching to reclaim his lost glory. This book transports the reader to San Francisco, then LA, then Vegas, as the group comes together and starts to make inroads. Quite a good and easy read.
(review of free book)
Review by:
Jim Walker
on Dec. 17, 2010 :
As one who has had a brother who has been there/done that across the prairies on both sides of the 49th Parallel; one who had all the talent, all the drive and who never quite clicked. I can say this story rings true in every way. Bert Ingram is everyone who has tried. He spoke to me.
I love the soul that this work has. The never-say-die attitude in a world dominated by 'dark' stories. Thank you Mr. Miller.
(review of free book)
Review by:
Darcia Helle
on Nov. 15, 2010 :
What if that bum you walk by every day is a brilliant saxophonist? Or suppose the slacker kid washing dishes at your local diner has enormous potential as a world class drummer but just needs someone to believe in him? These people exist. Often, the only difference between success and obscurity is one chance encounter.
This is a story of redemption. But it's also fun, well-written, and full of characters that grab hold of you and won't let you go. A truly great read.
(review of free book)
Review by:
khittenheart
on Aug. 29, 2010 :
(no rating)
This is the most entertaining story I've read in a long time, and the continued uplifting tone throughout the narrative was a welcome breath of fresh air. I read it all in one sitting-- once I started, I just couldn't tear myself away. The storyline is engaging, the character development is tight, and I really enjoyed the subtle underlying message of "don't give up on your dreams."
Thank you, Mr. Miller, for sharing your thoughts with us. I look forward to whatever you have for us next.
(review of free book)
Review by:
kEv
on Aug. 26, 2010 :
Awesome story!
I was hooked from the start and read it in one sitting. I wish it was longer (just being selfish and loving the story and characters!)
Very easy to read and I felt a connection with the characters throughout the book, especially at the end.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
(review of free book)