“If slice-of-life stories are your jam, The Nothing Brothers will be just up your alley. This novel showcases what it means to grow up defying the mainstream in search of one's identity and how it often correlates to one's choice in art, music, and friends. Author Jeff Rosen paints a vivid and nostalgic portrait of the 70s, with some of the biggest musical acts in the history of rock and roll and heavy metal playing key roles throughout the narrative. The camaraderie between Leo and his friends feels genuine, and their almost tribalistic sense of loyalty to their preferred bands makes for some of the most entertaining scenes in the story. I recommend the book to readers who love coming-of-age tales.”
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
From Author Anthony Avina's Blog:
The Review
This was such a unique and memorable read. The author found such a great balance between nostalgia and self-reflection through these characters and their journey. The way the author was able to tap into the vibes and atmosphere of the era and this generation of teens during a tumultuous time in American history was remarkable to see come to life on the page, and the tension that life builds up around the cast of characters is a great reflection of life during this era in particular.
The heart of the narrative lived within the character arcs that the story found. As a coming-of-age story, the narrative honed in on the group mentality of the teens as they faced the hardships and struggles of the era while also allowing the reader to feel connected to the protagonist and his journey. The author also does a remarkable job of showcasing the pitfalls of ignoring the larger issues around us when we don’t see the value or impact it has on our own lives in the here and now, and how the rebellious nature of the early rock and metal scene led the wave of conflict within many a household during that time period.
The Verdict
Richly dynamic, captivating, and thoroughly engaging, author Jeff Rosen’s “The Nothing Brothers” is a must-read coming-of-age story that perfectly captures teen life in the 1970s. The attention to detail the author paid to the era and the powerful imagery the author’s writing conjured up allowed the reader to feel connected to this story, in much the same way the nostalgia side of Stranger Things connects audiences to the 80s. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
The Nothing Brothers is a wild ride; kick back in the bucket seat as Nugent blows the speakers out.
From Independent Book Review, 2022
Leo Kraft believes in nothing, except when it comes to music—then he is passionate, creative, ready to risk it all. Sick and tired of the trappings of suburban zombiedom, Leo and his high school friends band together as The Nothing Brothers, giving Jeff Rosen’s novel its title.
Self-proclaimed nihilists, Leo and his friends battle against the straight life of college and wage-slavery with long hair and pot smoke as well as the throbbing basslines of Ted Nugent, Rush, and Pink Floyd. In a similar bent to other music-steeped generational novels such as David Mitchell’s Utopia Avenue or Michael Chabon’s Telegraph Avenue, Rosen’s is a classic coming-of age tale that nails down the specific vibrations of a generation and shows how music can change a person and an entire culture.
Unlike Chabon’s or Mitchell’s books, Leo’s group of teenage ne'er-do-wells are not in a band, but rather a mismatched crew of disinclined stoners obsessed with music, cars, and girls. The narrative begins at Camp Wel-Met where Leo takes a job as a counselor, sneaking pot with his seniors and trying and failing to woo a girl. A few chapters in, though, the storyline zips back in time to depict Leo in his more formative moments: His first hit of weed, his first kiss, first live show. Like many high schoolers, Leo wants to be popular and acts on the evidence that “his early lessons showed that you had to be funny, or get in trouble, or do a lot of drugs” to achieve acceptance.
As his timeline progresses through parties, close calls, and car wrecks, Leo rejects college and is kicked out of his house. His bonds with his friends wind tighter and release. The world changes around Leo, and as he nears graduation, he struggles with the decision of whether or not to change as well.
While The Nothing Brothers succeeds brilliantly as a novel of personal growth, it extends beyond the individual, mirroring Leo’s emotional shifts with a metaphorical mood board of 1970s nostalgia. Arguments are resolved over Grand Slam breakfasts at Denny’s and harsh break-ups simmer beneath the bowling alley background din. Leo and his friends name-drop up-and-coming bands like Journey and The Clash over the whispers of gas shortages and failed real-estate in The Bronx. Leo’s problems revolve around his steadfast adherence to heavy metal, arguing with friends-turned Dead-Heads. Through such devices as heavy-metal-versus-folk rock feuds, Rosen adds depth, using pop-culture as a mirror to a much deeper and more personal underlying conflict.
As much as The Nothing Brothers is a book about growing up in an ever changing world, it is about hanging onto the bits of the world you’ve come to love while also learning to grow and accept the passions of others. While the epiphany at the end of this novel could be seen as merely a broadening of Leo’s taste and a more accepting attitude, it also shows how much music can change us, if we allow ourselves to change. It’s an impressive feat for an author to plumb these depths and even more impressive to do so in the fast-paced, often hilarious, and hijinx-filled sprawl that is The Nothing Brothers. As frustrating as Leo and his friends’ immature escapades can be, they are also familiar, understandable, and real. Each foible encourages the reader to look deeper into their own histories and laugh at their own antics growing up. In this way, Rosen’s The Nothing Brothers vividly captures not only the struggle of coming into adulthood in a world that feels wrong, but also how the struggle itself can open one up to a more meaningful life.
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Posted by Literary Titan
Leo Kraft is a teenager growing up in East Coast suburbia in the 1970s, resisting the cookie-cutter life that his parents live. Fueled by his intense love for music and desire to find meaning in life, he and his band of friends (who have named themselves The Nothing Brothers) coast through the drudgery of high school. Leo pushes the limits to establish himself in the cool crowd and, after several misadventures, is sent by his parents to a summer camp for a few weeks to serve as a counselor. Instead of rigor and rules there, Leo meets some kindred souls who make him feel more like himself than ever before.
The Nothing Brothers by Jeff Rosen pulls readers into a wistful state of nostalgia for the seventies, even if they never experienced those years firsthand. The writing was easy to follow, and the story flowed nicely. Though the story is told in the third person, the main character’s voice comes through with strength and gives the reader a deep understanding of Leo’s personality and thoughts in life…Rather than being defined by a significant event, the plot of this story seems to be driven by Leo’s path to discovering the importance of life. In the end, the ambiguous plot enhances the protagonist’s emotional journey.
I thought The Nothing Brothers was a fascinating read; I especially enjoyed learning about the music and culture of the seventies. I realized that the journey of self-discovery and finding your place in the world is similar for all young people, regardless of the time period.
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