Chapter by Chapter features me reading one chapter of the selected book at the time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.
For those of you just joining us, the usual prose novel feature is doing a rather long graphic novel for this installment. It’s a comic-fied (not necessarily comedic, but certainly light in tone) retelling of the attempt by indie performance couple Pocket Vinyl to unofficially beat the record of 50 states in 50 days going on tour. This far we’ve covered New England and some of it’s neighbors. Went down to the East Coast, and we’re starting this chapter in Mississippi, known for a really long name and her husband, Mr. Sippi. (Very old knock knock joke.)
We’ve also been seeing the impact particularly on Elisabeth. As it was the events of the previous chapter were a bit rough for her as well as Eric getting a cough, and he’s the singer. She’s the artist of the graphic novel but both are credited as writers. However, he seems to be handling the stress far better than she is. If that’s true of the tour, it’s not total ignorance on Eric’s part as he has been watching out for her and letting her know she can confide in him if something is going wrong. I think she really wanted to be part of this and support Eric’s goal, and we know it ends okay because they’re still together and still performing, but I am kind of worried for her at this point even though these are past events.
That’s a strength of the story. I’m reading this like it’s currently happening, and it’s getting me invested in the characters and their journey. It’s not something I would have picked up myself but as something I was given I’m glad I was and given a chance to go over this. Let’s see where it goes as we reach the midpoint of the book. This has more pages that we’ve seen thus far, but it’s a comic so it balances out.
Eric still has a cough but the show must go on. They also dodge a tornado, which could leave the Tennessee show empty but if they make it they can still play. Luckily the storm breaks up, they have fans in the area, and tornados are just a regular occurrence if you ask one audience member, so there’s a pretty big crowd. I’m not sure a completely empty venue would be within the spirit of the record. Plus it makes it harder to sell the painting. One of the previous winners of those paintings even got her parents to show up. This leads to a fourth wall break sequence with Elizabeth going over how to accept compliments from fans even if you weren’t happy with your performance. They were and that can be respected rather than modesty from low self images. Good advice for any performer: just say thank you. It clearly meant enough to them to make the effort.
Through the next bunch of performances Eric’s cough is not getting better. I’m laying odds one of his friend’s kids coughing on him didn’t help, as they just got over being sick. In Eric’s case it was probably from the daily performances. My singing experience maxes out at high school chorus class but there’s a reason you don’t overpractice. It can do some serious work. One of their fans gives him something to help but it’s not working overnight. Staying at Eric’s cousin’s house in Ohio, Erick shows up at the concert, someone leaves them $20 on their windshield, and Elizabeth, our clearly cat person, gets along better with the dog here. The cousin’s wife even comes up with a cure for his cough…though garlic on toast doesn’t sound like a solution I’d be in for. I hate garlic. It’s why I couldn’t eat spaghetti at Sparbo’s. They even get to meet two baby sheep named Mardi and Gras (ha ha), which they left in because they were too cute not to. Respect. So everything went their way in this stretch.
At the half-way point of the tour and I think they’ve been to Indiana before because the cafe owner at this stop gets passive aggressive in the “I’m looking out for my friends” way. She’s happy to see them but thinks this task might have been a dumb move. But they aren’t “dead yet”, so she’s happy to let them perform…and reminds them she’ll be pissed if they die during the last half of the tour. She sounds fun. I may not be clear that she’s coming off supporting.
In Chicago they play at an apartment show. You know, a performance in someone’s apartment. Pity the neighbors if the walls aren’t any good. Lucky they have friends there because they have trouble finding the building and then a place to park. Elizabeth mentions to her friends that things are becoming a blur as they don’t have time to reflect on things and she’s not remembering anything. (Imagine how long this graphic novel would be if she did?) The friends, who I guess must be touring artists themselves, mentions that this is normal for a tour…but we know how this comic started. They’re staying with the friends, who have a big bed in a small guest room. In the middle of the night, Elizabeth wakes up and doesn’t know where Eric is and he’s lying right next to her. She snuggles in after a nightmare…and she can’t get back to sleep. Again, we know how this comic starts.
So it seems that just as things were looking up a new problem is finally looking to break unto the surface. We’ll see how that picks up as our tour continues.
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