Beautiful Music

Ferndale-based Michael Zadoorian has written what might be his best novel, and certainly one of the best ones I have read in many years.

 

The setting is northwest Detroit in the late '60s and early '70s, with the city undergoing social upheaval in the wake of the 1967 Rebellion. Meanwhile, timid, nerdy kid Danny Yzemski occupies his time building model cars in his basement, and not venturing beyond the front yard of his Stout Street house.

 

However, when Danny's father brings home a stereo system for the family's basement rec room, it changes Danny's life. Through awkwardly negotiating the waters of a racially tense Redford High School, enduring a family tragedy, and attempting to help his emotionally troubled mother, Danny finds calm and release through rock music; and he grows and matures along the way.

 

If you lived in northwest Detroit (as I did for a time), love music (as I do), or simply enjoy sharply-drawn complex characters, I highly recommend this wonderful novel.