Overview

The way the moments and the music connected over his life in literature and the law is author Jack L.B. Gohn's subject in this literate and revelatory memoir. Charting his evolution from a 1950s preschooler absorbing a misleading sense of security from a children's record to a retiree deriving pandemic solace from watching musicians collaborate remotely on a Sondheim overture over YouTube, Gohn vividly evokes the times and astutely interprets the songs. Along the way, Gohn scrutinizes the work of performers from universally -known icons like the Beatles and Dylan to world musicians like Pietra Montecorvino and San Telmo Lounge, from country stars like the Chicks to orchestral composers like John Adams. Partly confessional, partly poignant reminiscence, partly an interrogation of the music that structured Gohn's thoughts and feelings over seventy years, What I Was Listening to When... explores a varied life and a unique sensibility. And the reader can come along for the ride streaming free shared playlists on Spotify and YouTube that track the songs considered in the book.

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9781734226447

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I cannot recommend this book enough... This book for me was extraordinary. Rachel Deeming, Discovery Jack Gohn has written a painfully honest memoir of his life accompanied by what popular music he was hearing at each era. Smell is a strong bringer-back of memories, but music is even stronger. Who has not wept at hearing a beloved tune at times of high emotion? Marrying both sound and text has a powerful effect, and gives this book a double whammy. Fiona Finn, Memoirist, Echoes in the Castle

I cannot recommend this book enough... This book for me was extraordinary. Rachel Deeming, Discovery Jack Gohn has written a painfully honest memoir of his life accompanied by what popular music he was hearing at each era. Smell is a strong bringer-back of memories, but music is even stronger. Who has not wept at hearing a beloved tune at times of high emotion? Marrying both sound and text has a powerful effect, and gives this book a double whammy. Fiona Finn, Memoirist, Echoes in the Castle

Author Information

Jack L. B. Gohn spent his earliest life in London and Vienna, grew up mainly in Ann Arbor, and has spent most of his adult life in Baltimore. His published writings include scholarly books and papers, book criticism, commentary on law and policy in a daily newspaper, theater criticism, and most recently plays. Other writings have appeared in such diverse places as the website of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Catholic Reporter, and the Wall Street Journal. He belongs to the American Theatre Critics Association and the Dramatists Guild.

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