I am generally leery of these types of books because they are boring or badly written or only interesting if you know the people. But this book is none of those things. I could not put it down. There are parts that seem perhaps overly earnest, but Divine Weeks were overly earnest in a LA rife with hair bands. A great summer read, especially if you remember the 80s or wish you did. ( )

This novel provided a unique view into the life of an Indie rock band on tour. I found this novel enjoyable from the first page.

I read this book in one go and was not disappointed. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. See is an extremely talented writer how is enable to pass on wisdom through his words.

The tense used throughout the novel was flawed at times and there was a couple of grammatical errors but overall it was a good read.

Overall a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend that you pick up this book and give it a go.

A copy of this novel was received for free and all opinions expressed are my own through reading it.

This review was first published on http://everybookhasasoul.wordpress.com ( )

Bill See and I are about the same age and spent lots of time in similar music scenes - him as a musician, me as a manager/promoter/bass player's girlfriend. When he pitched his book to me I thought, "Why not?"

33 Days is a memoir that Mr. See based off of the journal he kept during the first tour with his first band, Divine Weeks. If you've never been in or around a music scene, this book is great for capturing the flavor of what it's really like. The indie movement was built on a DIY philosophy that came out of its roots in the punk scene. Inspired by bands like the Minutemen, these bands were interested in making themselves happen (as opposed to waiting for a corporate overlord to happen to them). This meant a lot of low-end touring - too many people with too much gear in too small a space for too many days - that anyone survives is a minor miracle.

The story of the Divine Weeks journey is an enjoyable read. I know some of the venues they played and many of the bands they mention. Honestly, I don't recognize them, but I do recognize the Dharma Bums - a great band out of Portland for whom Divine Weeks opened. This made me laugh at the irony - the battle of the knowledge of the obscure bands ...

Picking a path in life is tricky. Lots and lots of people spend their lives following the script: college, law school or medical school or business school, marriage #1, children, divorce, marriage #2, corporate job and paycheck, lots of TV time. More power to the folks for whom this works - it's a hell of a lot easier than finding an alternative. All kinds of alternatives exist and 33 Days is the exploration of just one of them.

I do have a couple of quibbles. First, this book is exceedingly earnest in the way only a 22-year-old can be - full of the dream and the discovery and every freakin' moment is just so earth shatteringly life-changing. A certain amount of this is charming, but I wish Mr. See had throttled back on this a bit - at times it becomes cringeworthy and that's too bad because the story is better than that. I also found the defining moment that grew the band up a bit disingenuous. I believe that they got hassled by some drunk racist bitch in a bar in the middle of nowhere. I don't believe that that was anyone's first encounter with the animal - if it was, no one (other than their guitar player, Raj) was paying attention and that baffles me.

Entertaining and enjoyable, but could use a bit of an edit for clarity of story and its throughline more than anything. Thanks to the author for sending me a copy. ( )

This is the story of DIVINE WEEKS. Who are they? Simply put, people just like you and me that saw a future bigger and brighter just over the next hill and struck out with all cylinders running to capture it. They were a band drawn together by life and friendship that while seeking their rockstar dreams learned more about life and themselves than they ever imagined. Did they succeed in becoming uber famous mega stars? Not exactly or you'd have known who they were from the start, but that's beside the point.

The real point is that they tried with all their hearts and souls. They left their mark on this life both musically and through personal connections made so despite the band's fall back into animimity, their worlds were changed for the better. It was amazing to see the relationships these guys had with each other...chummy yet understanding, macho but not afraid to shed a tear.

Throughout the tour they saw many different places and met loads of people, but some of the most memorable were perhaps the most heated...and not in the way you might be thinking. A portion of the tour took place in our neighbors to the north's homeland (aka Canada) and though friendly enough overall, one encounter almost spoiled the entire experience. It seems that racial profiling is not specific to our red, white, and blue borders and these young fellas were face to face with some of the worst (as in rascists at heart but made worse by alcohol). It's got to be one of the most ignorant crimes in my book...I mean just because a particular person from a specific background does a horrible thing, it doesn't mean everyone from their home city or country or religion will as well, you know? Despite the vile feelings and blind rage the oppositions acts inspire the guys grow closer for the experience....like the old adage says, walk a mile in a man's shoes to really understand him,

In summary, not your typical rock n roll story but something altogether more. You'll see life through the eyes of the "invincible" change to one of understanding and the acceptance of a future they know not fully of, but can't wait to stake their claim in. Recommended read for older teens through adults due to an at times colorful narrative and the heaviness of topic a time or two. It's richer read than at first can be perceived but contains a journey well worth taking. ( )

In the summer of 1987, LA-based band Divine Weeks went on its first (inter)national tour. Instead of limousines and entourages and fancy hotels, however, they lived out of the back of an increasingly fetid van, slept on strangers' floors, and, on occasion, begged for food. For the band, however, it was more than music: it was an opportunity to live. Lead singer Bill See's 33 Days lets us share in the experience.

From the get-go, one can tell that there's something special about this group and its journey. Unapologetic idealism, and hesitant optimism, permeates the text, convincing the reader that this is an adventure with a worthy purpose, one extending far beyond selling a record here and there. Admittedly, the first chapter is a little slow, full of background information about each member of the band. The struggles that it highlights, however, form the baseline from which each person grows throughout the book. The story picks up once Divine Weeks finally hits the road.

One of 33 Days' biggest achievements is perhaps its effective breaking of stereotypes. Few will paint rock stars in an intellectual light, but the members of the band are both traditionally educated and socially smart. It comes through in the way they balance one another and the deep conversations that they share. It's also reflected heavily in See's writing, an eclectic combination of college-level vocabulary words and the everyman's speech patterns. His earnestness is what keeps his speeches uplifting, while his unassuming tone of voice makes it feel as if you're really inside of his head, hearing his thoughts without the filter of a backspace button.

One thing that readers may or may not appreciate is the frequent mentioning of other bands, ones which heavily influenced Divine Weeks. Admittedly, my exposure to the music scene has involved more violins than bass guitars, which means that I had to spend some quality time with Youtube to get the point. Those a little more "in the know" might not have to. Additionally, See discusses several songs related to their line-up, and while I could easily look up each one, it would have been nice to have had a reference section with lyrics in the back of the book (unless there are some copyright issues involved). The few lyrics he included gave the relevant scenes a little more meaning.

For the most part, the author's writing style works. There are several instances, however, in which the "fast and loose" approach to grammar goes a little too far. Some of the sentences become confusing or, at the very least, awkward. How much this bothers you will depend on how picky you are. Also of note is the frequent use of the f-bomb. I don't particularly mind, but for those who are turned off by profanity, you've been warned.

33 Days is an inspiring story, told in a voice that is one part grit, one part tenacity, and five parts soul. Whether you've been in a band, wish you were in a band, or admit that you're completely tone-deaf, the book is well worth the read.

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(Review copy provided by the author) ( )