Time Won't Let Me

by Bill Scheft

Book Overview

The five members of the Truants -- Richie, John, Brian, Jerry and Tim -- graduated from toney Chase Academy in New Hampshire 30 years ago. Before they left, they managed to record an album called Out... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060797088
• ISBN13: 9780060797089
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

You Don't Need to Appreciate Music to Appreciate This Book

In his latest novel, Bill Scheft (the human joke writing machine who brought you The Best of the Show and David Letterman's monologue for many years) manages to outdo himself. Time Won't Let Me chronicles the escapades of the former members of The Truants. As a high school band who released 500 copies of one album, their 15 minutes of fame is clearly over. But when they find our their album went for $10,000 on eBay, they're coaxed into reuniting for a big score and a bigger show at their high school reunion. One small problem -- they can't stand each other. The characterizations are compelling, memorable and you'll recognize the personalities from the band in your own life. You'll understand why the Beatles and the Eagles had to break up after reading this book. Just thinking about the character Pressure Chief still makes me laugh out loud. Read this book and you'll never look at Equal the same way again. If you don't enjoy this book, you need to find a tall, tall building. If you've ever been in a band, if you've ever known someone in a band, or if you've ever listened to a band, you owe it to yourself to get this book. You won't be able to put it down. Bill's writing is relentlessly great, funny and entertaining. Now enjoy The Lemon Pipers.

On the mark

I was chuckling and laughing constantly as I enjoyed this book. I finished this in three sittings, four days. I have been in and out of bands for about 40 years, starting in high school, and I loved all the nuances Bill brought to this story. He develops the characters beautifully and I guarantee you will never feel let down or set up by this tale. If you have EVER been in a band, had a brother or sister in a band, or were involved someway in a band, you will identify with this book. But don't pass this by if you had nothing to do with a band - I was pleasantly surprised by several of the twists and turns the book took, but again I must reiterate I was not let down or disappointed by any of the unexpected story lines that Bill developed. Every now and then I was reading something and said to myself, "Oh yeah and I can see that he will eventually ..." or "I bet this will play out like this..." and was pleasantly surprised that Sheft didn't take the "easy way" or "obvious choice". This is truly a well-written book and I have contacted all my music buddies and recommended it.

Review of book shipment/receipt

Book arrived as promised, perfect shape, will order again no question!

Now let's see John Irving write a comedy monologue

Those familiar with the Bill Scheft's previous work (writing jokes for David Letterman and Sports Illustrated) won't be surprised to find themselves smiling and laughing as they read "Time Won't Let Me". But even those who enjoyed the author's first novel ("The Ringer") are likely be pleasantly surprised at the number and depth of the characters he's created this time around. The five Truants (a mid-1960's prep school band) begin the book considerably older, but little (if any) wiser then they were as teen-agers, unable to connect successfully with their respective families, or one another, and (for the most part) unable to afford the toys generally prescribed for midlife crisis. Thrown together in the pursuit of what may be an illusion as their 30th Reunion approaches, they and those around them manage to find something of even greater value.

Scheft provides a hilarious, artistic, memorable story

I was a huge fan of Scheft's first novel, The Ringer, but I'm a bigger fan of his latest work, Time Won't Let Me -- a dark comedy of a forgotten '60s prep school rock group (the Truants) reuniting after their vanity album becomes a collectors' item. The author is a hilarious storyteller with passages that make you want to grab the nearest person and read aloud. Nowadays so much gets hyped as "laugh-out-loud funny," but Scheft's books deliver. Critics and fans have sung the praises of Scheft's comedic skills, but few have acknowledged his singular literary talents. Nobody writes like his guy. Nobody. He has a distinct narrative voice -- at times rich and inventive, clever and intricate; other times terse and snide, blunt and stinging. As a friend told me recently, "You'll be reading one of his sentences, taking it in on one level, and then all of a sudden you discover another level of meaning, another level of nuance." The well crafted prose unites all the elements, and in his latest work, that's an amazing feat with the multiple characters and multiple plots (a bold decision for his second novel). Populating his story with real characters -- famed musicians Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band), guitar virtuoso Les Paul, legendary rocker Barry Tashian -- and a myriad of rock/pop culture references, Scheft lends authenticity to his tale. Starting with chapter one, Scheft makes the reader feel like you're eavesdropping on history, a talent reminiscent of Tom Wolfe. A dozen pages into the book and you're singing along with the Truant's big hit, "Get Psyched." This is a hard book to put down, because you are always dying to find out what happens next on this wild, Carl Hiaasen-like ride. The author has a true ear for dialogue, and the brash, honest talk from the eccentric cast provides an effective counterpoint to the intricacy of the narration and the "ohmygod!" quirkiness and creativity of the plot. If HBO is smart, they'll turn this book into a series. And it will be a blast. But you'll lose the writing artistry that makes reading this novel such a memorable experience.