I received this Finished Copy from Publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
California Dreamin' Published by First Second on March 7, 2017 Pages: 272
Amazon-Indiebound
Goodreads
Before she became the legendary Mama Cass—one quarter of the mega-huge folk group The Mamas and the Papas—Cass Eliot was a girl from Baltimore trying to make it in the big city. After losing parts to stars like Barbra Streisand on the Broadway circuit, Cass found her place in the music world with an unlikely group of cohorts.
The Mamas and the Papas released five studio albums in their three years of existence. It was at once one of the most productive (and profitable) three years any band has ever had, and also one of the most bizarre and dysfunctional groups of people to ever come together to make music. Through it all, Cass struggled to keep sight of her dreams—and her very identity.
My Thoughts:
I really love graphic novels but don’t read nearly enough of them. When I saw that First Second had one about Cass Elliot I knew I had to read it!
I’ve always loved the music of The Mamas & the Papas, but didn’t know much about them. Learning more about Cass Elliot and the group in general in California Dreamin’: Cass Elliot Before The Mamas & The Papas by Penelope Bagieu was perfect.
First things first, I absolutely loved Bagieu’s work. The art and the story complemented each other so much. You get a glimpse of the style on the cover. You can also head over to the amazon link and get a peek inside the book to see more. It’s so great. I especially loved Cass’ flair!
Immediately after reading this book I brought it to work with me. I shared it with two coworkers who I knew were fans of the music from the time. Both of them loved it. We all learned things we didn’t know and had really great discussions about Cass, the group, and the time period. I didn’t expect that and it was such a great bonus.
California Dreamin’: Cass Elliot Before The Mamas & The Papas by Penelope Bagieu is a great graphic novel for anyone. Interesting and aesthetically pleasing!
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