Are You Experienced?

OK, Jordan. Admit it. You didn’t write Are You Experienced? for teens. You really wrote it for the 60-somethings like me who want to reminisce about a by-gone era of idealism, of a love of music and our favorite bands, of a day when we weren’t all connected, all the time, to 1,000 ‘friends’. You wanted us to re-live Woodstock, regardless of whether or not we went (I didn’t) and remember Ten Years After and John Sebastian and Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Jimi Hendrix’s version of the national anthem. If that was your goal, you succeeded triumphantly because I had a blast reading and remembering.

Or did you write it for teens? To introduce them to all of the above. Yeah, there are kids now who know of some show more of the bands there, but many don’t. There are some kids who think that the world can be a better place, but many don’t. There are kids who look outside themselves and try to help others, but many don’t. Maybe Are You Experienced? can be a wake-up call and shake a generation out of its apathy.

But, in truth, what you did was write a fun book. Imagine traveling back in time and spending time with your father when you and he both are 15. A father who is distant and restrictive and solitary. Imagine learning what he was like at your age and what shaped him into the person he has become. What a fun and unique opportunity. And imagine doing that at the concert to end all concerts, Woodstock. Well, Richard Gabriel Barber lived that chance. And in doing so, met some great musicians, some great people and might have changed his own and his father’s life.

Are You Experienced? is a fun romp through Woodstock. Regardless of whether some of the events actually happened, you’ll get a glimpse of some great rock musicians. You’ll understand, hopefully, the lure of the music. You’ll learn about the traffic jams and the heavy rains and mud, the skinny-dipping and, yes, the drugs. But, having listened to the Woodstock CDs and seen the movie, it is some of the best music you’ll ever hear. As you read Are You Experienced?, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll remember (if you’re old enough).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

P.S. In a somewhat familiar vein, if you’re interested, Born to Rock by Gordon Korman, is another rock and roll book. Imagine being an ultra conservative kid and finding out your dad was once king of Heavy Metal! show less

I very much enjoyed "Are You Experienced?" by Jordan Sonneblick! I've never wished I was at Woodstock, but I can easily a imagine a 15 year old boy from this time wishing that, especially one who plays the guitar. I've always enjoyed time travel stories, so that was the big draw for me. However once I started reading I really got invested in the story and the characters. I wanted to know if Richard (aka Gabriel) would get back to his own time, if he'd save his uncle, and if he'd really meet Jimi Hendrix. I was also very interested to see what turned Richard's dad from the 15 year old he was in 1969 to the adult he is in 2014. The whole book put a smile on my face, and made me want to ask my aunt, who really was at Woodstock, how show more accurate everything depicted is. One things that made me very happy was that the time traveling actually happened; it wasn't just a coma dream. If it had all been a dream that would have ruined the book for me.

The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars was two things at the end. The first was that I wish Richard had discovered which Debbie Jones was his Debbie. I would have liked to know what she was doing now. However what really got to me was that we didn't get to see them go see Willow. When the book ends Richard and his dad are in the car heading out to meet her. I wanted to see what was going to happen in that meeting. These are my only minor complaints about an otherwise wonderful book.

One note I will add: drug use is depicted a fair amount in this book. This didn't surprise me at all. As I mentioned above, my aunt was at Woodstock, and she's told me about it. I don't think you can write a book about Woodstock without any drug use if you want it to be realistic. However if drug use bothers you, you might want to skip this book. show less

Rich is a fifteen year old guitar player who feels stifled by his super protective parents. When he discovers Jimi Hendrix's guitar (the one he played at Woodstock) with a cryptic note from his dead uncle, he strikes the code and is brought back in time to the road to Woodstock. Where he takes on the identity of Gabriel and hangs out for an unforgettable three days with his dad, uncle, with their paths crossing with some famous musicians. Gabriel is there just a few weeks before his uncle's death and in the experience learns to understand his dad better and gain insight into his uncle's death.
I've always been a Woodstock fan, and was fascinated by the descriptions of the experience for concert goers (while I'm sure this wasn't typical show more with all the interactions with the musicians! it was fun to read.) show less

Are You Experienced? by Jordan Sonnenblick takes the reader to 1969 to experience Woodstock.

Rich wakes up and realizes that he's in a hospital before dozing off again. He awakens when he's hit by a car on its way to Woodstock in 1969. The driver is his uncle who dies shortly after Woodstock. His uncle's girlfriend, Willow, and his own dad, David are all in the car. Rich introduces himself as Gabriel and joins them as they attend the most famous music festival ever. Rich loves playing guitar; he also loves the music from the 1960s and has religiously studied Woodstock. He knows every entertainer and every song. This is a dream come true. He feels like he's here for a reason and hopes to save his uncle, which might change his dad from show more living like the dead to actually living a life.

Rich and his dad really don't get along. There's a large generation gap; in addition, his dad is emotionally distant and hung up on the mistakes of his past and the death of his uncle. These mistakes have created a very over-protective father who shows little love. In this weekend together, Gabriel/Rich learns about why his dad is the way he is, why his uncle died, and how to talk to and relate to people honestly.

A lot of movies and rumors have revolved around Woodstock. Mr. Sonnenblick did a lot of research and presents as much fact-based information as he can. One hundred thousand were expected and half a million showed up. It was a wild party, but there wasn't violence. It rained, so it was muddy. People were dirty and high from the drugs as well. When Gabriel wakes up one morning at Woodstock, he talks about how awful it smelled. Nonetheless, people had a great time listening to some of the best musicians in history playing all weekend. I really liked this novel, and I know little to nothing about music. If you like music, you'll definitely like this historical look at one of the most famous musical moments in history. Even if you know little about music like me, you'll like the story. show less

Fun book to read! I am working with my freshman and sophomore English teachers to develop a list of book suggestions for summer reading for rising 9th and 10th grade students, and this is one I will recommend. Of course, I am nearly 60 and love the historical musical memories of Woodstock ...my husband was there.
Do kids still get into Hendrix, and Joplin for the plot to keep them engaged? Surely the father/son relationship will ring true.

Rich's father is really strict, and Rich is tired of it. On the anniversary of his uncle's death, Rich plays a special cord on Jimi Hendrix's guitar and finds himself transported to Woodstock. Calling himself Gabriel, he spends the weekend with his 15-year-old father and his young uncle, learning about his family history.