“Stone Arabia” by Dana Spiotta. Scribner. 256 pages. $24.
By Adera Causey
Recently, we have witnessed an abundance of ’70s and ’80s rocker reunion tours providing a retro mood. This has captured not only the music industry but also the book industry as evidenced by veritable love letters to vintage rock found in standout novels such as “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” “Ten Thousand Saints” and “Juliet Naked.” Now we welcome another soulful entry to this remix with Dana Spiotta’s “Stone Arabia.”
Perhaps the most personal of the recent batch of rock dramas, Spiotta’s story feels more like an intimate dive bar show of a nearly forgotten rocker than a sold-out stadium extravaganza. For this is the story of just one never-known rocker, Nik Worth, whose fame may be more imagined than real but whose versatility and skill eclipses many of those who are household names.
Denise Kranis, Nik’s adoring kid sister, narrates the tale, or rather co-narrates it with Nik’s fabricated narrative. Ultimately, this is not just Denise’s actual recollection facing off with Nik’s embellished one but rather harmony of the two that throws truth into question.