The Commitments (1987) by Roddy Doyle
A Dublin musician uses James Brown as an inspiration to form his own band to describe the sorrows of his countrymen.
“This cheeky first novel by a Dublin native, punctuated with Irish obscenities and quotes from soul classics, informed by righteous working-class anger and youthful alienation, offers the entertaining and insightful chronicle of The Commitments’ rise and inevitable fall.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“[I]t provides a lot of entertainment and flow for an enjoyable read. If you’re a music lover, I’d recommend it wholeheartedly.” — blogger foibles_fables