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A review by kris_mccracken
Detours by Tim Rogers
4.0
Tim Rogers, frontman of You Am I, might be best known for his music, but "Detours" offers a surprisingly different side of him. As someone who enjoys Rogers' music very much, I expected a memoir steeped in riffs and rhythm. Instead, this unusual and utterly charming book feels more like sitting down for a heart-to-heart with the man himself, an unfiltered, meandering conversation about life, love, and everything in between.
Rogers' writing is, like the man, full of flair, described aptly as trailing "floaty scarves." It's lush, often poetic, but occasionally trips over its own extravagance. That said, beneath the literary flourishes is a brutal honesty. He writes candidly about anxiety, drinking and some less-fine memories. His insights into his turbulent family life and unstable childhood dig into the psychological roots of his struggles, making for a raw and cathartic memoir.
"Detours" covers a dizzying array of topics: masculinity, love, footy, drinking, his father, being a dad, and his love of making music. Surprisingly, though, there's not actually much about his music here. Songwriting is mentioned, but more as a lifeline, a way for Rogers to turn pain into art, mirroring what this memoir does so beautifully.
Sport runs throughout. With vivid memories of Kalgoorlie footy, battered blokes pushing through pain for the sheer joy of it, and the soothing drone of cricket commentary evoke a sense of nostalgia.
There is a blending of reflections on art, anxiety and identity with intimate moments from his life, fatherhood struggles, brushes with fame, and his relentless search for meaning. Rogers is achingly sincere, especially when recounting his demons and failures. There's a sense of someone coming to terms with himself, laying it all bare without pretence.
This is a deeply engaging read, equal parts mesmerising and messy. Tim Rogers has crafted something that feels intensely personal like a handwritten letter smudged with ink and tears. For fans of his music or anyone drawn to stories of resilience and reinvention, this is well worth the detour.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Rogers' writing is, like the man, full of flair, described aptly as trailing "floaty scarves." It's lush, often poetic, but occasionally trips over its own extravagance. That said, beneath the literary flourishes is a brutal honesty. He writes candidly about anxiety, drinking and some less-fine memories. His insights into his turbulent family life and unstable childhood dig into the psychological roots of his struggles, making for a raw and cathartic memoir.
"Detours" covers a dizzying array of topics: masculinity, love, footy, drinking, his father, being a dad, and his love of making music. Surprisingly, though, there's not actually much about his music here. Songwriting is mentioned, but more as a lifeline, a way for Rogers to turn pain into art, mirroring what this memoir does so beautifully.
Sport runs throughout. With vivid memories of Kalgoorlie footy, battered blokes pushing through pain for the sheer joy of it, and the soothing drone of cricket commentary evoke a sense of nostalgia.
There is a blending of reflections on art, anxiety and identity with intimate moments from his life, fatherhood struggles, brushes with fame, and his relentless search for meaning. Rogers is achingly sincere, especially when recounting his demons and failures. There's a sense of someone coming to terms with himself, laying it all bare without pretence.
This is a deeply engaging read, equal parts mesmerising and messy. Tim Rogers has crafted something that feels intensely personal like a handwritten letter smudged with ink and tears. For fans of his music or anyone drawn to stories of resilience and reinvention, this is well worth the detour.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐