FRIENDS OF MINE: THIRTY YEARS IN THE LIFE OF A DURAN DURAN FAN
(a memoir)
Elisa Lorello’s lifelong love affair with Duran Duran began like that of many other fans: staying up late watching MTV, plastering her bedroom walls with glossy posters and magazine pinups, and writing secret stories about someday becoming Mrs. John Taylor. But waiting in the darkness was a life that held more than she bargained for. Battling a negative self-image, self-imposed isolation, and troubled relationships, Elisa eventually unlocked the strength to free her and become the teacher and bestselling novelist she was meant to be. And she discovered that her Duran Duran fandom—and the power of music—was the key. Using her signature blend of humor and heartstring tugging, Elisa transports readers back to a time of synthesizers and shoulder pads, fedoras and Ferris Bueller, leather pants and Live Aid. Much more than a fan letter, Friends of Mine: Thirty Years in the Life of a Duran Duran Fan is a collection of stories about growing up in 1980s suburbia. It’s about first loves, first losses, divorce, Generation X, family, and friendship—all set to the soundtrack of the original Fab Five.
“I loved Friends of Mine! Elisa Lorello perfectly captures the specialness of growing up Duranie in the awesome 80s. . . But Friends of Mine isn’t just for the ‘Duran Duranged’; it’s for fans in general. If the longest (and best?) relationship you’ve ever had is with a band—or a sports team, or an actor, or a writer—then this book is for you.”
~ Lori Majewski, co-author of Mad World
“Lorello walks us through the hallways of her eighties childhood like a sun-cast shadow clinging lovingly to every forgotten surface.” ~ Steffan Piper, author of Greyhound
“Eighties music fans, especially Duranies, will find plenty of relatable moments in Friends Of Mine. Elisa writes with heart, generously sharing the depth of her love for music and all things Duran Duran.”
~ Karen Booth, author of Bring Me Back and Back Forever
I received this surprise days after my 44th birthday -- what a fantastic present. John Taylor, from Duran Duran, holding my book (it's the copy I presented to him)! The reliable source also told me that JT "loves the cover" and was "happy to oblige" this snapshot. I'm incredibly grateful to him for doing so. Looks rather swell in his hand.