Andrew Martin’s Early Work is an award-winning novel that follows the intertwined romantic, spiritual, and creative journeys of two very different young people as they come of age in the music industry of the late 1990s. It is a sensitive and compelling look at two people’s struggles to find their own identity and a place in a rapidly changing world.
The main characters are Colm MacMahon, an aspiring songwriter and musician, and Laura Keegan, a science-minded grad student. Early in the novel, we meet Colm, struggling with his career in the music business and his relationships with his girlfriend and family. He is restless and longs to be inspired by something larger than himself. At the same time, Laura is grappling with a difficult family history and trying to find a place for herself in the world. When the two meet, a deep connection is formed, and together they slowly build a life-transforming relationship.
The novel follows Colm and Laura as they navigate their own personal journeys, each learning from the other and growing into their new life together. We witness their passionate love of music as they work together to write Colm’s songs and explore the creative process they use to bring a song to life. We also see the ways in which their differing opinions and backgrounds bring out different perspectives on the world.
Meanwhile, the 1990s music industry is undergoing rapid change, with the rise of digital recording and production, the growing interest in the internet, and the increasing popularity of independent labels and artists. While the technological advances offer Colm and Laura unprecedented freedom and opportunity, they also threaten to disrupt their creative vision and the dream they are building together.
At its heart, Early Work is a story of personal growth, love, and friendship, with both Colm and Laura learning and growing throughout the narrative. The novel is tactile and lyrical and brimming with detail, with an almost dizzying array of themes and insights. We feel the intensity of their love, the anguish of their choices, and the sweetness of their friendship.
Martin’s writing is full of emotion and humanity. His storytelling and prose wrap around us like a warm blanket and keep us engaged through every twist and turn of the story. He is particularly gifted at conveying the inner life of his characters, allowing us to empathize with the struggles of their youth and the bravery of their journey into adulthood.
Early Work is a lovely and heartfelt story of music, love, and friendship. Andrew Martin has crafted a powerful and emotionally resonant novel about finding oneself, exploring one’s dreams, and crafting a life with someone you love. It is a story for anyone who ever had big dreams, and for anyone who simply needs to hear that it’s okay to be different.
