Journalist and cultural critic Sarah Seltzer has written a remarkable debut novel that taps into her deep well of knowledge about feminism and rock history. The Singer Sisters is about two generations of a folk-rock dynasty and the sacrifices these female artists must make in the pursuit of their dreams.
The chief protagonists, though “antagonists” might be a better word, are 1960s folk legend Judie — think Joan Baez or Judy Collins — and her nineties-era, black nail polish – wearing, alt-rock daughter, Emma. This ingenious story weaves in fascinating subplots about other members of their talented clan as it explores the conflict between being a mother and writing great songs.
The novel begins in New York City in 1995, when Judie Zingerman and Dave Cantor — Jewish American “folk-rock royalty” — tell their adult musician children, Emma and Leon, that they are splitting up after more than two decades. The next year, Emma, a guitarist, is opening a concert at Brown University’s “legendarily debauched” Spring Weekend with her Korean American drummer, Mae.
Their female fans have turned out in force, sporting chunky boots; pierced noses, lips, and eyebrows; and strands of green, pink, and red hair. In this scene and so many others, Seltzer excels at conjuring the look, mood, and spirit of two starkly different eras: the Greenwich Village folk scene of early Bob Dylan, and the LA music/celebrity culture of Britney Spears at the turn of the millennium.
Through flashbacks and flash-forwards, we learn the convoluted, sometimes heartbreaking history of this family — not just of Judie and Emma, but also of Judie’s sister, Sylvia, and the mysterious Irish au pair, Rose.
When Rose shows up at Emma’s concert at Brown, Emma recalls the time long ago when her former nanny accused her of coming from “a family of liars.” An even more distressing question occurs to Emma: why does this person, with whom Emma shared only a glancing relationship, have the enamel ring that once belonged to Emma’s grandmother?
Over the course of the novel, secrets and lies float to the surface as Seltzer plumbs the mystery and majesty of the songwriting process. She pays homage to the real-life musicians of both eras, geniuses whose backstories no doubt supplied her fictional universe with credible details.
While the stars of the ensemble are undoubtedly Judie, Emma, Sylvia, and Rose, Seltzer does not leave male characters out. They are convincingly etched and often talented and charming; but for the most part, they play supporting roles, their chief task to father babies who will carry on the dynasty.
There are many pleasures to be found in this book, including characters who are endearing and annoying in equal measure. Seltzer demonstrates a stellar grasp of secular Jewish American culture — but perhaps this is no surprise, given that she serves as executive editor of Lilith, a Jewish feminist magazine. It is enough to make a certain kind of Jewish reader kvell.
Ann Levin is a writer, book reviewer, and former editor at The Associated Press. Her memoir and nonfiction have been published in numerous literary magazines and she has read her stories on stage with the New York-based writers group Writers Read.
