Tiger in a Trance: A Novel

As a lifelong Deadhead who spent 10 years ‘on the bus’ (Dead Tour) both during Garcia’s final years and after into the Further, Ratdog, Phil & Friends & Dead & Co era, I was excited to read this book because so rarely do I find something written solely from the perspective of someone who’s been out there on the road like I was, waking up in a new city every day and riding along with the colorful chaotic menagerie that is Dead tour.But I kind of got lost in all the drug use, to be honest. Not that I was a saint by any means, but for me what drew me to that scene was the music, period. I could be ‘high’ for days just from a really good show and usually attended shows stone sober because that’s all I needed. Even to this day, the Dead’s music does that to me - kind of like a transcendental state. I still spin at shows and I’m 49 lol. Plus I loathed heroin, as did a lot of us, because we saw it kill Jerry.I also think this adds to the stereotype of Deadheads that we are all drug addled losers who don’t want to work. I sold plenty of hemp necklaces and t-shirts on lot and got by just fine. Most of the people I toured with did the same.So while I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, I would have liked to see more written about the music and how it effected people, how it turned us all into a breathing embodiment of the band, because that’s how it was for me ✌🏼

I loved this book so much. As a Dead Head I loved the detailed description of following the band, the parking lot, the inside of the shows, the after party..The story got dark as the spiral into drug use got bad- but it's a reality and I'm sure many can relate to it. It was an easy entertaining read and I highly recommend it.

An enjoyable, well-written read that effectively represents Dead subcultures at their best and worst. I enjoyed FELLOW TRAVELER slightly more, but both novels are well worth reading. I don't want to spoil the ending of this novel, but I had some questions about the final scene. If anyone knows of a forum where the ending of the book is discussed by those who have read it, please let me know!

I'm going to finish this book sometime in the future simply because I attended many of the same shows in the book. At the moment, my interest is lost. I kept expecting something to happen; some sort of conflict or plot shift. Instead it is a narrative straight out of a High school AP creative writing class. Many of the adventures are interesting to the writer and not so much to the reader. I am sure many of them happened in real life and the writer feels they are cool enough to put on paper, but they don't move the story forward. At one point he spends 2 pages on a synopsis of a book the protagonist was reading on the bus.There is a story in here somewhere. But the writer failed to find it.

I loved this novel. I have read it a few times. It is so good I don't want to loan it out. It is a NY TIMES NOTABLE BOOK. If you are a literate dead-head...READ THIS BOOK! So true to the scene, life, the mindset.

I sent this book to my son for Christmas. He told me loved it. He said it was hard to put down once he started it! He is in a hard place and I want to thank you for helping him have something that he enjoyed!

Ludington's prose is tight. He propels the main character along an enjoyable but seemingly unproductive road of Dead shows and acid trips -- until the reader is convinced that he's on a different journey entirely. Well done, hard to put down!

Fantistic read, a great escape to that familiar festy goer. If not a huge concert or festy enthusiat but looking for some insite to that world. This is the book for you.