I am not a rock-n-roll person, but if there is one thing that Mr. Berner's memoir succeeds in is compelling the reader to realize their dreams and in a simple way, he takes us on the journey of how he took that first step. A brief look at the plot: You have David W. Berner, who is 57 years old, but in his early days (what he calls the vinyl era) he played rock n roll in a neighborhood garage band. He enters a national songwriting contest and quite unexpectedly is named a finalist. But that's not the half of it, David is called on to perform the song live at a storied venue for Americana music. Grabbing his old guitar and the love of his life, David hits the road, hoping to live out a musical fantasy he thought had been buried long ago. I loved: the road trip and the trip down memory lane. I related to: his account of his first love, Michelle, who simply left him a note in his locker saying they couldn't be and she moved, well...if Michelle's reading this simple heart felt review, 'Woman! Please text or email, or tweet David and say hi :-)' You can go the extra mile and buy a copy of his book and look for him to autograph it! If you are not into music, this book would demand quite some attention of you, and I reckon that's the down side, but I'm not saying you stop at that, read on because of how easy it is to connect to David's humor, fears and most of all the way he gets excited when he's got the chance to do something he always wanted. Memoirs as reflections of lives lived, decisions made and lessons learned are not so easy to rate, but for the fact that this book is about never giving up on dreams and taking the chance to realize a dream you've always had, it gets four stars! It has also persuaded me to listen to Bob Dylan, I don't know what I'll experience listening to his songs, but it's definitely worth a try. ~ Dora Archie Okeyo, NetGalley/GoodReads

Poignant, captivating and engaging. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone. The book was a one-sit read for me. You emerge better for reading it. ~ Rubina Bashir, Booklove

October Song is a beautifully authentic memoir that reminds that here are no time limits on dreams, creativity is boundless and nothing in life is finite when we let go of our self-imposed rules. By sharing an intimate phase of renewal, Berner reaffirms what we already know, but too often forget, that age is just a number when we value the journey over the destination. ~ Michelle Burwell, Windy City Reviews

I think you're at a very good place in your writing. Totally in control, honest/revealing of your thoughts and emotions, nice rhythm to your prose. A mature writer. I think you should pitch your book to a bigger publisher. ~ Mike O'Mary , Publisher: Dream of Things Publishing

4/5 Stars After reading the description of this book, I thought author David Berner found songwriting fame and fortune late in life. No, that's not what happened. What happened is he entered a song writing contest, went with other finalists to Virginia to play his song, and found that trip stirred up all sorts of memories, as well as intense thoughts and feelings about creativity. There was no giving up the day job. That was okay with Mr. Berner, though, since he's a level-headed middle-aged man firmly grounded in reality. In this memoir, he looks at the realities of his life and shares them with his readers. ~ SundayAtDusk, Professional GoodReads Reviewer

With his gift of a no-holds-barred writing style—raw, honest, confessional—Berner succeeds, once again, as a master storyteller. Music can tell the story of our past. Lyrics evoke memories; melodies make the heart thump like it did on a first date. October Song brings the reader through a mix tape of life, as Berner tells his tale of new love while traveling through landscapes and time. Each chapter reads like a beloved song. ~ Geralyn Hesslau Magrady, author of Lines

October Song strikes all the right chords; the high notes and the low notes of a life’s journey—the losses, the lessons, the loves. Composed with tenderness and affection, Berner’s heartfelt and ultimately life-affirming joy ride teaches us that you’re never too old to roll down the window, crank it up and belt it out. ~ Randy Richardson, Author: Cheeseland, Lost in the Ivy

October Song is about and for all who wonder if it’s too late to follow a dream. Through his easy conversational tone, David W. Berner shares his heart and soul as if we were curled up together, sipping hot chocolate in front of a fireplace. Like a favorite song, that warm fuzzy feeling lingers on well after the story is done. ~ Viga Boland, Author: No Tears for My Father

David W. Berner takes the reader beyond the mid-life crisis to what comes next: rebirth via newfound passion for music, travel, life and a special someone. October Song is a touching story that will inspire anybody of any age searching for meaning in their lives. ~ Mike O'Mary , Author: Wise Men and Other Stories