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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
inspiring
fast-paced
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
Often funny, ultimately heartbreaking, and always sincere account of the story of Joy Division by bassist Peter Hook. One of the most influential post-punk bands is way too often put on a pedestal, and the tragedy of Ian Curtis has created a myth surrounding the singer. Hook's account brings everything down to earth, a story of four young lads who loved to play rock and roll. Humanizing Curtis makes his death even more poignant. And at the same time, learning how they produced their songs makes one appreciate the music even more.
I’m glad I listened to this on audio as read by Peter Hook. He is so natural. It never feels like he is “reading” but rather like you are sitting in a bar and he’s just telling you a bunch of stories about his time in Joy Division. This is a great intimate history of the band from the perspective of one of its more forthright members. Hooky doesn’t pull any punches and constantly reminds you this is HIS BOOK so he’ll say what he wants. My only slight critique of the book is about the countless recounting of all the japes the boys played on each other and on other bands. It was nonstop. After hearing about half a dozen different japes I lost interest in hearing about the two dozen more. I think what I liked most was Hooky’s dissection of the Joy Division albums track by track. His insight is priceless and you should most definitely listen to the songs as he talks about them. All in all, I enjoyed this book. It kind of makes me want to read more about Joy Division.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
For those who are still convinced that Joy Division were miserable bastards.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
LOVED this book, Peter Hook really grasps your attention.
Ahead of reading Peter Hook's apparently massive volume on New Order, I thought I'd check out his book about the early Warsaw and Joy Division years. Personally in the big split between Hooky and Bernard Sumner I had the former down as the villain - perhaps I was wrong, assuaged by personal feelings, thinking what I wanted to think, not giving the self-styled rock god bassist some benefit of the doubt. There's some bitchiness about Mr Sumner in here, painted very much as the McCartney of the group - the selfish, cold-hearted businessman of legend - but also acknowledgement of his genius. There's a lot about Ian Curtis, because obviously there is, and I like the effort to make him seem three-dimensional and real, and doing a better job of it than Anton Corbjin's film, CONTROL, in my opinion. There's always a danger of turning pop stars, especially dead ones, into tortured heroes, but Hooky doesn't do that with Curtis and goes instead for a 'warts and all' approach, which I appreciated.
Another thing that sits well with me is the writing style. Hooky either didn't use a ghost writer, or whoever he employed was skilled enough to stay with the author's tone. The book reads like a pub conversation. It's easy to imagine hearing it from the man himself, rambled over too many pints, that distinctive Salford accent becoming a bit slurred towards the end but distinctive and honest all the same.
Not an unknown pleasure then, but a pleasure all the same.
Another thing that sits well with me is the writing style. Hooky either didn't use a ghost writer, or whoever he employed was skilled enough to stay with the author's tone. The book reads like a pub conversation. It's easy to imagine hearing it from the man himself, rambled over too many pints, that distinctive Salford accent becoming a bit slurred towards the end but distinctive and honest all the same.
Not an unknown pleasure then, but a pleasure all the same.
I laughed, I laughed, I smirked, i got used to thinking in Manc. Then i got I sad. All the while listening to Joy Division and getting so much a deeper appreciation for the talent and techniques iwthin.
Not a perfect book or autobiography, but a perfect one for fans of New Order and/or Joy Division. It was way way funnier than i expected. Extremely visceral, you feel like you are on tour with them or in Hooky's shitty van.
Sure theres random editor notes thrown in to add some structure, timelines recapping the-story-thus-far, but it overall adds to a satisfying comprehensive experience. Sure its not the complete story, but i think it captures energy and magic of the band and the time they were coming of age in.
I'm greatly looking forwad to reading the rest of Hooky's tell-alls.
Not a perfect book or autobiography, but a perfect one for fans of New Order and/or Joy Division. It was way way funnier than i expected. Extremely visceral, you feel like you are on tour with them or in Hooky's shitty van.
Sure theres random editor notes thrown in to add some structure, timelines recapping the-story-thus-far, but it overall adds to a satisfying comprehensive experience. Sure its not the complete story, but i think it captures energy and magic of the band and the time they were coming of age in.
I'm greatly looking forwad to reading the rest of Hooky's tell-alls.