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colinreedmoon's review
4.0
Masterfully told. A story of lost youth at the hands of the hard-line world of 'youth treatment', dealing with youth hospitals and state programs meant to aid children but ending up hurting them in later life by mistake.
It says a lot about Darnielle (himself no stranger to troubled youth--having both been one and, later, working with them--the whole of his 'Sunset Tree' is dedicated to these themes) and his ability to understand complicated characters, both in song and in prose.
I'd like to see more of his writing, and I'm glad the 33 1/3 series allowed this type of entry; Colin Meloy's was more band history by way of personal memoir, Kim Cooper's was more straight journalism, and this is sheer fiction.
Brilliant. The best one-sit read I've had all year.
It says a lot about Darnielle (himself no stranger to troubled youth--having both been one and, later, working with them--the whole of his 'Sunset Tree' is dedicated to these themes) and his ability to understand complicated characters, both in song and in prose.
I'd like to see more of his writing, and I'm glad the 33 1/3 series allowed this type of entry; Colin Meloy's was more band history by way of personal memoir, Kim Cooper's was more straight journalism, and this is sheer fiction.
Brilliant. The best one-sit read I've had all year.
velleitaletterarie's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
kfan's review
5.0
I don't even know what to say about this besides Please John Darnielle, write more books.
It was really very emotional, all the way through, thinking about all the kids I used to hang out with in high school who went through this, or would have, if they'd lived long enough, or would have, if their (or my) parents had had just a little less ability to cope with their teenage sons, or a few less parental tools within their reach.
It's a very good book.
I finished reading it while I was eating breakfast by myself at a Steak & Shake. I went up to the counter to pay, and the cook rang me out, and noticed the cover of the book and asked what I was reading. And I explained what the book was about, and just implored him to read it. He gave me my change and said "I really do like Black Sabbath." And I thought about this book, and this man, late 20s, working at Steak & Shake, and I wished I hadn't gotten the book from the library because I would have just handed it to him.
It was really very emotional, all the way through, thinking about all the kids I used to hang out with in high school who went through this, or would have, if they'd lived long enough, or would have, if their (or my) parents had had just a little less ability to cope with their teenage sons, or a few less parental tools within their reach.
It's a very good book.
I finished reading it while I was eating breakfast by myself at a Steak & Shake. I went up to the counter to pay, and the cook rang me out, and noticed the cover of the book and asked what I was reading. And I explained what the book was about, and just implored him to read it. He gave me my change and said "I really do like Black Sabbath." And I thought about this book, and this man, late 20s, working at Steak & Shake, and I wished I hadn't gotten the book from the library because I would have just handed it to him.
maidenknightbradamant's review
At first I thought this was kinda cheesy then I was like ow ow ow john darnielle stop stabbing me.
watchingpreacher's review
5.0
This was a hard one to read, for many reasons. It reminds me of my own life, my own writings, my own love for music. It showed me a possible future where I am deeply unhappy, where I fail in every aspect, where I become a shell of myself and, if I look back, I'll see a version of myself that I recognise, but who won't recognise me.
It has one of the most beautiful dedications I have ever read, and it's worth buying and reading just for that reason alone. Especially if you're a fan of the Mountain Goats, the band Darnielle writes and is the vocalist for (in the band's earlier stuff, he IS the band, recording songs with guitar and his voice on a boombox he owned), and the music has had some kind of resonance for you at all.
Here Darnielle writes simply, straightforwardly, poetically in all its simplicity. He perfectly encapsulates the teenager that rant and rave, and only wants to convert someone to his view of the world, of his music, of his life. It started out good enough, but it's in the second part this really crushes you. Just like the best of his songs, this short novel is full of pain and suffering and hope and death and an understanding of the world that might not fit with the majority, and in the second part it's like a beast that's been put to sleep finally wakes up, only to look back and not have a single clue how it came to be here, in this moment, this place.
But it's not about that. It's about Master of Reality, the Black Sabbath-album, and what it means for a teenager when he's no longer allowed to listen to it. It's about what music means to us, to some, all those who don't feel right, who feels out of place, alien. It's about how we all live in the same world, but we see it differently, and how those differences can get you into trouble. It's about power, over others, over yourself, over society. And it's about knowing when to say fuck you all. Go to hell.
It has one of the most beautiful dedications I have ever read, and it's worth buying and reading just for that reason alone. Especially if you're a fan of the Mountain Goats, the band Darnielle writes and is the vocalist for (in the band's earlier stuff, he IS the band, recording songs with guitar and his voice on a boombox he owned), and the music has had some kind of resonance for you at all.
Here Darnielle writes simply, straightforwardly, poetically in all its simplicity. He perfectly encapsulates the teenager that rant and rave, and only wants to convert someone to his view of the world, of his music, of his life. It started out good enough, but it's in the second part this really crushes you. Just like the best of his songs, this short novel is full of pain and suffering and hope and death and an understanding of the world that might not fit with the majority, and in the second part it's like a beast that's been put to sleep finally wakes up, only to look back and not have a single clue how it came to be here, in this moment, this place.
But it's not about that. It's about Master of Reality, the Black Sabbath-album, and what it means for a teenager when he's no longer allowed to listen to it. It's about what music means to us, to some, all those who don't feel right, who feels out of place, alien. It's about how we all live in the same world, but we see it differently, and how those differences can get you into trouble. It's about power, over others, over yourself, over society. And it's about knowing when to say fuck you all. Go to hell.
ominousevent's review
4.0
If there were any justice in the world I would have given this book five stars. As it is, I am very careful about what I give perfect scores to, so even though this made me cry and gulp for breath when I wasn't even crying, and type out parts of it because I couldn't not do anything with them, I have to give it four because I feel like the Platonic ideal of the first section of the book is even better realised.
I'm fairly sure I'm going to start listening to Black Sabbath now.
I'm fairly sure I'm going to start listening to Black Sabbath now.
jsbw's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mindsnare666's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75