Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46126 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-24
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Synopsis
If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light, If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls. I will write always. I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you.' Henry Rollins, renowned spoken-word performer, musician, actor and author of several books, has a unique, hard-edged view of the world. This collection of writings from 1989 - 1991 is the classic Rollins book. From dramatic fiction shorts detailing stark, disturbing realities to gut-wrenching tour journals destroying all misconceptions of the glamour of fame and the music industry; from the challenging poetry to revealing dream sequences, Rollins' writing is unflinching in its honesty, uncompromising in its truth and irresistibly addictive.

About the Author
Henry Rollins is a renowned spoken-work performer, musician, actor and author of several books.

Customer Reviews

bleak
This book captures rollins writings from 1989 to 1991 and this is not easy reading by a long shot,this is the work of a man that has seen too much and his heart has imploded,this book feels like torture at times such is its downward spiral into agony,depravity and human sickness,there is little light here,some humour releases itself from time to time but the moral of these writings is really pain and more pain from a creative man who finds it hard to be happy.
The book is broken down into different areas,the first is the traumatic '124 worlds',this is made up stuff (or is it) about 124 stories of murder and death and human nature gone wrong,drug use,suicide ,murder and downright evil,this takes some going to read as your mood changes with it,story after story after story of agony and vile,vile acts,it isnt easy and when i finished i felt i deserved a medal for my bravery but this is still good stuff.
We get a few short poems and then some tour memoirs which always make for interesting reading but again rollins brings the subject matter in on itself with his raging anger and uncaring matter but this is rollins and thats the way he thinks.
Then we get some more short prose ,a poem and then an interesting section called '61 dreams' where he writes down the subject matter of his dreams,these are very interesting and open to debate on what they could mean in a literal sense but usually the matter at hand is one of agony and regret perhaps.
We finish with a work called ' i know you' which is rollins standing baxck from himself and analysing himself and we can all relate to some of what he says although i cant say i relate to it all and im sure thats a blessing but henry rollins is a very interesting and troubled man and this book flew by in no time.
I have seen rollins live telling his stories and we all chuckle along at his tales but here there is little to brighten the day ,its a black book that screams with every page and after you read it you may well be screaming too,great though.

Ouch
If you've never read Rollins before, it might be better to start with his more accessible stuff like "Smile, You're Travelling", mainly because the first half of this book is a lot of very short stories detailing little acts of violence and suicide carried out by nameless city residents. It's quite admirable really, and you feel like a *trooper* for having got through it, and into the diary section at the end, which is as always interesting to read and leaves you wanting more.
Recommended, then, but not for the weak of stomach.
And it does improve when you go back to it (after your years of THERAPY) to get you through those HARD TIMES, uhuh.

viva Rollins
Questions....Do you have an occupation that takes you away from home on a regular basis for weeks at a time? When you're at home, does it actually feel like 'home', or how others describe their homes? Are you an authentic human being that loathes mediocrity in all it's forms? Would you rather be working than have 'leisure time'? Are you alienated from your parents and family? Would you prefer to stay in most of the time in your own company, reading excellent literature and listening to music YOU like, rather than listen to pop-pap, and ingrates whingeing and talking bulls**t in most social situations in which you find yourself? Do you always feel painfully lonely and like an 'outsider', no matter how hard you try, and no matter how well you get on with people after having read "HTWFAIP" by Dale Carnegie? If the answer is yes to at least two of the above then you'll find Mr Rollins has no equal in making you feel slightly less lonely in this world and modern times. Buy any of his books,this one for instance, and read them when you inevitably hit the low periods you have (will have) seeing as you answered yes to some of the above questions.