The Book Review Thread

[electro-melx]

I’m doing a lot of reading lately. Lots of Graphic Novels and Music related books…I thought I’d let you lovely people know what I’ve been reading and give you a few little reviews, feel free to add your own! (I might get some good ideas of what to read next)

Firstly on the music relate front:

Title Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 Author Michael Azerrad

This is a great book, It’s broken into chapters that each tell the story of a different band. First chapter is the story of punk legends Black Flag and it finishes with Sub/Pop band ‘Beat Happening’, along the way there are chapters on Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Husker Du, The Replacements, Butthole Surfers and many more….there are also many other bands mentioned within the chapters such as REM. Intertwined with this are the stories of many great Indpendent record labels, SST, Sub/Pop, Twin Tone, Dischord and more. This is a must read for any fan of ‘Alternative’ music especially for younger people that can’t remember what was happening before Nirvana.

and secondly:

Title The Story of CRASS Author George Berger

The Story of the UK’s ‘anarchict hippy punk freethinking artist collective’ Crass….this is a great book also, written with the co-operation of ex members (except one) who were interviewed for this book, it tells the story of the band in a very honest way and is very self reflective at times. It doesn’t just concentate on the group as a band either, from the shared ‘open house’ they lived in, the artwork by band members, the pranks, the politics, it’s all here…it’s a book about people who actually tried to make a difference, not just sing about it. Here’s a band that really couldn’t play, no hype, no bullshit, they were (and still are in many ways) the real deal imo. Recommended for anyone who want to be inspired to live their life the way they really want to and anyone who can’t bare to listen to thier records!!

both titles are available from Amazon (and other leading bookstores of course )

http://www.amazon.com/Story-Crass-George-Berger/dp/1847724647/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231453436&sr=8-2

[julian]

Our Band Could Be Your Life is pretty good
made me want to explore more

[BlueSteel]

I know a few good books.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Keidis- Its all about his life and whatnot. really good book if you like the chili peppers a lot.

Also, another really good book is I Am America, (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert. Its about America and stuff. Its an amazing book. Buy it!

[julian]

Last good book I read was “The Man in the High Castle” by Phillip K. Dick. It takes place in the USA in the 60’s after Germany and Japan won the war. It’s quite wonderful. Many different characters with different viewpoints and backgrounds. There are a few characters that are fascists or racists in the book who are just totally effed up in the head and their perspectives.

[John J]

I just read 3 graphic novels by Alan Moore: The Watchmen, Killing Joke and From Hell. The Watchmen is absolutely fantastic but I wish I would have read it before the movie was announced.Regardless, the book boasts incredible prominence despite being published over 20 years ago. It’s funny how little things change…

The Killing Joke is neat but it needed to have been about three times as long; I’m all for succinctness but the story needs more development than what it was given. Mental anguish needs more than a half hour to cause insanity. However, since I was three I’ve been a huge junkie for any Joker plot so I still loved it from start to finish. Moore is the master of cliffhanger endings, so his novels stick with you long after you’ve finished them. That’s more than I can say about any traditional novels I’ve read recently.

From Hell is… well, it’s dark. I jumped the gun when I said I’ve read three,I’m actually still reading this one.

As for books without pictures, I still need some time off… this stupid English major has turned reading into a chore. I recently read Slouching Towards Nirvana by Charles Bukowski and loved it but that’s contemporary poetry so it doesn’t count.

I like this thread.

[electro-melx]

John, have you read ‘the invisibles’ by Grant Morrison? I finished reading the Graphic novels (7 books) last year and I thought it was totally brilliant, (especially the first 3, which collect series one) if you liked Watchmen, you’d probably like it a lot…..I’m reading ‘Anarchy for the Masses: The Disinformation guide to the Invisibles’ which is kind of an analysis of the series.

This is the first book.

http://www.amazon.com/Invisibles-Vol-Say-Want-Revolution/dp/1563892677/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231497937&sr=8-1

very recommended.

Grant’s Stand alone Graphic Novel ‘The Filth’ is good too, it’s a bit like a shrunk down version of the invisibles in one book, it explores similar themes.

[BlueSteel]

Theres a lot of good books by Chuck Palahniuk.

Choke
Fight Club
Rant
Survivor

They are all really good.

[Costch]

Me of little faith by Lewis Black seems like it would be pretty good. Haven’t read it yet, but I’m a huge fan of his so I assume it would be quite hillarious.

[Author]

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