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Good Night
Dec. 1st, 2018 12:19 am
Dec. 1st, 2018
Henry Rollins "Black Coffee Blues" (Virgin Books)
Black Coffee Blues is the first book in the Black Coffee trilogy, which now includes the instalments "Do I Come Here Often?" and "Smile, You're Traveling".
Black Coffee blues can be broken down into collections of essays, tour diaries and short thematic poetry and prose. Henry Rollins writes directly from the heart in an honest and stripped down fashion that immediately makes the reader forget that this, apart from the tour diaries, is fiction. The first section of Black Coffee Blues is called 124 worlds and is a collection of 124 short insights into peoples lives. Surprisingly, the shortest insights, sometimes only a few lines long, provide the starkest and disturbingly horrific realities. Each "world" provides a new thought-provoking reality, and the excellent use of third person narrative allows the stories to be told without resorting to unnecessary explanation or judgement.
The second section, Black Coffee Blues is a collection of tour diaries written between 1989 and 1991. Henry Rollins destroys the misconceptions surrounding the glitz of fame and the music industry and allows a deeper insight into the effects of long touring schedules and crushing workloads. Henry talks frankly about the effects of isolation and loneliness while on the road along with the problems of exhaustion and the constant movement from show to show. You can almost believe that Henry never intends for any of his tour journals to be read by other people, let alone be published. All of Henry's writing on the road is unbelievably honest and insatiably addictive. Black Coffee Blues drags you on a trip across Europe and lets you see the world in a way very few people could ever hope to achieve. The third section is a collection if longer essays which explore some of the themes identified in the tour diaries. These include loneliness - "invisible Woman Blues", Exhaustion -"Exhaustion Blues" depression - "Monster", and alienation - "I Know You". These essays provide a gateway into the mind and motivation behind Mr Rollins.
The fourth section is a collection of 61 dreams as recounted by Henry. Once again, Henry resists the temptation to spoil the writing by adding any unnecessary commentary or explanation. The dreams merely are, and their interpretation is left to the reader. By the end of Black Coffee Blues you feel as if you have made a new best friend who you've accompanied on a great adventure. This book is fantastic as a travelling companion and is a constant source of inspiration and is always thought-provoking. This book can be re-read a million times with the same enjoyment as the first as something new can always be taken from it.
Black Coffee Blues is the first book in the Black Coffee trilogy, which now includes the instalments "Do I Come Here Often?" and "Smile, You're Traveling".
Black Coffee blues can be broken down into collections of essays, tour diaries and short thematic poetry and prose. Henry Rollins writes directly from the heart in an honest and stripped down fashion that immediately makes the reader forget that this, apart from the tour diaries, is fiction. The first section of Black Coffee Blues is called 124 worlds and is a collection of 124 short insights into peoples lives. Surprisingly, the shortest insights, sometimes only a few lines long, provide the starkest and disturbingly horrific realities. Each "world" provides a new thought-provoking reality, and the excellent use of third person narrative allows the stories to be told without resorting to unnecessary explanation or judgement.
The second section, Black Coffee Blues is a collection of tour diaries written between 1989 and 1991. Henry Rollins destroys the misconceptions surrounding the glitz of fame and the music industry and allows a deeper insight into the effects of long touring schedules and crushing workloads. Henry talks frankly about the effects of isolation and loneliness while on the road along with the problems of exhaustion and the constant movement from show to show. You can almost believe that Henry never intends for any of his tour journals to be read by other people, let alone be published. All of Henry's writing on the road is unbelievably honest and insatiably addictive. Black Coffee Blues drags you on a trip across Europe and lets you see the world in a way very few people could ever hope to achieve. The third section is a collection if longer essays which explore some of the themes identified in the tour diaries. These include loneliness - "invisible Woman Blues", Exhaustion -"Exhaustion Blues" depression - "Monster", and alienation - "I Know You". These essays provide a gateway into the mind and motivation behind Mr Rollins.
The fourth section is a collection of 61 dreams as recounted by Henry. Once again, Henry resists the temptation to spoil the writing by adding any unnecessary commentary or explanation. The dreams merely are, and their interpretation is left to the reader. By the end of Black Coffee Blues you feel as if you have made a new best friend who you've accompanied on a great adventure. This book is fantastic as a travelling companion and is a constant source of inspiration and is always thought-provoking. This book can be re-read a million times with the same enjoyment as the first as something new can always be taken from it.
Book 91 - Russell Targ "Miracles of Mind"
Dec. 1st, 2018 01:11 pmRussell Targ "Miracles of Mind: Exploring Nonlocal Consciousness and Spiritual Healing" (New World Library)
This large-format paperback was given to me by Tony Grist, an LJ friend.
I guess I am still a sceptic on this but I did find it fascinating.
I hesitate to file this under "science," but the discoveries made here were in research situations. I have no problem with the designation personally, but I know many would.
This book, written by converted sceptics and researchers, posits that: "Psi exists... the "non-local mind"... the Akashic records, all information, past, present, future, here, there, everywhere, available everywhere always."
The key is quieting the mind, in order to experience the connectedness... not-trying, getting results by not caring about results.
Interesting ideas, although couched in slightly bland prose.
This large-format paperback was given to me by Tony Grist, an LJ friend.
I guess I am still a sceptic on this but I did find it fascinating.
I hesitate to file this under "science," but the discoveries made here were in research situations. I have no problem with the designation personally, but I know many would.
This book, written by converted sceptics and researchers, posits that: "Psi exists... the "non-local mind"... the Akashic records, all information, past, present, future, here, there, everywhere, available everywhere always."
The key is quieting the mind, in order to experience the connectedness... not-trying, getting results by not caring about results.
Interesting ideas, although couched in slightly bland prose.
Today and Xmas Plans
Dec. 1st, 2018 07:26 pmMurky day on the whole. Rained most of the morning. Slightly drier afternoon. I had some spicy curry for lunch from Iceland - not the country lol!
I listened to the radio, some Handel Organ concertos, and read for a while. Hoovered, and dusted, and generally relaxed.
When I did the last covert supermarket shop I bought some Coffeemate. Powdered milk mainly, but the coffee tastes quite luxurious with it.
Plans for Xmas?
I am travelling down to see GC for a week - well actually on the 22 December, and thus will be spending it away from the old codgers here. The week will give me time to see my wonderful bro and his wife as well..
Monday, visits in Sittingbourne, Canterbury and Ashford, which is two supermarket stores and a chocolate shop. Yep, chocs away again.
I listened to the radio, some Handel Organ concertos, and read for a while. Hoovered, and dusted, and generally relaxed.
When I did the last covert supermarket shop I bought some Coffeemate. Powdered milk mainly, but the coffee tastes quite luxurious with it.
Plans for Xmas?
I am travelling down to see GC for a week - well actually on the 22 December, and thus will be spending it away from the old codgers here. The week will give me time to see my wonderful bro and his wife as well..
Monday, visits in Sittingbourne, Canterbury and Ashford, which is two supermarket stores and a chocolate shop. Yep, chocs away again.
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