How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life

Rating:
Summary: Deep, but...
Review: ...stimulating and entertaining too. Yes, it will have a major appeal to blues fans, particularly guitar fans. How much of this hypnotic, sometimes shocking book is true? The chapter "Honey" should be included in all sellf-help books. I read most of it twice and enjoyed the evocations of Americana. As a fingerpicker myself, I found John's mental states more illuminating than an explanation of his guitar technique would have been.

Rating:
Summary: Deep, but...
Review: ...stimulating and entertaining too. Yes, it will have a major appeal to blues fans, particularly guitar fans. How much of this hypnotic, sometimes shocking book is true? The chapter "Honey" should be included in all sellf-help books. I read most of it twice and enjoyed the evocations of Americana. As a fingerpicker myself, I found John's mental states more illuminating than an explanation of his guitar technique would have been.

Rating:
Summary: Darn if Fahey ain't a great writer, too!
Review: As a dedicated fan of John Fahey's music, I couldn't wait to read his book. Well, I was not dissapointed. He writes a lot about his childhood, his professional life as a guitar player, his part in the rediscovering of bluesman Skip James, and other experiences he has had. While not entirely based on fact, I wouldn't call it fiction like the back of the book says. Anyways, this is a fascinating portrait of one of the great composers of our time, and I doubt that the reader could put this book down for very long. It's simply brilliant!

Rating:
Summary: Darn if Fahey ain't a great writer, too!
Review: As a dedicated fan of John Fahey's music, I couldn't wait to read his book. Well, I was not dissapointed. He writes a lot about his childhood, his professional life as a guitar player, his part in the rediscovering of bluesman Skip James, and other experiences he has had. While not entirely based on fact, I wouldn't call it fiction like the back of the book says. Anyways, this is a fascinating portrait of one of the great composers of our time, and I doubt that the reader could put this book down for very long. It's simply brilliant!

Rating:
Summary: Don't quit your day job...
Review: Is it just me, or is Mr. Fahey's sorry attempt to emulate Kurt Vonnegut Jr. nothing more than the ramblings of a bored old man? His seeming fascination with making sure that you know the race and/or religion of the characters (at least if they are Black or Jewish) seems to hover just above the strata occupied by alleged reformed sleazeballs like the KKK's David Dukes. All in all I'd rather he told me about the depths he'd plumbed to create interesting and original music, rather than delineating his experience by meandering along the oldest and most pathetic of paths.

Rating:
Summary: How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life -is wonderful
Review: It's a really great book, I enjoyed it very much its hilarious, sad and moving and also informative. I enjoyed it deeply. Its rare to find someone who writes about art and life and especially adolescence so well and directly. John's book reminded me of my own childhood and things forgotten and intense. He also writes strategically which is surprising for someone who writes so directly. His humor warmth and integrity really come through, that is no small achievement!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read for Fahey fans
Review: The recently deceased guitar master takes you on a tour of his childhood and young adulthood... basically this book is about as highly recommended as they come for a fan of his music- it will provide musical, emotional and even philosophical insight (with several references to hegel, heidegger, and other great german philosophers) into his life. there are moments of fiction, but it doesnt overwhelm the autobiographical nature of the work. you really do get a feeling for the personalities of bukka white, skip james, roosevelt sykes, and antonioni, which is the real reason may of fahey's most loyal fans would want to read the book. some moments are harrowing, from tales of childhood abuse to stories of social alienation. other moments are endearing, there are stories of first friendships, loves, and comfort (mostly on the part of white and sykes). Fahey led a very interesting life, and this book has a good deal of serious instrospection. he's actually a pretty good writer, so i give it the highest recommendation. someone new to fahey or not interested in 20s blues figures be warned, a lot of it will be confusing, leading to reviews like the one up top by that poor bitter guy who completely missed the point.

Rating:
Summary: The Great Koonaklaster strikes with a mighty blow!
Review: There's a lot in this book that could do a lot of us a lot of good, if only we'd listen. The person responsible for creating a stage for solo acoustic guitar is firing from both barrels here with something one shouldn't mix up with the word "fiction". This book doesn't have to be rated or promoted: it will find its own readership amongst the ones who've followed John's path all along and know how to deal with it. Funny and sad, frightening and enjoying, a gifted guitarist gives us a generous insight into what growing up in Takoma Park can mean. Warning: there are no guitar tabs in this volume! Ha!