Customer Reviews

From Blue to Black

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Joel Lane, you have amazed me. From the moment I began reading this rare tale of strange love, emotional corruption, and rock music, the prose seemed to find its way into my thoughts during my non-reading moments. This is one of those books that takes you fully through the gamut of every feeling and reaction the human psyche can conceive. The title serves as an excellent overview, those who have read may agree; from a blue sadness, to a black endlessness. I don't care whether you are gay, straight, goth, whatever: there is something in here that will find ways to pleasantly haunt you long after you finish the last page.

FROM BLUE TO BLACK tells of the rise of Triangle, a fictional power trio, making dark, dissonant rock music in 1990's Birmingham. It is also a love story of sorts. Karl, the group's haunted, alcoholic, bisexual lead singer/guitarist, and David, their new bass player become lovers the night they meet. Their doomed affair, and Karl's descent into addiction and mental illness, plays out against (and is expertly mirrored by) the bleak industrial landscape of Northern England. First time novelist Lane's background as a poet is clearly in evidence as the book is chock full of tangible, amazingly wrought imagery.

Many of the descriptive passages can be taken as metaphors for Karl's troubled psyche - the black hopelessness hidden behind the opaque facade:

"Beyond the terraced streets, we could see the backdrop of green hills. From a distance, the elaborate Victorian frontages of the factories and civic halls looked impressive; but close-up you could see the sprayed messages and the chicken-wire over the blackened glass."

A river on the outskirts of Karl's home town, and the scene of his most terrible boyhood secret is, "...a skinned mass of dark muscle and yellow fat." Even a lover's idyll is tarnished with an ominous, disturbing air; when Karl and David dance together, it is, "...awkwardly, walled in by moving shadows."

If a reader is not interested in rock music, particularly in the various dealings that constitute the day-to-day life of a working rock band, then he/she might find the book to be overly encumbered with minutiae. For me, Lane's detailed descriptions of the writing, production, arrangement, recording and performing of the songs was spot on. The song lyrics were always revealing and the "reviews" of Triangle's concerts and recordings brilliantly aped the pretentious UK rock press.

While reading this book, I was constantly aware of the writer's lyrical skill with words, yet this only enhanced the emotional impact of the story, never distracted from it. This is a beautiful and carefully crafted work. Highly recommended to fans of music, queer literature or just great writing.

As one in my 50s who is mystified by the difference between such (evidently) divergent musical styles as grunge and heavy metal, this book was an eye-opener about a scene that existed many years after I was "into" the latest music. I bought From Blue to Black to get a glimmer into the world of 1990's music.

However, the book proved to be much more than that. The relationship between the main characters, David and Karl, is haunting. On the surface level, their relationship in incomprehensible. However, many elements of their relationship run very true to life. This book challenges the reader to look at his/her own relationships and see destructive elements that have destroyed relationships and say "Ah ha! This is my story too."

From Blue to Black is highly recommended if you search for out of the ordinary reading material.

This book had me wrapped up from the very beginning. The characters were colorful and three dimensional, while still being realistic. The knowledge and factoids about the bands and music scene mentioned were impeccable and drew in an eerie sense of realism. Even when I wasn't reading this book I was thinking about it. The story is hauntingly beautiful without being over the top or garish. Throw in some tears and you've got a great relaxing read. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to you to read.

I found the story difficult to read because of the continuing references to putting together the music and all that it entails. So many references to the different types of guitars, their sound, their place in a band, how it co-mingles and mixes with a drummer and a singer. Lots of lyrics which I didn't appreciate either. I found myself reading skimming chapter after chapter since I felt like I was reading a 'how to'book on the making of a rock band.
I didn't feel enough attention was given to the main character and how and why he slipped into a depression.
For those readers who love reading about the day to day, drum beat by drum beat, and guitar sounds that make up a rock band - then this is the novel for you.

This writing was all flat, and Lane likes to shock the reader with his overt descriptions of gay sexuality. I guess I missed something pretty fundamental - because I didn't find it unputdownable ...