Customer Reviews

The First Five (Henry Rollins)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The First Five is undoubtably one of the densest volumes of pain ever published. Mean and to the point, Rollins puts down with fury prose poems jammed full of the loniliness of the road, the wounding and scarring of heartbreak, and the strength required to walk through it and walk away with a lesson learned. This book contains Pissing in the gene pool, Bang! High Adventure in the Great Outdoors, Art to choke hearts, and One from None, with the texts re-edited this His words take hold of you in the deep dark parts of your heart and mind that many find too painful to dwell in on the nights alone, and drags you through it all and out the other side. Leaving you changed and looking at everything and everyone slightly different from there on out.

While his later works, especially mid-late 90's, are much more mature, Henry did pretty good for his first several forays into the writing world. His poetry is mind-numbingly dense, and can only be taken in small doses. His short stories and rants are easier to absorb, and it's cool to hear a young man my age vent with such precision. Much of what he writes is to be taken as abstract; when speaking of murder and other dispicable acts, you know he is merely fantasizing. Get this book to read the more introspective and free-thinking passages Henry wrote while he was in Black Flag; it makes a nice compliment to his popular "Get In The Van" book (highly recommended).

Originally, I thought that a book written by Henry Rollins would be nothing but an angry, cold-hearted jerk-fest. As I read on, however, I found that there was true emotion and heart-felt anguish that the reader could relate to. The best part was when he talked about drug-addiction. There was no more wrenching part in any book that I can think of. Well-placed references to his life in one of the most popular punk bands of the 80's gave insight to the trials and tribulations that he must have endured living as such. There is no better book for the modern poet to read and learn about how real reflections into life are, not sonnets and ballads to your loved ones, but pain and fury.

I've read Hank's other books and I love them all; not just because they're good reading, because they're true. And this one is no exception. These first five collected books are a great look back at how it all began for a man that became such a voice for hard reality, pain and strength. If you don't want to have to think about any of those things, I wouldn't recommend this book to you, or maybe I would, because it's always good to view both sides of the coin in life.

Though fictional, with the exception of his journal entries, all the short prose and poems have an edge to them that makes you wonder if maybe they could be true; as if your reading the story of someone else's life or even your own. Rollins has a masterful grip on how people think, feel and interact and he's not afraid to delve deep into the darkest parts to put them on paper.

... then you can identify with a lot that Hank says in these five books. Altougth the tend to run together, this is a great combination of prose and poetry. First find Get In The Van, then pick this book up.

Whether you agree or disagree with Rollins is a moot point: what matters is, agree or not, at least his work is thought-provoking, and not the run of the mill worn out "boy meets girl, boy loses girl" junk you usually find nowadays. This collection of Rollins' first five books is especially enjoyable as you can realize his personal growth reflected through his writing from the earlier work to the later work. In turn, it makes you reflect on your own beliefs about the evils of society which Rollins so vividly describes and vehemently attacks. Bang! is the show-stopper, with masterful imagery and a powerful message.

Though not technically his first five books (you'll have to do some serious research), this is an EXCELLENT compendium of the early works. I always suggest that people begin with "The Portable Henry Rollins" which is a reader of various "middle period" works, and then proceed to this which comprises "early period" works.

This stuff is not for the faint of heart. You must be in a frame of mind to experience someone ELSE'S feelings and pain and be able to reflect on them and analyze them for yourself.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

You know those nights...the ones that make you want to dig a big hole and pull the ground over your head or the kind of days when getting hit by a bus would be a HUGE improvement? If you're a fan of humanity as it stands, this book will cure you of that quickly. It's as real and raw as anything ever written and far more honest than is likely to make you feel comfortable. This is the sort of stuff that rattles in your head when aren't sure why you even bother waking up anymore. This book will keep you company in the dark hours and soothe even the most bruised soul. If you're not a "HAPPY" person, this book probably belongs on your shelf.

this book is infuriating. this book is disgusting. this book is hilarious. this book is draining. this book takes a lot out of you and gives a lot to you in return. i've often wondered what other people would think if they could really see inside my head and i'm greatful to henry rollins for doing just that - showing me the inside of his head. in the disjointed, incoherent ramblings you see a man unfold and you see yourself along with him. he has the courage you don't. he tells the truth you hide from. at last, an example to learn from.

Though his writing has evolved since these books, these are a must have for any rollins' fan....