looking for Diary of a dope fiend, confession novels

[libernaut]

interested in diary of a dope fiend by crowley, has anyone read this?
looking for books like this, and
also like the ****up by arthur nercessian.

i want to read about junkies/drifters in 1st person, sort of on their last legs that read like a confession. anyone know any titles of this sort?

[billl]

Maybe you've already read "Confessions of an English Opium-Eater" by Thomas De Quincey (1821). It's a pretty good read, if you haven't, but the time period might disqualify it, if you're looking for a similar mood to what you read (which I haven't read).

[sixsmith]

How about 'Jesus' Son' by Denis Johnson?

[virginiawang]

I really love the novel, Confessions of an English Opium Eater, written by Thomas De Quincey. Though I only read from the middle till the end, I always wished to finish reading it because it was so captivating. The author described his own experience in eating opium, the dreams he made during the time he ate it, and his deep longings for a girl, whom he could never see again. How I wish he could have met the girl for one more time in his life in reality rather than in his dreams, which broke whenever he woke up. I seemed to get the feeling that he wished to stay longer in his dreams for the sole purpose of seeing the girl, so he ate opium more than he liked. To choose to linger in dreams rather than in reality is what I wouldn't have liked to do perhaps, but I felt over and over again that my reality was somewhat like a dream.

[Hank Stamper]

pretty much anything by charles bukowski would probably appeal to you..

and the dharma bums by kerouac

and anything by john fante, dan fante, jack black etc

i've not read ****up by nersesian but have read chinese takeout which should probably tick your boxes too

[papayahed]

Junky by William S. Burroughs

[March Hare]

If you'll expand your survey to sots, The Gingerman by Donleavy is good.

Trainspotting by Welsh.

[PortugalWillie]

Junky by Burroughs was the first that came to mind.

If you're looking for something that I don't think would qualify as literature but 'The Heroin Diaries' was put out by Motley Crue's lead singer maybe. I don't really know much about it, but some huge band's singer released his diaries about his experience with drugs.

[PeterL]

I really love the novel, Confessions of an English Opium Eater, written by Thomas De Quincey. Though I only read from the middle till the end, I always wished to finish reading it because it was so captivating. The author described his own experience in eating opium, the dreams he made during the time he ate it, and his deep longings for a girl, whom he could never see again. How I wish he could have met the girl for one more time in his life in reality rather than in his dreams, which broke whenever he woke up. I seemed to get the feeling that he wished to stay longer in his dreams for the sole purpose of seeing the girl, so he ate opium more than he liked. To choose to linger in dreams rather than in reality is what I wouldn't have liked to do perhaps, but I felt over and over again that my reality was somewhat like a dream.

Confessions of an English Opium Eater is not a novel; it an autobiography.

[stlukesguild]

Confessions of an English Opium Eater is not a novel; it an autobiography.

Of course... much like a great many autobiographic works... De Quincey certainly blurs fact and fiction.

[mortalterror]

How about any book by any musician ever?

[stlukesguild]

Mortal! Surely you're not dissin' Jewel's magnificent collection of "poetry"!?:lol:

[mortalterror]

Mortal! Surely you're not dissin' Jewel's magnificent collection of "poetry"!?:lol:

Haven't read it. I was just thinking about how there are only two endings to every Jazz/blues/rock musician's life story. They either kick drugs or die, and except for some very interesting music live lives as banal and boring as you or I. Frank Zappa once said "Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." I suppose that's more of an indictment of musicians than it is for drug abusers. After all, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is one of my favorite books.

[virginiawang]

Confessions of an English Opium Eater is not a novel; it an autobiography.
I don't think it is a regular autobiography, though it is somewhat autobiographical. The author gave a detailed account of his daydreams under the influence of opium.


Of course... much like a great many autobiographic works... De Quincey certainly blurs fact and fiction.

Yes, I agree with you.

[papayahed]

Junky by Burroughs was the first that came to mind.

If you're looking for something that I don't think would qualify as literature but 'The Heroin Diaries' was put out by Motley Crue's lead singer maybe. I don't really know much about it, but some huge band's singer released his diaries about his experience with drugs.

The book is The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx. Being a huge Motley Crue fan I had to read it. The book is excerpts from his diary with commentary from Nikki himself and others that were involved in the events. Once you get passed the "I'm a rock star" crap it's a pretty interesting read.


(Nikki's the bassist)

[mono]

A few that come to mind: Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs, maybe House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski (a two-part story, one of which may appeal to your search criteria), almost anything by Robert Anton Wilson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson, any fiction by Timothy Leary.

[Night_Lamp]

I have a copy of 'Diary of a Drug Fiend' by Crowley. It's about a young couple who spend their honeymoon traveling Europe and taking large amounts of coke and heroin. When they run out, the friend who supplied the drugs teaches them to control their addictions and withdrawal using black magic.

Quite shocking for 1922, Crowley believed: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law", and that applied to black magic, sex and homosexuality, and drugs of all types.

[islandclimber]

Trainspotting by Irvine Walsh and well anything else by him really...

As someone has already mentioned anything by Bukowski.. even his poetry.. haha

A Clockwork Orange by Burgess...

[Zee.]

The Basketball Diaries

[islandclimber]

The Basketball Diaries

is that the one they turned into a movie with Leo Dicaprio?

[Zee.]

is that the one they turned into a movie with Leo Dicaprio?

Indeed

[islandclimber]

that was a pretty good movie.. he was quite the actor when he was young.. that movie, what's eating gilbert grape, Don's Plum....

oops off topic here. haha

[Zee.]

Yeah it's an amazing movie. My favourite next to American History X