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jcola24's review against another edition
4.0
For anyone who is a fan of the 1960s, poetry, Andy Warhol, and the history of Gay New York City. I wish John would have focused a bit more on his writing, reflections on his impact to the scene, as he spent a lot of time focused on the details of others. And although those other characters - Warhol, Rauschenberg, Burroughs - are fascinating, I was hoping to learn more about Giorno. Unless, is he just a sum of parts - a collection of experiences from this other 'Demon Kings'? Nevertheless, a fascinating, scintillating read from a dying breed.
tendercreatures's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
bkish's review against another edition
5.0
where to begin with this review...
this is one extraordinary book and I waited for it for a few months and was able to get the book book from my library in SF CA. This is definitely not a book for all to read. It has must have a particular audience of readers. Many may read it and say its not well written or its too sexually graphic or it is boring or anything rather than to recognize that this is a special book about a time in history and with its focus on NYC and the art scene and the artists and then further on it is about the life of a gay man who is very sexual and who did lot of drugs and alcohol. This is also a man who was an activist. Nothing about him or his life is "usual" ....
John giorno knew everyone in NYC then in 60s and most of the book is about that period yet not all. It is also about his own development as a Tibetan Buddhist and his time in India.
I would say this is a very rich book for some people...
The great demon kings in his title are those powerful famous men he knew who survive thru their Egos...
John Giorno finished this book in 2018 after 25y and it could not have been published I think during his lifetime. He died in 2019. the book was just released now in 2020.
John Giorno was a gay Italian American from outside of NYC in Roslyn Heights and his parents were wealthy and loved him. This book isn't about his childhood tho it begins when he was young. He met Warhol when he worked on Wall Street and he left the job to Be a poet and his parents supported that and him. He was an important Poet and very well regarded by many people in New York City. This book is about his life and his beliefs and his fears and his depressions and his affairs and his loves and his inner struggles.
I wish I had known him...
from Judy g
this is one extraordinary book and I waited for it for a few months and was able to get the book book from my library in SF CA. This is definitely not a book for all to read. It has must have a particular audience of readers. Many may read it and say its not well written or its too sexually graphic or it is boring or anything rather than to recognize that this is a special book about a time in history and with its focus on NYC and the art scene and the artists and then further on it is about the life of a gay man who is very sexual and who did lot of drugs and alcohol. This is also a man who was an activist. Nothing about him or his life is "usual" ....
John giorno knew everyone in NYC then in 60s and most of the book is about that period yet not all. It is also about his own development as a Tibetan Buddhist and his time in India.
I would say this is a very rich book for some people...
The great demon kings in his title are those powerful famous men he knew who survive thru their Egos...
John Giorno finished this book in 2018 after 25y and it could not have been published I think during his lifetime. He died in 2019. the book was just released now in 2020.
John Giorno was a gay Italian American from outside of NYC in Roslyn Heights and his parents were wealthy and loved him. This book isn't about his childhood tho it begins when he was young. He met Warhol when he worked on Wall Street and he left the job to Be a poet and his parents supported that and him. He was an important Poet and very well regarded by many people in New York City. This book is about his life and his beliefs and his fears and his depressions and his affairs and his loves and his inner struggles.
I wish I had known him...
from Judy g
_bookegg's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely adored. The most salacious memoir I’ve ever read. Which, I guess is to be expected- this is John Giorno we’re talking about! When the subtitle of this book says “a memoir of poetry, sex, art, death, and enlightenment” it MEANS you’re gonna GET poetry, sex, art, death, and enlightenment.
As a fantastic of New York in the 1960s/70s this was very my ish, and it’s truly miraculous to see this all captured and rendered by Giorno with such wisdom and truth. It’s the golden age of promiscuity! Everyone was gay, f*cking, high as hell, and severely depressed. We love to see it!
This culminates in something really divine- an approach to death that I don’t think we see enough. Tranquil and embracing.
Love. Can’t wait to dive into his poetry more. Put some respect on his name!!!!
As a fantastic of New York in the 1960s/70s this was very my ish, and it’s truly miraculous to see this all captured and rendered by Giorno with such wisdom and truth. It’s the golden age of promiscuity! Everyone was gay, f*cking, high as hell, and severely depressed. We love to see it!
This culminates in something really divine- an approach to death that I don’t think we see enough. Tranquil and embracing.
Love. Can’t wait to dive into his poetry more. Put some respect on his name!!!!
provenance's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes you just wanna read a gossip-ey memoir that has some but not much redeeming value- but lots of who slept with who and catty gossip I now know Andy Warhol had a foot fetish.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
It was a fascinating read that opened a windows on the creative world of New York in '60s and ''70s.
I read a lot about John Giorno but I this is his first book I read and loved it.
I loved the tenderness and how well he describes the persons he got in touch and the experiences he lived.
It was an excellent read and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I read a lot about John Giorno but I this is his first book I read and loved it.
I loved the tenderness and how well he describes the persons he got in touch and the experiences he lived.
It was an excellent read and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
annarella's review
5.0
It was a fascinating read that opened a windows on the creative world of New York in '60s and ''70s.
I read a lot about John Giorno but I this is his first book I read and loved it.
I loved the tenderness and how well he describes the persons he got in touch and the experiences he lived.
It was an excellent read and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I read a lot about John Giorno but I this is his first book I read and loved it.
I loved the tenderness and how well he describes the persons he got in touch and the experiences he lived.
It was an excellent read and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
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