aleister crowley wrote a book, and I read it

[lauralh]

On pmford's advice I checked out Diary of a Drug Fiend from my local library. It's really good. First of all, the man can write, in that 1920s British way (see also, Down and Out in Paris and London) that is only half-infected with Victorian melodrama, and the other half is 20s ennui. Very appealing. Secondly it tells a devastating story of the descent of a man and woman into drug-fueled hell - the three parts of the book are Paradiso, Inferno, and Purgatorio. And finally the redemption isn't unreasonable or offensive at all. They stop doing drugs - except not quite. They stop letting the drugs use them, really. I think I may have to buy this one.

Comments

[langston.livejournal.com]

an excellent book, and Crowley is a great author. Check out more of his stuff, his autobiography is excellent if bizare and his "The Equinox" is one of the definitve works on the occult.

[pmford.livejournal.com]

LET'S ALL BUILD HELICOPTERS.

[ixzist.livejournal.com]

diary of a drug fiend is one of my favorites. required reading for the counterculture, fer shur.

[scarykoala.livejournal.com]

that book is freaking great.

although, i was a bit peeved at the end.. when Peter got to build helicopter's and Lou's "life purpose" was to serve him. um, yeah.

[joblessmusician.livejournal.com]

Ah, Down and Out In Paris and London is one of my favorites; I can never get anyone else to read it!

I'll check out Drug Fiend (literally -- I'm at the library!).