Let's Be Friends (L.O.L. Surprise!) (Step Into Reading)

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I've read a lot of histories and where this one stands out is in it's ability to evoke feelings. Specifically the feeling of the music and the time. Never fear, this book also contains all the names, dates, and facts. but those facts are presented almost more in poetry than prose. I kept nodding along saying "oh, yeah. That's it exactly" Gothic is a mode that responds to crisis." I can tell you it did that for me and many of my friends growing up. Goth gave us something to dream about, to aspire to, and to escape sometimes the horrific or humdrum realities of our lives. Some of us changed their mind. It must have been too difficult. Others kept close to their Goth soul.

Now, soon reaching 60 years old, I still listen to The Cure. Reading Lol Tolhusrt’s book, made me feel I am on the right way to go on making what I like. That is to write. Excellent intro to goth written by someone who actually created it: Lol Tolhurst, drummer for The Cure and one of the two original and remaining members along with Robert Smith. Lol is a humble fellow in an industry where many aren't, and has that very, very twee British sensibility without the cringe, being the affable chap that he is. If you're looking for a definitive guide to goth, this isn't it, and the book should be more fittingly titled "Goth Music", as that's the main focus here. But as an intro to the subculture, it's fantastic.

One of the things I especially liked was Mr. Tolhurst's inclusive attitude when loosely defining musical categories instead of trying to rigidly gate-keep only the purest of the Goth. well done. The Cure have always been one of my favourite bands. Boys don’t cry (1979) on top of my list because it is the first I listened to. You know, like a first kiss. Seventeen Seconds (1980), Faith (1981) and Pornography (1982), their three most gothic albums still giving me some strange energy that helps connect with myself in a unique way.

The audiobook version of Ruination is narrated by the voice actors of League of Legends and Legends of Runeterra.

Across the Atlantic, in Montreal, I was already listening to The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus and many other dark bands with a bunch of friends. We were into punk, new wave or whatever else dark. We were gathering at some places, Station Ten to name one, to see underground bands gigs. We were dressed up in an uncanny way most people dislike. We were creative, making music, Super 8 movies, drawings, clothes, poetry, crazy makeups, and we drank too much. We did not want to follow our parent’s steps. We did not want a 9 to 5 boring job. We wanted something else. Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Goth: A History by Lol Tolhurst from Hachette Books via NetGalley.

If you have merely a passing interest in learning about the whole culture of Goth, I would recommend that you get a copy of this book because you will devour it easily in a couple of days and maybe you might find yourself inclined to explore the darker side of life.In the early nineties, Lol relocated to Southern California where he continues to write, record and tour with his own band, Levinhurst. This book had been highly anticipated by me, as well as, many in my friend group. I pre bought the audiobook on Libro.fm months in advance. So far, this year, has been a fantastic year for me reading books related to my favorite kind of music- Goth and Post-Punk. I do think this could've been edited better, as some of Lol’s thoughts seemed repeated and did not need to be said again in my opinion.