Crazy Heart

Bad Blake, “I wasn’t born Bad, and when I die I’ll have my real name on my tombstone. Until then, I’m just going to stay Bad,” is fifty-six, with success and four wives way behind him. He’s gone from four gold records and his own Silver Eagle tour bus to playing bowling alleys with pick-up bands and lugging his own guitar and amp.

Country music still has meaning for him. “It’s supposed to be about people, what they are and what they feel. It’s not just some cute saying laid over a nice, tight hook.” But Bad is an alcoholic. He has a son he hasn’t seen in twenty years. He resents Tommy Sweet, his former sideman who has gone onto great success. And he picks up women as easy as a drink.

Bad Blake is a great character. show more Honest about his many shortcomings, loyal to friends, a talented and professional musician. You pull for him as a highly flawed but honorable person, even though he would dismiss the honorable part. An extraordinary book, at once easy to see why it was made into a very good film and hard to believe it was. show less

I hadn't really planned on reading this when I did. Yes, Thomas Cobb's novel was on my seemingly endless 'to be read' list as soon as I saw the "based on a novel by..." in the credits rolling at the end of the terrific film adaptation, but I don't own a copy. I chanced upon it when browsing the audiobook shelves in my local library and, noticing that it was narrated by the author, thought it would make an excellent accompaniment to the rush hour commute. (I guess that Jeff Bridges wasn't available!)

Audiobooks aren't usually narrated by their authors so I thought that would be interesting as well, after all, nobody should really get the phrasing and timing as right as the person who created those words, right? Well, at first I was show more conscious of my own mind repeating over and over "...he's not Jeff Bridges, he's not Jeff Bridges...". Bridges plays the story's protagonist Otis 'Bad' Blake in the film, and very deservedly won the 2009 American Academy award for Best Actor. Bridges is also one of my favourite actors anyway, and I really loved the film, so it was always gonna be a tough comparison to measure up to...

Bad Blake is a tired and aging Country musician - "a singer and a picker" - whose star has been steadily fading for quite a few years now. He's been reduced to hitting the road out of his home town of Houston to cover the west's dive bars, bowling alleys, and assorted ropey old joints to make a living. He's become used to playing with sub-standard pick-up bands and sleeping off the night before through the air-conditioned motel room mornings. His trusty old van has seen better days, his agent posts meagre cash advances in towns 2 days away, and with four failed marriages behind him, there's nobody waiting for him back at home. Bad is out of shape and out of condition, and he is an unreformed alcoholic. I love the character that Thomas Cobb created. He feels real. He has a voice that you want to listen to. Yes he can be curt on occasion, and does feel a bit sorry for himself, but he's basically a good guy who is looking back on a life in the business with more than a few regrets. It doesn't have to be the music business, but I like writers who can create such authentic characters. People with their fair share of flaws, people with a bit of grit.

This is on one level a touching love story. While gigging through Sante Fe, Bad is interviewed for the local paper by Jean Craddock - a thirty-something single mum of 4 year old Bud. Jean, cautious and understandably guarded at first, eventually falls for the undeniable charm that Bad still has. But, as ever in life, things are far from straightforward. Bad has a 24 year old son of his own that he's not seen since he was about little Bud's age - Jean persuades him to consider reaching out. Bad has a connection or two with the press in Houston and suggests Jean come over to visit and check her options...

In the background all the while Bad suffers what he feels is the indignity of needing to sell song compositions to his one time sideman Tommy Sweet - now a big stadium filling star performer. But Tommy hasn't written a hit record of his own for a while, and needs Bad's magic touch when it comes to penning a chart-topper. Bad on the other hand hasn't had a record of any description for many years now and is practically pleading with Tommy , through very gritted teeth, to commit to an album of duets that could resurrect his career. He really needs it. Laid up injured following a road accident caused by not enough sleep, and inspired by his muse Jean, Bad writes two soulful songs that have 'hit' written all over them - "She's Gonna Need Someone To Walk To" and "Is This Gonna Hurt Again?". Through all this there is Bad's obvious dependence on drinking.

Everything is thrown into sharp relief when Jean and Bud finally come to visit Bad over in Houston. Bad's been preparing the ground for weeks... There follows some experiences there that illuminate things once and for all, for all concerned, and the story of Crazy Heart twists and turns a few times before meeting its moving and poignant ending.

Obviously the book has several chapters and scenes in it that didn't make it to the film adaptation. There are frequent flashback scenes of Bad's past - days on the road as a young man, as a boy growing up in Judy, Indiana, his time as a famous star of Country when he was rich and gave away Cadillacs to strangers, his marriages - especially his second to the mother of his son Stephen. All of which go some way to considerably building the life of Bad Blake in the reader's mind. Cobb's story is essentially a doomed love story of an alcoholic. It is not really a story about Country music per se, but it is about people and relationships and lives. That though of course, would be what Country music really is anyway - Bad himself would certainly have it that way, he says more or less the same in his first interview with Jean in his clammy hotel room - so perhaps Cobb did write a Country novel after all? Where this book is really elevated above the level of the ordinarily 'decent' or 'accomplished' though, is with the author's superb realisation of Bad Blake. I've tried in a feeble way to highlight some of the flavour of that characterisation. It is what makes this a very memorable novel. I recommend it to all who love a good story, well told. show less

Crazy Heart by Thomas Cobb is a 2013 Harper Perennial publication. ( Originally published in 1987)

There is an acclaimed movie starring one of my favorite actors-Jeff Bridges- based on this book. I’ve never seen the movie though, because I kept thinking I’d like to read the book first. I noticed this book in the KU program, reminding me that if I didn’t get started on this book, I might never get around to watching the movie I’d heard so much about.

Well…

This book is extremely bleak. Realistic, sure- and that’s nearly always a good thing… nearly. While I don’t need a ‘Hollywood’ ending with every book, I do like to close a book with at least a smidgen of hope to grab onto.

The novel follows ‘Bad’ Blake, a show more washed-up country music star in rapid decline. He’s gone from filling arenas to playing in bowling alleys. He’s been married multiple times, is an alcoholic, smokes heavily, is overweight, and broke. It’s not pretty, but he keeps moving along…but with every step forward, there are many steps backward.

This book has been described as raw, and that would be an understatement. It’s a deep character study that examines a man who is deeply flawed, in a business that is ever evolving, that will chew you up, then spit you out when it’s finished using you, leaving you with nothing but deep regret and sorrow… but with a desire to recapture that elusive moment of exquisite star power again.

Bad’s main struggle is with the bottle. The story does not sugar coat the ravages of alcoholism. It is not glamorous. Blackouts, sickness, the shakes, broken relationships, separation from his only son, for starters. As his story unfolds, we learn his protégé, Tommy Sweet, surpasses him, becoming the star Bad once was, riding on his coattails the whole way.

The author makes plain this saga is also a matter-of-fact depiction of the music business in general- out with the old, in with the new- situation that leaves the old guard behind as a new crew of young artists come in with a different style. It’s a brutal, unsympathetic world, and since the story is based in part on a couple of real-life country music artists, it strips away the gloss of that world, leaving you with the plain truth- like it or not.

Because the story does not attempt to soften Bad’s image, or the nature of his business, the book is utterly depressing. As one struggles to find redemptive qualities in Bad, for me it was hard to not to root for him at times, but he certainly did not make that an easy task. Part of the problem for me was his casual use of racial slurs all throughout the novel. Again, the author is choosing to show the character as is- he’s not going to, as it the case these days, to soft-pedal the shamble of this man’s life. Take also into consideration the period the book is written and set in, but still, it truly took the book down a few notches for me, and there were a few moments in which I felt maybe I’d return this book to the KU library unfinished.

I also found it curious that at the end of the book is a slew of editorial reviews from some of the top newspapers in the country, written back when the book was first published and all of them were absolutely glowing. Realism as justification? Not sure how I feel about that and wonder how people would view that now.

For those who watched the movie, I cheated and looked it up to see if the movie had slurs, if the movie ended on such a somber note and naturally Hollywood doesn’t really work that way- which is good to know. Though, now, I don’t know if I’ll watch it… at least not for a long while.

Overall, not really what I was expecting. Good character profile and study- but super depressing.

2.5 stars show less

Crazy Heart by Thomas Cobb is about this washed up country singer named 'Bad' Blake. Bad Blake has been on the road doing concerts in bowling alleys and bars, while on the road he finds romance.Unfortunately, he also has some vices to deal with.Crazy Heart sort of reminded me of the film Walk The Line, only replace Phoenix with some old dude. Essentially country music isn't all she stole my pick-up truck now I'm going to get a dog and drink a beer, twang twang twang. Really, it's about the life of the unglamorous, and Bad's life reflects this. Bad spends much of the book drinking Jack Daniels, reminiscing about being screwed over by Tommy Sweet. This book was about how there's a seedy underbelly within country music. Oh, and also show more continues on the theme of how fame doesn't last, and how most people are not glamorous and just doing the best they can.The writing was fairly solid, I mean Cobb has got some style. However, I felt an emotional disconnect with the characters. Perhaps I have trouble relating to a guy who spends most of his time inebriated. Now, this is not to moralize, hell no. I just didn't connect with Bad Blake. I thought he got himself into a lot of situations, and didn't have a whole lot of pity for him.On the one hand, I doubt it was the author's intent to have the readers pity Bad. I think as readers we are supposed to have a glimpse into how ordinary heartland folks are, and how unaware people are of the drug/party scene of such a 'safe' genre. Also, we are supposed to see how dependency can really mess up your life, and how hard it is to give up the 'crutch.'To be fairly honest, I am quite lukewarm on this book. While it kept me flipping pages, it wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, I'm not an evangelist for it. But, in saying that it is also not the worst book, either. It was sort of ah, well that was an alright read. I think if you've had dependency issues, maybe you might love this book. Or if you love some old time country music. Or hell, if you are just passionate about music, you may love this book. I'm not any of those things. I like country music, I also like music, but I'm not passionate about either. That aside, I am curious as to how this book translated on the silver screen. I will definitely check it out when it's on DVD. show less

I'd consider this less a "Country Song" and more of a character study. If you're looking for a book with a lot of action, you should probably keep looking. This book is fairly realistic; if you know any down-on-his-luck-alcholic types, you're sure to find something familiar here. That's not to say there isn't anything going on in this book. On the contrary, there's a lot going on, particularly for such a short book. The action herein is mostly in the memories of the main character, Bad Blake. Toward the ending it does pick up, and although it's been said it's "predictable" I disagree. Maybe its because I'd read that the ending IS predictable that my imagination worked overtime in an attempt to cut to the chase? Crazy Heart, a quiet show more little book is well worth reading, in my opinion. show less

Thomas Cobb is one terrific writer!

Bad Blake is a country singer/songwriter on his way down the ladder of success.He is broken, down physically and emotionally. He drinks too much, smokes too much, has a bad ticker, has been through several wives and many lovers, working cheap bars, remembering the high life. When he is forced (for financial reasons) to open for the singer he mentored to success, he seems more broken than ever. When he meets a woman and her son, Bad wants to change. Can he?

Cobb has written his story so well, you can smell the stale beer, and cigarette smoke as you read.

His characters are so richly drawn, and multi -layered you feel every pain, emotional as well as physical. I can hardly wait to see the movie, since I show more pictured Jeff Bridges all the way through. (I had my own head movie)

You just have to read this book. Even if you do not want to see the movie, this book is so good, I highly recommend it.

I received this from Harper Perennial. Thank you so much, it was wonderful! show less

Crazy Heart by Thomas Cobb is about this washed up country singer named 'Bad' Blake. Bad Blake has been on the road doing concerts in bowling alleys and bars, while on the road he finds romance.Unfortunately, he also has some vices to deal with.

Crazy Heart sort of reminded me of the film Walk The Line, only replace Phoenix with some old dude. Essentially country music isn't all she stole my pick-up truck now I'm going to get a dog and drink a beer, twang twang twang. Really, it's about the life of the unglamorous, and Bad's life reflects this. Bad spends much of the book drinking Jack Daniels, reminiscing about being screwed over by Tommy Sweet. This book was about how there's a seedy underbelly within country music. Oh, and also show more continues on the theme of how fame doesn't last, and how most people are not glamorous and just doing the best they can.

The writing was fairly solid, I mean Cobb has got some style. However, I felt an emotional disconnect with the characters. Perhaps I have trouble relating to a guy who spends most of his time inebriated. Now, this is not to moralize, hell no. I just didn't connect with Bad Blake. I thought he got himself into a lot of situations, and didn't have a whole lot of pity for him.

On the one hand, I doubt it was the author's intent to have the readers pity Bad. I think as readers we are supposed to have a glimpse into how ordinary heartland folks are, and how unaware people are of the drug/party scene of such a 'safe' genre. Also, we are supposed to see how dependency can really mess up your life, and how hard it is to give up the 'crutch.'

To be fairly honest, I am quite lukewarm on this book. While it kept me flipping pages, it wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, I'm not an evangelist for it. But, in saying that it is also not the worst book, either. It was sort of ah, well that was an alright read. I think if you've had dependency issues, maybe you might love this book. Or if you love some old time country music. Or hell, if you are just passionate about music, you may love this book. I'm not any of those things. I like country music, I also like music, but I'm not passionate about either. That aside, I am curious as to how this book translated on the silver screen. I will definitely check it out when it's on DVD. show less