Mine is Clouds
A total departure from what this blog is, but I can’t help it. I have to talk about this book. My justification is that someone who writes a metal blog wrote it. And so therefore, this review belongs here, sort of, not really, oh who cares! It’s my blog, so there.
A few months ago, I was searching for stuff on Black Wizard, a really awesome local band (who just broke up) I was planning on reviewing. From there, I stumbled on Broken Beard, a website that had just published a very awesome review of Black Wizard. I liked the review so much, I bought the book he had advertised on his site. A guy who likes good music wrote a novel? I’m in. Before I go on, I should tell you that the book is called Mine is Clouds, and the author’s name is Jeff Warren.
A few weeks later, it arrived. When I opened it, I found he had written a very nice note in the front cover. Which, by the way, is my most favourite part of receiving books. My brother is usually the only one to gift me books, and he always writes something in the front cover for me. I find it a very beautiful, personal thing to do, and it meant a lot that the author had done that also.
Then, I went to work, and the book sat, and sat. I was kind of scared I wouldn’t like it, as I had bought it on a whim and didn’t really know what it was about. Finally, today, curiousity took over and I opened it. And I smiled, and I laughed, and I didn’t close it until it was done. This book is brilliant, and there is so much of me in it, likely so much of all of us in it.
This book is about being in love. Now, before I scare away all you tough dudes, it’s not really mushy, although I guess at times it can be, because love is. This book is why I think books are written; to capture an emotion, to cause you to imprint yourself into the story before you can even help yourself. Going through this book was like going through the most significant moments of every relationship I had ever been in. The good and the bad. Mostly the good. Reading it was so much more than being a spectator of the events, but instead being invited to experience these feelings again with the narrator. It’s funny and sad, profound and perfect.
That said, it’s a tiny bit vulgar but not anything anyone reading my website would be offended by. Just sex stuff. This guy has so much raw writing talent; I’ve been reading overhyped authors for years and years, and this book blew them all out of the water. So many of us wish we could somehow find a way to put our thoughts to paper, and this book did it for me, and I am grateful.
The book seems to be available only on the website, and even if it wasn’t, I’d recommend you buy it directly anyway. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Just anyone. I think anyone can identify with it. It’s worth much more than what it’s selling for.
