Crazy Heart audiobook

I realized the other day that despite having loved the movie and actually owning a copy of the book, I'd never read it. So I did. It's wonderfully written, and fascinating in its depiction of the world of country music. BUT SO SAD.

This was an excellent novel for being the author's first attempt at the medium. A good chunk of it was translated directly to the film, though there are several key differences that change the book enough from the movie that one wants to keep reading each new chapter because, despite having a vague idea of where the thing will end up (and the end, as is often the case, is quite a bit different from the movie), there are still plenty of surprises, including a lot more back story (told in the form of flashbacks, reminiscences, and dreams). Also, the novel was published in 1987, so that's the present day in the book. This affects the timeline of the main character's (Bad Blake) novel incarnation vs. the character portrayed by Jeff Bridges, in that the book puts him as a young man in a different period in country music history than would have been possible in the movie (a 57 year old musician in 1987 could plausibly have opened for Hank Williams, as Bad does in one flashback scene...a 57 year old musician in 2010 would have been an infant when Hank died). This isn't a perfect novel, but for a first novel it's pretty impressive, and it's definitely worth the time it would take to go through 248 imminently readable pages.

** spoiler alert ** I read or reread books before I see their film adaptations, and so I chose this one when I saw Jeff Bridges would star as Bad Blake.My hopes for Bad would rise and fall as I followed him on his self-destructive course. Many times he seemed powerless to grab what was rightfully his, as when he'd finally write a new song and have its best proceeds go to an undeserver just because that's how the system worked. I really wanted him to realize his talent and dreams again, and especially to find a family to love, but it was pretty clear that four wrecked marriages were a record hard to break.The ending of this book is pretty desolate; I kept thinking about what it had to say about whether we necessarily deserve our fates. It has stayed with me; I keep wanting someone else to tell me I read it wrong .. that it turned out all right!

This may be a first novel, but MAN can this guy write. Bad Blake is like a character from a McMurtry novel. Highest praise.

Hot damn that was unexpected! For I think the first time, I am uncertain whether I like the book or the movie better....I was interested in reading this because I saw the movie when it came out, then realized it was based on a book. I always like to read the book a movie is based on because the narration gives us so much more information that the visual representation. This was true with Crazy Heart also, but what I was not expecting was the surprise ending. The movie had had a good ending also. I liked it because it wasn't the Hollywood "And They All Lived Happily Ever After" ending. Granted, the book doesn't have the Hollywood ending either, and I do appreciate how it ends, but it was a big surprise.Crazy Heart is the story of Bad Blake, a country singer past his prime who is trying to get back on top. He is battling emphysema, alcoholism, and a big load of guilt for things that he did in the past. The writing is very, very good. It is honest and I believe we get a very fair image of Bad's -or almost any over-the-hill country singer's- harsh lifestyle. This is not the idyllic image of living on a farm, raising a loving family and singing songs around a campfire. Instead, there is life on the road, smoking, drinking, sex and foul language. The writing is gritty, but at times is also very humorous. I had a good laugh as Bad tried to exercise along with "the sissy" on tv. He also reserves the grease from his pork chops to make gravy, which he pours over his mashed potatoes, but he adds a salad to the meal because he has convinced himself that he needs to start a diet. I'm sure I had a smile on my face when I read that.The story unfolds very nicely. Bad is doing a small tour, mostly of dingy bars and bowling alleys. He meets a younger woman, Jean, who he starts to think seriously about. (This is a man who has already been married four times. His reason for marrying one of his wives was that she was a whiner and he thought she would stop whining if he married her. Hilarious. I wonder why it didn't work out...) The romance hits several speed bumps, like when Bad is supposed to visit her and she stays up all night waiting for him. It turns out he fell asleep at the wheel, had an accident and is in the hospital with a broken ankle. But the biggest hurdle is the alcohol, since Jean has an impressionable four-year-old son, Buddy (whose character is very well written, by the way.) Bad eventually goes into rehab, but can he make it?This is a very good story. I don't want to give away the ending, either of the book or of the movie, but I did learn that the book ending actually was a deleted scene from the movie. I saw that scene and thought that it had been a good idea to leave it out of the movie. In the end, I think I like the book and the movie equally, but I would encourage everyone to judge for themselves.

Slow start but I couldn't put it down for the last 100 pages. Loved and hated Bad Blake. Really the perfect character.

This is a character study of an aging, washed-up country music singer who is playing out the string and trying to find a way back to his previous star status. The boozing and womanizing are a bit of a cliche but it’s a great character portrayal and a good story just the same. This 1987 book inspired a 2009 film by the same name; the movie Is more romanticized with the book having a harder edge and, in my opinion, a more realistic finish. The characters and the words drip with the smell of Jack Daniels and the sound of country music as aging “Bad Blake” cranks up for one more try at the brass ring.

I read this book years ago because I heard the movie was good. I did enjoy it. Simple but a good country/cowboy one. A little Johnny Cash style in there.

A fairly honest love letter to when country music was any damn good.

For language and sexual content, I would mostly only recommend this to adults. I think after that, it's got a very specific type of person who will like it. I think thos book is for those that like country music, extra sympathetic or empathetic people, those that have ever had alcohol problems. I also think that it will be appreciated by those that know how to appreciate good, honest writing.What I Have to Say:Crazy Heart is, essentially, the story of the downfall of the one-time famous country singer, Bad Blake. It is one of the most brutally honest books I have read. Period. Bad Blake, a chain-smoking raging alcoholic who has done a lot of bad in his life, has trouble with relationships, and has suffered more than your average person, comes across as sympathetic and authentic. He's got problems, and his circumstances are not typical, but he's really just a nice guy trying to get by.I think it is a testament to Thomas Cobb that he was able to turn such a screw-up into an amazingly deep and confused character with whom the readers will ultimately sympathize and possibly even feel sorry for, despite the fact that all of his problems were brought on by himself. There were times when I wanted to reach out and give Bad a hug. And steal all of his alcohol and cigarettes. But then, I would have been afraid that he'd grope me while I was trying to console him. When it comes to most things in life, he tries so hard, but he just doesn't get it.In a way, this book is like the country songs it is about. It is straightforward and genuine, and there is nothing (or very little) hiding in the cracks or underneath the surface. It is beautiful and twangy and will absolutely break your heart (and leave it up to you to put it back together), but it will have you laughing and loving along the way. And that's why, despite the fact that I only ENJOYED this book while reading it (i.e. I didn't absolutely adore it), I would still go so far as to call this book brilliant. It IS country, and it gives such an honest portrayal of what life on the road must be like, about the drugs and alcohol and women that come along with being a country singer, that it's hard to believe it might not be based on a true story. Bad Blake is not just someone I once read about in a book, he is someone I knew and cared about once upon a time.Because of the constant drinking and smoking and LANGUAGE, I wouldn't recommend this book to a younger crowd. It is adults only. And even for all its brilliance, I don't think it's for all adults. I can see how some people might have trouble relating to or sympathizing with Bad Blake, despite how solidly Thomas Cobb describes his suffering.So it's hard to say. I want to say I highly recommend this, because, as I said, I thought it was brilliant. But if, in the end, you don't sympathize with Bad Blake, you might find it lacking in life.

Crazy Heart, based on the novel by Thomas CobbA different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/Crazy Heart is an acclaimed film.It won two Academy Awards, including one for:- Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, for Jeff Bridges.A Golden Globe rewarded the same actor.Indeed, Jeff Bridges, or Jeffrey Leon Bridges comes from a family of actors:Son of Lloyd Bridges and brother of Beau Bridges.Jeffrey Leon can play any role with equal talent and charismaHe has been a rough cowboy in True Grit and a free spirit, funny liberal in The Big Lebowsky.I rather prefer characters in the mold of The Dude.In fact, the character he plays in Crazy Heart has something rather repulsive.He is Bad Blake, a country singer past his prime.Bad Blake does justice to his nickname.He drinks way too much and has been a bad man.Bad Blake has not called his son in twenty four years!At one point, in order to get alcohol he loses the boy he was responsible for.Having highlighted some of the serious issues with the hero, one must add that he is an artist.His creativity is famous and acclaimed.Tommy Sweet is played by Colin Farrell.He is also a country singer, who had been launched by Bad Blake.We learn that the two had been supposed to work together, only for Tommy to abandon ship.He says that he wanted to save his marriage.Tommy Sweet is at the peak of his career and would pay -does - pay good money for songs created by the gifted former mentor.Bad Blake is reduced to opening the concert of his former pupil.Fifty seven years old, the singer is forced to perform in bars mostly.He comes on stage drunk and nauseating.But there is hope.And it comes in the attractive form and shape of Jean Craddock, portrayed excellently by Maggie Gyllenhaal.The actress was nominated for an Oscar for this role.- I once listened to The Bell Jar read by her.- And it was pure magic.Jean is the niece of a piano player that sings with Bad Blake.And she wants an interview with the former star.After the second part of this session of questions and some answers, the two see that they are attracted to each other.The romance would offer both hope.Jean has a son and the boy has not seen but a few men.The young woman feels lonesome.And the only way for the alcoholic, sick man is down.Without a major change that is.Jean could change all that.But old habits die hard they say.Furthermore, after a car accident that highlighted the poor health of the country singer, a doctor gives him few options:You need to stop smoking and drinking.And you need to lose twenty five poundsOtherwise, a heart attack, cancerous something else will kill you.- What will Bad Blake do?- Well, he keeps smoking and drinking...There is a familiar attempt with AA.This film has been highly praised by the critics for good reason.

Better than the movie version, which I saw first, about three years ago. The novel provides a far more gritty, in-depth, revealing glimpse into the life and times of an aging alcoholic Country singer named Bad Blake. Who's best times are decidedly behind him. The book begins very well. Lots of cool insights to life on the road. Thomas Cobb is a skilled writer with obvious experience in the music biz. His writing is lean and flows well. Almost stream of consciousness style. I'd definitely read another of hid works.The story lags a bit over the last third of the book. Right after Bad is hospitalized from a car accident. If the second half of the book woulda been as good as the first, I'd give this bad boy the full five stars.Still a solid read. Hi recommendation for any C&W fan.Cheers!

This is one book where the movie was as good as the book, thanks to the terrific music and the performance of Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake, an aging, down-on-his-luck singer. However, there was one false note--the ending. At the end of the movie, Bad overcomes his demons, stops drinking, gets back on top, and develops a good relationship with a younger woman and her son. But when I read the book, is thought, "This is not the ending I'd hoped for, but this is the way the book should end."After nearly cleaning up his life, Bad ends up in a bar with a woman he barely knows. The book ends with Bad drunk in a ditch. A depressing ending--but a great book and almost a great movie.