7th out of 119 books
—
234 voters
Candy
by
Luke Davies
"Candy is beside me, drenched in sweat. She's breathing gently, long slow breaths. I imagine her soul going in and out: wanting to leave, wanting to come back, wanting to leave, wanting to come back. The day will soon harden into what we need to do. But for now we have each other. . . ."
He met Candy amid a lush Sydney summer. Gorgeous, sexy, free-spirited Candy. They fell...more
He met Candy amid a lush Sydney summer. Gorgeous, sexy, free-spirited Candy. They fell...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
June 16th 1998
by Ballantine Books
(first published 1997)
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Opening Line: "There were good times and bad times, but in the beginning there were more good times."
Wow this was fantastic, in a watching a beautiful car crash sort of way. Following the day to day struggles, triumphs and ultimate decay of a heroin addict and his girlfriend. It was almost impossible to look away and put this book down even though it’s graphic, horrible, depressing and often pointless. Told in the first person with vividly poetic and just plain amazing writing there’s a surprisi...more
Wow this was fantastic, in a watching a beautiful car crash sort of way. Following the day to day struggles, triumphs and ultimate decay of a heroin addict and his girlfriend. It was almost impossible to look away and put this book down even though it’s graphic, horrible, depressing and often pointless. Told in the first person with vividly poetic and just plain amazing writing there’s a surprisi...more
Aug 08, 2007
Jenny
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who like junkie/underclass-type books AND great literature
Shelves:
crime_fiction,
coming_of_age
this is an amazing book. it's sort of the "trainspotting" stereotypical heroin-addict book, but it's really an inside look. i feel like luke davies must have either been an addict once himself or done an inordinate amount of research to get this right. the is the finest book about love and addiction i've ever read. the two concepts are remarkably alike, and davies probes not just the love of and addiction to a drug, but the former and latter to a person, and that's what makes the book so incredi...more
Candy authored by Luke Davies is a novel that follows two young adults; Candy and Candy’s boyfriend who is unnamed, through a tremulous relationship built on an immense heroin addiction. They countlessly try many times to get clean and come off the “junk” but it proves to be much harder than any of them ever imagined. I highly enjoyed this book; therefore I rated it at 4 stars.
This book was much more interesting and less confusing than the previous two books. I could really follow the story thr...more
This book was much more interesting and less confusing than the previous two books. I could really follow the story thr...more
I was wary at first of another doomed and romantic heroin memoir (Dope opera) and the style struck me as a bit flouncy and breezy at first. They are soooo in love. Her first hit of hammer is soooo fantastic. She is soooo beautiful. This is a literary area that I eye critically because it is well worn territory for me and I am suspicious of tourists. Then I see the author is using his hero's romantic heedlessness to plunge us headfirst into the horrors of gear. Its unflinching, very honest, and p...more
I liked this better when it was called "Trainspotting." But this Aussie spin on the addicted youth subgenre has its own disgusting charms. The narrator, an unnamed minor-league scam artist, and the beautiful but deranged Candy fall in love, more with smack than with each other. Love is grand, but not so grand as being high all the time. Candy supports both their habits, earning "bucketloads" as a high-class call girl coz everyone knows there's nothing sexier than a junkie twitching and scratchi...more
I read this when it came out, before they made the film. When I saw they were making the film, my first thought was "Why?"
This isn't a badly written book. I just never saw the point of it. Lots has been written about heroin addiction, and I dont think this book brings anything new to the table. Anyone who has been friends with junkies knows that heroin is a fundamentally boring drug. People are dull while they're on smack, and the junky lifestyle is also dull, dull, dull.
It's actually very hard...more
This isn't a badly written book. I just never saw the point of it. Lots has been written about heroin addiction, and I dont think this book brings anything new to the table. Anyone who has been friends with junkies knows that heroin is a fundamentally boring drug. People are dull while they're on smack, and the junky lifestyle is also dull, dull, dull.
It's actually very hard...more
I have plenty of friends who I could never convince that reading a miserable book is enjoyable. However, I think that miserable books offer the chance to feel strong empathy, served up alongside pity and schadenfreude. It’s the book equivalent of sitting inside on a rainy day and watching through your window as people outside get soaked to the skin.
Candy, a gruelling ride through heroin addiction, has nary a light-hearted moment to be found. Even the very first chapter, where the narrator remini...more
Candy, a gruelling ride through heroin addiction, has nary a light-hearted moment to be found. Even the very first chapter, where the narrator remini...more
So, this review is rather personal.
I first picked this book up in my father's house when I was 16. He isn't much of a fiction reader, so I was surprised to find a book in his house that wasn't about history or Rugby League. I assumed the book was special, simply because he had it. It turned out his girlfriend gave it to him (probably noting the numerous and extraordinary similarities between my parents and the main character).
I spent the whole afternoon reading it. Dad said i could borrow it, th...more
I first picked this book up in my father's house when I was 16. He isn't much of a fiction reader, so I was surprised to find a book in his house that wasn't about history or Rugby League. I assumed the book was special, simply because he had it. It turned out his girlfriend gave it to him (probably noting the numerous and extraordinary similarities between my parents and the main character).
I spent the whole afternoon reading it. Dad said i could borrow it, th...more
From the inside cover...
"Candy is beside me, drenched in sweat. She's breathing gently, long slow breaths. I imagine her soul going in and out: wanting to leave, wanting to come back, wanting to leave, wanting to come back. The day will soon harden into what we need to do. But for now we have each other. . . ."
He met Candy amid a lush Sydney summer. Gorgeous, sexy, free-spirited Candy. They fell in love fast, lots of laughter and lust, the days melting warmly into each other. He never planned to...more
"Candy is beside me, drenched in sweat. She's breathing gently, long slow breaths. I imagine her soul going in and out: wanting to leave, wanting to come back, wanting to leave, wanting to come back. The day will soon harden into what we need to do. But for now we have each other. . . ."
He met Candy amid a lush Sydney summer. Gorgeous, sexy, free-spirited Candy. They fell in love fast, lots of laughter and lust, the days melting warmly into each other. He never planned to...more
An engaging, darkly humourous and appropriately fragmented story that holds its own in the youth-drug-culture genre, but manages to do more. We get an account of humanity under the influence of forces that it cannot understand and deal with adequately. It makes some very flawed and bitter and beautiful observations about all of us, how we aspire and how we exist in ourselves and with others.
The weakest parts are the italicised 'truth' segments of prose poetry where you end up getting impatient...more
The weakest parts are the italicised 'truth' segments of prose poetry where you end up getting impatient...more
Candy
by Luke Davies
I've came to the conclusion if you are new in recovery from any sort of substance abuse this is definitely NOT the book to read for inspiration. In fact, in the beginning of the book, the first few chapters are what we addicts call the “Glory Days!” When drugs were fun, made everything okay, made life feel wonderful, new, exciting, peaceful. When everything from our past that hurt us could be covered up and ignored, as if it never happened. We felt joy in the company of our ne...more
by Luke Davies
I've came to the conclusion if you are new in recovery from any sort of substance abuse this is definitely NOT the book to read for inspiration. In fact, in the beginning of the book, the first few chapters are what we addicts call the “Glory Days!” When drugs were fun, made everything okay, made life feel wonderful, new, exciting, peaceful. When everything from our past that hurt us could be covered up and ignored, as if it never happened. We felt joy in the company of our ne...more
Read it within 12 hours, I just could not put it down. Absolutely tragic read, but incredibly beautiful. You can't help but sympathize with the characters, wanting them to succeed, to move past their addiction and live the dreams they keep insisting will come tomorrow, the next week, within the next few months, if only they can kick the habit. You want to believe in them, you really do...
This was the most powerful book I have ever read. It is now my favorite novel, as it rightfully should be. I love the movie, the novel, the author, everything about it is just magnificent. I finished the book in three days, and I could almost never put down my Kindle. I wish Luke Davies wrote more books, his writing is just so captivating.
this is not your typical novel about addiction. it's a true love story and not just about the love between heroin and the junkie. it's very well written and the characters are relatable and lovely and loving -- despite their desperation and the things they are forced to do to support their habit. the novel takes the reader through ten years of the relationship between two young people deeply in love -- following them from the time before Candy even tries heroin to the time she has become so undo...more
When I pick up any book for the first time, I always open it to a random point in the middle and begin reading. I've done this for years, and it's always served as an accurate gauge to the level of writing the author is demonstrating. For the most part, every book is designed to begin with what's called a "hook," which is why most authors will always tell you in their workshops and seminars, "Always begin with action." The idea, if it's not obvious, is to suck the reader in to the point of purch...more
Very charming and hilarious/heartbreaking book about a hard drug addiction that effects a young couple. Lots of passages and quotes in this book that can stick with you because of how true and well written they are, e.g. The statement: "I am hurling pebbles against the greater saddness," when one character is speaking of their deepening depression and the small things they try to do in order to better their emotional state. This book was made into a small independant film starring Heath Ledger i...more
Candy written by exquisite author, Luke Davies is an intriguing book about love, and addiction. The novel takes you thought the two main characters lives, Candy and her seemingly unnamed boyfriend. You experience and learn about not only them falling in love with each other but Heroin as well. As the two realize their addiction they try and try to come off the 'junk'. After failing and failing they decide the best option is to move throughout Australia from town to town and become disconnected f...more
There were good times and bad times, but in the beginning there were more good times.
Junkie Dan meets Candy. Candy wants some of what Dan is having. Suddenly (or not so suddenly) they are both plunged into a different world, both with bad habits. This book is about their lives together.
I really really enjoyed this book. A lot more than I thought I would. I've seen the movie already and I think that helped me get into it more in the beginning then I would have otherwise. I thought it would just...more
Junkie Dan meets Candy. Candy wants some of what Dan is having. Suddenly (or not so suddenly) they are both plunged into a different world, both with bad habits. This book is about their lives together.
I really really enjoyed this book. A lot more than I thought I would. I've seen the movie already and I think that helped me get into it more in the beginning then I would have otherwise. I thought it would just...more
Great writing that really captures the insanity and absurdity of addiction, that strangely binds these two characters together. The writing style is intelligent and witty, a pleasure to read. It is a very unconventional Australian narrative and the film adaptation is superb and intense, even more so than the novel. The book is intense, and is at times harrowing and at others funny and absurd. The blurb on the back reads "the confronting, dark, sexy and tender cult bestseller, illuminated by mome...more
4.5 stars
I remember when the film Candy was released in 2006, receiving critical acclaim and rave reviews for the performances of the late, great Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish in the leading roles. Despite my interest, for some reason I never got around to seeing it. And it wasn’t until recently reading my friend Buggy’s review here on GoodReads that I discovered the film was an adaptation of a novel.
My interest once again piqued, I promptly obtained both the book and the film, then did somethi...more
I remember when the film Candy was released in 2006, receiving critical acclaim and rave reviews for the performances of the late, great Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish in the leading roles. Despite my interest, for some reason I never got around to seeing it. And it wasn’t until recently reading my friend Buggy’s review here on GoodReads that I discovered the film was an adaptation of a novel.
My interest once again piqued, I promptly obtained both the book and the film, then did somethi...more
Deeply depressing. I'm assuming it was realistic (it certainly seemed realistic, although the only substance I've ever used is Tylenol) but God was this book depressing. I hope that if it was in any way autobiographical that the author is able to move forward with his life in a positive direction and stay clean. Incidentally, this book reminded me of the TV show Intervention... in that show, whenever the addict has a boy/girlfriend, they are usually told that their only chance to come clean and...more
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Candy is one of my all time favorite books. I have read the entire thing at least a dozen times, maybe more. It sounds cheesy and melodramatic if you hear the concept and oh, the movie was horrible. The beauty of this book is the WRITING, Luke Davies can write. And they say "write what you know". Well I am pretty sure Luke Davies is writing from the heart and that most of this, if not all, really happened to him. It is set in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. There of course, are drug situations,...more
This is a very hard emotional book to read. It follows the narrator through his relationship with Candy - a girl and heroin. Their life starts out happily in love, sharing the drug, until she becomes a call girl to make drug money, and it all goes downhill from there. The book covers about 10 years of their life. It's definitely graphic, with descriptions of blood and veins and drug use and sex. But if you ever needed something to convince you not to try heroin, this would be it. While difficult...more
Apr 12, 2008
Raegan Butcher
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
hipsters who've yet to mess up too badly
Extremely graphic and moving account of 2 Aussie's decent into heroin addiction.A sad, cautionary tale.
From the first page to the last page you will be filled with gut-wrenching sorrow. The emotion in the words on every page will hit you like a parade of freight trains. I want every word of this book written on my walls, on my body, buildings, streets, everywhere. One of my favorite books of all time. You truly become a heroin addict with them, and become involved in their relationship. You continually want things to get better, like the characters do. I want to commit every word of this book to...more
Candy is Luke Davies putting his rhythmic poetics to prose in a study of love & addiction. Where heroin is a Goddess worshipped by lovers: Candy & Dan. It's a pretty desolate read. The characters are not likeable or sympathetic which the film by Neil Armfield corrects. We know very little about their life before addiction therefore they have never appeared innocent. The self destructive & repetitious patterns of use, use, use & the occasional attempt to get clean gets pretty mund...more
I honestly did not want this book to end!!
It was brilliant, haunting, utterly cruel and true love story. It wracks your brain, wrecks your heart, and leaves you wanting more. There were times when I couldn't put it down, times when I wanted it to end because I thought something really really bad was going to happen, and times when I fell so madly in love that I just didn't know how much more I could handle.
This has to be one of the most real books I have read. I kind of wonder if it is real or n...more
It was brilliant, haunting, utterly cruel and true love story. It wracks your brain, wrecks your heart, and leaves you wanting more. There were times when I couldn't put it down, times when I wanted it to end because I thought something really really bad was going to happen, and times when I fell so madly in love that I just didn't know how much more I could handle.
This has to be one of the most real books I have read. I kind of wonder if it is real or n...more
3.5 - I'd say if you want a close, truthful look at what a heroin addicts world is like, read this. I have no doubt, no doubt in the world, that this man went through heroin addiction. If not I'd love to have a chat with him. But there is no 'if not' in my opinion. I don't care if his twin went through it or if he's studied the subject, in every manner possible, for his entire adult life, he'd never know the little things that he shows he knows.
He captures it powerfully here. I wish I could say...more
He captures it powerfully here. I wish I could say...more
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Luke Davies is an Australian writer of novels and poetry. He has published two novels, Isabelle the Navigator and the cult bestseller Candy, which was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards in 1998. A film version of Candy, starring Heath Ledger, was released in 2006 and won the AFI for Best Adapted Screenplay. His novel God of Speed, about the life of Howard Hughes, is due for release...more
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“When you can stop you don't want to, and when you want to stop, you can't...”
—
77 people liked it
“Once upon a time, there was Candy and Dan. Things were very hot that year. All the wax was melting in the trees. He would climb balconies, climb everywhere, do anything for her, oh Danny boy. Thousands of birds, the tiniest birds, adorned her hair. Everything was gold. One night the bed caught fire. He was handsome and a very good criminal. We lived on sunlight and chocolate bars. It was the afternoon of extravagant delight. Danny the daredevil. Candy went missing. The days last rays of sunshine cruise like sharks. I want to try it your way this time. You came into my life really fast and I liked it. We squelched in the mud of our joy. I was wet-thighed with surrender. Then there was a gap in things and the whole earth tilted. This is the business. This, is what we're after. With you inside me comes the hatch of death. And perhaps I'll simply never sleep again. The monster in the pool. We are a proper family now with cats and chickens and runner beans. Everywhere I looked. And sometimes I hate you. Friday -- I didn't mean that, mother of the blueness. Angel of the storm. Remember me in my opaqueness. You pointed at the sky, that one called Sirius or dog star, but on here on earth. Fly away sun. Ha ha fucking ha you are so funny Dan. A vase of flowers by the bed. My bare blue knees at dawn. These ruffled sheets and you are gone and I am going to. I broke your head on the back of the bed but the baby he died in the morning. I gave him a name. His name was Thomas. Poor little god. His heart pounds like a voodoo drum.”
—
31 people liked it
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Sep 17, 2011 01:14pm
Sep 17, 2011 01:23pm