Banned for Life

by Duke Haney

For almost two decades, rumors have swirled around Jim Cassady, a quasi-legendary musician who disappeared without a trace after his girlfriend’s apparent suicide. Though largely written off as dead, some claim to have had brushes with Cassady, now said to be homeless and bumming change on the streets of his native Los Angeles. Intrigued, Jason Maddox, a would-be filmmaker and Cassady fan, decides to investigate. But the man he eventually finds and befriends is damaged in ways he could never have imagined, and Jason’s own life begins to unravel as he tries to save the hapless Jim Cassady from himself.

A mystery wrapped in a roller-coaster account of the American pop-culture underbelly, Banned for Life has been cited as a "cult favorite" by the New York Journal of Books, with a reputation that continues to expand.

"Every once in a while, I read a book that I think everyone else should read. A book that lovers of all genres can enjoy. A book that I wish I could buy for every single non-reader out there to prove to them what they are missing. [Banned for Life] is one of those books...once I started, I knew I was not going to want it to end. It called to me every time I put it down. It begged. It screamed. I savored every moment of it, and I dreaded reading that final sentence." — The Next Best Book Blog

"....pitch-perfect, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartrendingly sad...one of those rare books that tells the story of a generation." — Chris Kraus, author of I Love Dick

"...[Banned for Life] follows Jason Maddox's serio-comic adventures in the underground punk scene, stretching beyond mosh-pit mayhem and barroom brawls to explore death and obsession and purpose. The author zigzags confidently between a resonant coming-of-age tale in North Carolina, la vie bohème in hardscrabble New York, and a tempestuous L.A. love affair...even readers ambivalent to punk will be drawn in by the peculiarly irresistible voice of Jason..." — The Nervous Breakdown

"Haney's characters are nuanced and interesting and you actually care about what's going to happen to them..."— Maximum RocknRoll

"...literary fiction at its best. Like Melville [in Moby-Dick], D. R. Haney has created a world so rich in detail, so authentic, so damned cool, you want to take up a harpoon—or, in this case, a guitar—and join the fray." — Greg Olear, author of Totally Killer and Fathermucker

"...a powerful and affecting novel that hits all the right notes." — Largehearted Boy

Genres: Fiction, Music, Contemporary

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2009

About the author

Born and raised in Virginia, Duke Haney, aka Daryl Haney, has spent most of his adult life working in the movie business as an actor and screenwriter, with twenty feature-film credits as the former and twenty-two as the latter. He used pseudonyms for some of the screenplays and went by “D. R. Haney” as the author of Banned for Life, a novel, and Subversia, an essay collection. After he was struck by a car in a crosswalk on in Hollywood, a friend claimed he walked like John “Duke” Wayne and gave him the nickname by which most people know him and he has adopted belatedly as his pen name. He plans to follow his latest essay collection, Death Valley Superstars, with a novel tentatively titled XXX.

A few links:

Book trailer for Death Valley Superstars

Other People with Brad Listi podcast interview for Death Valley Superstars

Interview about Death Valley Superstars at Cease, Cows

Death Valley Superstars Book Notes/playlist at Largehearted Boy

Banned for Life Book Notes/playlist at Largehearted Boy

If My Book contribution to Monkeybicycle

Review of Banned for Life at The Next Best Book Blog

Interview at The Next Best Book Blog 4/10

Interview about Banned at The Nervous Breakdown 7/09

Piece in Tank magazine (UK) 1/2009

Reflections on William Faulkner at Three Guys One Book

Self-interview about rock & roll, movies, fame, and the writing process, among other matters

Reviews

[Duke Haney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not going to review this book, as I'm the author, except to give it five stars. It took me nine years to write, and I figure for that reason alone I've earned my own high rating.

[Suzanne]

I am not the audience for this book. However, I did find many parts of it oddly entertaining, the way that gossipy accounts of other people’s dysfunction and high drama can be. Punk rocker/filmmaker/sometime temp and usually broke Jason Maddox narrates in a very casual and conversational tone his adventures with various, often oddball, friends, lovers, band-mates and an agoraphobic retired music idol, through the landscapes of New York, Los Angeles, and Belgrade. The characters who populate this novel, New Yorkers, Angelenos, and a sizeable contingent of Serbs who are Jason’s girlfriend's friends and family, were really very well-drawn, especially the weird and doomed best friend Peewee. And I enjoyed, of course, the travels around Los Angeles, the references to recognizable street names (Franklin and Bronson), restaurants (Taix) and outlying regions (Rancho Cucamonga). Yes, for those of you who are non-locals, there really is a Rancho Cucamonga.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review copy.

Every once in awhile, I find myself reading a book that surprises me. A book that amazes me. A book that demands attention. A book that forces me to read it slowly, and thoroughly, in an effort to make it last. This is one of those books.

D.R. Haney's book was recommended to me by Greg Olear (author of "Totally Killer") - and I am so glad that he did, because had he not, I fear I may never have come across it on my own. And I want to thank Haney for mailing me a copy to review.

D.R. Haney spent 9 years of his life writing this novel - a chronicle of the life of fictitious punk rocker Jason Maddox and his obsession with Jim Cassidy, lead singer of Rule of Thumb, through the 80's and 90's.

But it is so much more than that. Banned for Life goes deep beneath the skin, exposing the raw ugliness of drugs, sex, and rock and roll. It's populated with people I can relate to, people with flaws and complexes, people who live and breathe and suffer and die. It's characters struggle to exorcise their inner demons. It's an unbelievable story written by a first time novelist.

Jason, the narrator of this faux memoir, is an emotional wreck. Oh God, is he a mess. From a very young age, Jason allows those around him to define him. No longer happy with fitting in or with following the rules, and itching for a way to break free, Jason befriends PeeWee, an outcast who has no intention of selling out to the crowd. He introduces Jason to the world of Punk Rock, and teaches him how to shed his preppy lifestyle for one that will allow him to express his inner punk and live like a true rock star.

When suddenly, in one fateful night, Jason loses his best friend, nearly loses his life, and makes the decision to lead a different life.

Broken into four parts, which encompasses four phases of his life, we meet the key players in Jason's life:
PeeWee - the match that lights this novel on fire. Fueling Jason's love for music and especially for the punk band Rule of Thumb, they start their own band and embark on a life filled with drugs, drinking, girls, breaking up, starting over, and an unhealthy amount of fighting.
Irina - a gorgeous Serbian woman stuck in a supposedly loveless marriage that he falls head over heels in love with. Theirs is a dysfunctional, emotionally twisted relationship.
Jim - the idol of his youth, lead singer of Rule of Thumb, and eventual agoraphobic poet. A needy, chaotic, abusive friendship that is doomed from the start.

Haney's novel is drenched in foreshadowing - He has perfected the "tease", dangling comments out there of the things to come, preparing us for each blow, dulling the impact of the punch but never taking away the pain.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was his first novel. The character development and intricate storyline was seamless. Not a word was wasted. The sentences flowed together, the dialogue was so natural. For me, this book is more like a work of art. Something to be felt as well as read. It passes beyond the eyes, takes up residence in the head.

Once I started, I knew I was not going to want it to end. It called to me every time I put it down. It begged. It screamed. I savored every moment of it, and I dreaded reading that final sentence.

Every once in awhile, I read a book that I think everyone else should read. A book that lovers of all genres can enjoy. A book that I wish I could buy for every single non-reader out there to prove to them what they are missing. This is one of those books.

If D.R. Haney releases a second novel, I will move mountains to be the first in line to buy it.

[Kristi Lamont · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I got this book at the end of November (from the author, fuller disclosure later), and read the first 15 pages of it and had to put it down -- because I knew if I read one more word I would get absolutely nothing else done, because all I would want to do is read the story of a guy who -- in a slightly other place and time -- could've been me and my friends as we discovered punk music.

Then, of course, I hesitated to pick it back up after the holidays, because what if it wasn't as good as I remembered? Well, no worries, it was, for the most part. I felt as if I were getting caught up with a friend I hadn't seen in person in more than 10 years. When I did remember that I didn't really know either the author or his protagonist, that I was "just reading a book," I found myself getting mildly frustrated with the repeated "we'll get to that later," or "more on that soon," and the like. And at times I found myself thinking, "OK, OK, enough of this, you need to tighten this section up." Also, some of the characters in the book were just noxious, so I didn't really like spending time with them. But, they were believably noxious.

Interestingly, at one point I found myself telling a friend that a lot of what is in this book reminds me of what "Goldfinch" was trying to be and do. [Reminder: I did not find it believable.]

Fuller Disclosure: The author (D.R. Haney) and I have a mutual friend, and when Haney saw that I had marked the book as "to read" he sent me a copy, in part because of the shared friend and in part because I'm active on Goodreads. Smart marketing strategy, that; the only bad PR is no PR, and word of mouth can make a difference. Those of you who know me in real life know that 99 percent of the books I read are "free" because of the library. For those who don't, this disclosure is to let you know that it's not like I would bump up a rating because of a free book or friendship/other relationship with an author. Even one who is one of my sisters-in-law, but that is a whole other story. ;-)

Let's see if I can wrap this up and move on with my life: If you were ever an even mildly disaffected youth in the '70s or early '80s who latched on to The Sex Pistols and The Clash and The Cramps et al like the life rope they were, you'll enjoy this book. If you were a big fan of REO Speedwagon? Maybe not so much. ;-)

[Ben Loory · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is remarkable for two reasons. first, because it has a character in it that is absolutely real. i don't generally read for character, but every now and then one of them leaps out at me and i go, oh, look, a character, that's great! i mean like holden caulfield or tarzan or queequeg or whatever. the character peewee in this book is one of those. really; he's gonna live in my head now. him and his buddy sammy glick (who maybe are cousins? they have a lot in common).

second reason this book is remarkable is because of its air of 100% lived experience. the narrator here basically thinks and rethinks his way through every important moment of his life, and gives the impression that he's come to understand it all, and passes that understanding on to us. it's very real and very intense, like a 3am talk with an old friend-- that lasts 400 pages and explains absolutely everything.

my only complaint about the book is that i miss peewee when he's gone. and so does the narrator, so i get it. but nothing that happens with jim and irina-- to me-- matches peewee's incandescence. the book doesn't fall off a cliff or anything, but it does kind of fade away... not the ending peewee would go for, but then again, peewee's dead.

[Kerry Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd read D.R. Haney's collection of personal essays, Subversia, and really enjoyed it. This naturally lead me to buy a copy of this, his novel. And guess what? I loved it! There is so much STORY in this story! Many people will tell you this is a punk rock novel, but that is so misleading! It's about family and where you come from and where you want to go and how you get there and don't get there. It's about friendships, good ones and bad ones and ones that are both. It's about music and movies and art and the people who MAKE those things, the artists! And it's about love, heartbreaking, uplifting, sexy, passionate LOVE. This novel encompasses big ideas about all these things and relays them in a completely accessible way as if you are just sitting in a bar, throwing back a couple of drinks with the narrator. The novel is written conversationally and it WORKS. D.R. Haney is one hell of a storyteller and I'll be here eagerly waiting for what he writes next.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.R. Haney's novel Banned for Life, may be the best rock & roll novel ever. It is actually one of my very favorite novels I have ever read of any genre. Rock & Roll/Punk is kind of the overall arch of the book. However, much more importantly, the novel has to do with growing up, and how one deals with the changes of the people growing up around them and their own changes...letting go, moving on, keeping parts of our past with us. I know I am not making this sound like the most spectacular book, but it really is. I felt like I knew the main four characters just as well if not better than my family and friends, that is how detailed their stories are. Human's make mistakes in life...and Haney is not afraid to be brutally honest with Jason, Peewee, Irina, and Jim/Eddie's mistakes/shortcomings. At times you will hate all of these characters, but at the same time you will love all these characters. They will make you laugh, they will make you smile, they will make you cry, they will make you scream in frustration. They are all alive and as real as a fictional character can be, which can't make for a better compliment from me.
I truly cannot wait for Haney's follow up. What a wonderful first novel!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

duke haney's writing voice is completely intimate, and mesmerizing, and this is a remarkable debut novel. banned for life moves along at a good clip, keeps you guessing, and pushes you deeper into the lives of his wonderfully wrought characters until you are completely immersed in the world of his book. i talked a lot to this book while reading it: arguing with the characters, who felt like friends of mine, nodding with satisfaction when they pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, cringing when they made decisions i thought they’d realize were mistakes.

prior to reading banned for life, i had read duke's essays so i already knew i could expect great writing and i was eager to see what he could do with a fictional landscape. i had some reservations about this idea of "punk novel". i worried that without in-depth knowledge of the punk scene i would be lost (i am pretty positive that i partied with DOA after i went to one of their shows in university but most of my memories of that period are understandably dim and i would not consider myself a punk aficionado otherwise) but as soon as i cracked this book open, that expressive voice began telling me a story, the story of a fella named jason (the narrator), a story where punk is the conduit jason's maturity: it instigates his interest in learning to think for himself, how to face life, how to embrace it, what to do with it, what he's willing to take, and how to stand up. through punk he becomes bonded to his best friend peewee and these two and their actions and reactions are the core of this book, they push and pull, they drive themselves and the story, in their search for an ethos.

jason is such a persuasive narrator that i sometimes wondered if he was duke in reality, and sometimes the novel seemed to confirm that suspicion and then a few pages later would make me disavow the idea entirely. pee wee is a perfectly conceived character, who slides off the page so filled with rage and angst, so snide, so smart, and so vulnerable that he could pass for holden caulfield's grandson. i loved him so much that when he and jason were at odds i was restive. i felt indulgent with peewee even when he was an ass. i can't say that's true for all of the characters that peopled this book. irina, jason's main love interest made me want to punch her in the eye, but again, that's a testament to duke's consummate skill with characterization because he drew such a convincing portrait of a beautiful woman who is self-involved and stubborn, one who doesn't own how her actions affect anybody else, who expects people in her life to sublimate their own desires unless they are in sync with her own, who expects to be indulged. she is one of those women that other women don't like. she is a woman i would not tolerate in life any more than i did in this novel. every time she appeared, i felt as i do when mr. collins makes his appearances in pride and prejudice. truly, i wanted to shake the bejesus out of that bitch. this is not to say that there aren't other sympathetic female characters here: for me, one of the most memorable is irina's polar opposite, monika. monika plays a small but pivotal role in the novel and i adore her. despite the fact that she appears on so few pages, my impression of her is still vivid: a woman who is committed to making things work, who is open and strong, who has a relationship that isn't traditional, but one that she is nonetheless committed to, and even if she can't just be with one person forever, she still loves them in the way she can love, and stays true to herself. in so few words, duke paints a portrait of a woman i could respect, with whom i entirely empathize: she's not a saint, she does some shifty things, but she does those things because she is devoted and honest. i was fascinated by the character of jim, who evokes jim morrison, and daniel johnston very strongly for me. i really responded to jason's desire to help jim, the man who had given him the music that had spawned his own awakening, and i felt his pain when he realized that jim might not be salvageable.

i admire the hell out of this book. i really enjoyed reading it, and the few problems i had with it largely have to do my inability to buy a major character shift as the novel resolves itself. it just didn’t ring true to me that a character that was so definitively delineated could drastically change that quickly, and completely -- perhaps duke did his job too well for me in this instance. but even with that reservation, this novel concludes in ideal circumstances, and setting, with the joy and fury of people who demand change, who are willing to admit protest and violence in order to make a life that they can believe in, echoing the self-realization through the punk ethos that threads itself through this novel.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banned for Life starts out much like other memoir-style stories, with the main character Jason relating some tale from his past that's bound to lead someplace, but quickly becomes something more. After you've found yourself hooked by the story you realize that what's really holding your attention is not just the story, but also the way it's told. The writing is so honest, so raw and truthful as Jason tells of his experiences and feelings and the complicated situations that all eventually brought him to where he is, it almost seems as if he's just sitting there, telling you his story over a beer or twelve. And it's that same gut-wrenching candor and lifelike flow that makes some parts of this story so personal for me. I won't go into exactly what parts effected me so deeply, but let's just say that there are things in the story so painfully relevant to my past and present that reading mirrors of them scraped the bone and, on more than one occasion, took my breath away.
The only thing part of me wished was different is that I wish there had been some sort of epilogue on Jim. Naturally I'd have loved to have seen Jim get better and start performing again - all that happy ending crap you expect from most novels these days, but really that would have taken away from the heart of the book. This is, after all, not most novels, and its honesty and realism is what makes it that way. By the time I read the last few pages, that frankness and stream-of-memory style had led me to wonder if, just maybe, I was reading something more autobiographical than fictional, and that to me is the mark of a well-written tale.

P.S. Nothing has changed about life as a misfit in small-town North Carolina. My youth was awfully similar to Jason's early punk days, being tormented by ignorant yokels who feared what they couldn't possibly understand, even though there were nearly 20 years between Jason's time and mine. Some things never change.

P.P.S. I just realized that I forgot to mention that I received this book as the result of a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, but would probably have gone and bought it anyway because it really was awesome.

[Sean Beaudoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a love story. A story about embracing people you can't have, music you can't contain, movies you can't make money off of, and people too damaged by the sort of self-destructive brilliance that makes great art. We worship these people from afar, but are rarely in the car or the alley with them, mopping up teeth, realizing what the day to day cost of a true lack of compromise really is. This book captures that feeling, as well as a period of time when punk was vital, the Corporatocracy was presumed to be science fiction, and a path of resistance was easier to identify. Intellectual energy wrestles with a coming-of-age lust. Fiction throws elbows with memoir. New York pins L.A. to the tarmac. The notion of what "punk" might actually mean, as an adjective and an ethos far beyond the music, ultimately wins.

[Greg Olear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banned For Life is about punk rock? Sure, just like Moby-Dick is about whales. This is the thrilling story of Jason Maddox, 80s musician turned 90s screenwriter, who embarks on an Ahab-like quest of his own -- although the blubbery object of his fascination is a vanished punk-poet.

Like Melville, D.R. Haney has created a world so rich in detail, so authentic, so damned cool, you want to take up a harpoon -- or, in this case, a guitar -- and join the fray. Banned For Life is literary fiction at its best -- funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, and every bit as inspiring as the punk music it extols.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a coming of age story that explores human nature and the choices we make through a journey of sex, drugs and rock & roll. Haney takes us through the punk rock movement, the challenges and rewards of starting a band, and the difficulties of finding a balance between doing what we love and becoming responsible adults. Mixed in there is heartbreak and love, friendship and loss.

Banned For Life is a well written, captivating story with memorable characters. Not only is this an excellent read but it would make a great movie.

[Dane O'Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much that I don't even know where to start this review.

I suppose I could start by saying that I'm extremely picky about the fiction that's written today. Oftentimes it's unoriginal, uninspired, formulaic garbage that lacks any romance and leaves me feeling frustrated because it's clear that the author is trying far too hard to write the next Harry Potter or Twilight series with the movie and merchandising deals that come along with it. And actually, that's another thing I want to emphasize about the fiction that's coming out today: It tries way too hard. There's something to be said of a story that feels effortless in quality, is quietly charismatic, and isn't simply a knockoff story with different character names. D.R. Haney (who prefers to go by 'Duke,' and I know this because I've had the pleasure of getting to know the author personally via lengthy emails and great discussions we've had and continue to have and whom I can consider a good friend of mine--but isn't the reason I love this book) has really done something special here with Banned for Life, and I'll now take a moment to explain what makes this novel so special.

There are two major threads to the plot of Banned for Life (which I'll refer to as BFL from this point): One is a turbulent romance, and it's not your traditional love story by any means; the other is sort of "search and rescue" in which the main character, Jason Maddox, finds his musical idol after this man mysteriously vanished from the punk rock scene, and Jason's subsequent attempt to breathe life back into the now down-and-out musician. Somewhere in there is also the narrator's back story, which details his transformation into a punk in the punk rock scene of the early 1980s after meeting a rather unforgettable character, to whom a privileged few refer as Peewee (but whose actual name is Bernard). Sprinkle in an adulterous 'cougar,' some recreational drug use, the rise and fall of several attempted bands, and the vivid portrayal of the spirit punk rock and, to be honest, you've barely seen the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Not only is this book special because of its fresh content, but it reads like a memoir. BFL doesn't feel like fiction at all; the descriptions and dialogue are portrayed so realistically that it feels like you're reading the author's life story, which is a testament to his talent as a writer. Not a single page read gave the impression of cheap manufactured fiction like most of what you'll find today. I would even go so far as to say Haney has created something that could easily be considered a modern classic in the vain of Hemingway and especially Salinger. There is some real, authentic grit to this tale, and it's also inspirational, hopeful, tragic, funny, and incredibly entertaining on all accounts. I wanted to pace myself as I read so I could really absorb and process what I was reading, but this was extremely hard to do because once I'd pick it up, the book was unbelievably difficult to put down. And when I'd stop reading, I found myself thinking about it and couldn't wait to continue.

I will stop my review here so as not to give away anything to those who haven't read this book yet, but I'll end by saying this: You'll be extremely glad you've read this book once you've actually finished reading it. It was one of the most pleasant reading experiences I've had, and I'd liken reading BFL with getting to know someone and becoming great friends with them. This is an extremely personal book from which you'll come away having gotten to know several interesting, layered people that are so realistic you'll find yourself wishing they existed so you could meet them in person. The plot is multidimensional and definitely present at all points in the book, but this is definitely literary fiction and not an adventure (although the book is by no means short on adventure if that's what appeals to you). And although the punk rock scene has a significant role in BFL, you shouldn't feel like you need to have personal experience with that movement or listen to punk rock in order to enjoy this book. Having had little experience with punk before reading this book, it is almost an empirical study of the essence of punk and what it means to live that lifestyle, but without preaching or lingering excessively on the peripheral. Someone else said it better when they suggested that with BFL, Duke has "captured the spirit of a generation."

[Steffanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure when I started reading this book. 2013'ish I believe. I fell in love with it pretty quickly. I would say I finished 7/8th of the book…and then wham-LOST IT. A couple other books are missing too. A backpack full of books I took around with me for long waits is floating around somewhere, with some amazing books in it. Perhaps it's in the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse, where I anticipated sitting all day for jury duty. I had to reorder Banned for Life. Because more than a year or two had passed, I really felt like rereading the whole book rather than trying to figure out where I left off. And I'm so glad I did. It's just such a fu****g amazing book! Not that D.R. Haney would ever shy away from the actual curse word.

Anyways, I had to get a Rancho Cucamonga reference in there, because, boy was I surprised to find out that Rancho Cucamonga was a relatively important setting in the story! In fact, there were so many references to things in my life, it's uncanny. Not that my British boyfriend who works for *a certain corporation*, and used to work in the Greenwich, Connecticut location, would be that into many of the facets of the book. ;) Okay, apparently I'm writing this 'review' for people who have already read the book. It was just a COOL novel! The coolest novel I've ever read!

So when I reread the first page, I immediately realized that rereading would be a welcomed adventure. It was even more exciting than the first go-round. There's a line toward the beginning that I love: "That's how scared people are these days: they're afraid to see a fucking movie that's going to make them feel a little uncomfortable." (23) I like that line because most of this book made me feel a little uncomfortable. From the shards of eroticism, to the racism (the main character isn't racist so I don't think it's right to say its a racist book, even though its uncomfortable at points), to the immoral ambiguity and crude narrator… I was super … hmmm… I don't know how to explain it other than: this is one of my favorite books, but I would never recommend it to anyone who has even once been accused of having a stick up their a**.

Jason, the main character is extremely flawed. All the crap he does makes him more believable though. It's not easy to like him, but I still do, because he's honest. He's the kind of person that I would long to be friends with, but would be too scared to try, because he's just on another plane. Too cool. Too mysterious. I would always wonder what kind of horrible things he would think about me. Even if the horrible thing was, "Steffanie is just like everyone else." It's interesting that the theme of conformity comes up again, and again and again. The late 20th century punk scene is a perfect vehicle to keep the topic alive and interesting.

I know the author claims that this is totally fiction, but he makes it so difficult for me to believe. It is like the perfect memoir. Is any of it real? Jason's best friend (and most awesome character ever written!) Peewee and him had a year and a half estrangement that was just written too well. If it really is totally fiction, Haney is one of the the best writers on the market. (He still is, even if he did pull from real life.) The long conversations between Jason and Jim are so interesting. 'Art changes artists. No one else.' Every exchange is chalked full of life-changing ideas.

Toward the end of the book (pg 348 to be exact!) I started feeling so much anxiety. The buildup of all the ingredients needed for a shit storm is palpable. I couldn't stop reading. I stayed up way too late on a work night to finish, after the anxiety hit. And in the end Jason gets the girl. And that more than kind of annoyed me. I would rather have had Jason's car NOT break down, and him kill Jim, and go to jail, than be with Irina. Not that I think Irina is the worst person ever. She's very human as well. But it really annoyed me that it was a happy ending. And then I thought to myself….no I knew…that Jason would tell me "Well, fuck you." And that's kind of the point.

I really, really loved this book. Stay away from it unless you are super chill.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. However, I feel like I need to make a disclaimer here because I know many of you are sensitive about profanity in books and this one has A LOT. You don't even get through the first line without encountering the f-word (best first line of a book ever, by the way). Personally, I wasn't offended by the language in the book. I thought it added a genuine voice to the character, much as I felt toward the profanity used in Lush Life by Richard Price. But, I felt like I needed to give you all a warning, just in case.

So, about the book. Banned for Life is told by the main character, Jason, who came of age listening to punk and getting involved in several punk bands with his best friend, Peewee. Both were inspired by the legendary Jim Cassady, lead singer of Rule of Thumb. The book is written as if Jason is telling us the story as it all happened. I really enjoyed this way of writing because it felt like I was having a conversation with the main character - as if I was sitting there listening to him tell me his story.

The book starts off with Jason as an adult, telling us about how punk eventually led him to Los Angeles and into the filmmaking industry. He's fairly unsuccessful, as many are in this industry. Then he meets a girl and his life takes a bunch of twists and turns because of her. He ends up seeking out his old hero, Jim Cassady, who had all but disappeared from the map until Jason's girlfriend helps find him.

At this point we learn why and how Cassady really effected Jason's life. We learn all about what happened to Jason during his punk years: how he started hanging out with Peewee, how they started their first band, how that first band broke up, and how he ended up in L.A. I thought this was by far the best part of the book.

And then it gets back to the Cassady part, which got a little weird in parts and bothered me a lot once I got to the end of the book because there was no real resolve with the Cassady character. It was just a little weird to spend so much time on this character to only have it just end the way it did.

In the same way, I had difficulty with the ending of the book. I don't want to give it away for those of you who will go out and read it, but it ended a little too shiny happy for me. I was actually relieved for some happiness at the end of the book after all the downer stuff that happened in the middle part, but at the same time I felt it was a little too neat.

Anyway, there's also this whole side story with Jason and his girlfriend, who is actually married, which, of course, causes a ton of drama throughout the book. What I found funny about this whole thing was how long it took Jason to realize that maybe the husband was actually a good guy and that the girl was just stringing them both along this whole time. It's interesting how the people IN affairs can never see their role in it.

There's a lot of good stuff in this book - some commentary on the homogenization of society, an inside look at the underground punk scene, and some great descriptions of both New York City and Los Angeles. There are also some really great descriptions in general. Haney is able to create some great visuals with his words. For example, here's one of the early descriptions of Peewee:

"At fifteen he'd soaked up more knowledge than most people twice and three times his age, and he'd ramble through it in breathless monologues, veering from subject to subject like a house-trapped sparrow trying to find an open window: it's here, it's there, it's in the kitchen, it's in the attic now."

I love that he creates a sense of how Peewee talks by using that sparrow. Somehow it really made sense to me.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teenager, I read the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I remember being attracted to the idea of kids who went against the social norm and really enjoyed reading the novel. Now, many years later, I find myself in awe at the power of another novel about young "punks" and growing up. In Banned for Life, author D.R. Haney captures the realism and grit of growing up an outsider, on a level I have never experienced before.

The novel is narrated by Jason Maddox, a struggling filmmaker who recalls the events in is life that have brought him to where he is today. Jason did everything he could to fit in with the kids at his high school. He wore the same clothes, listened to the same music, and even dated the prom queen. Despite all of this, we get the sense that Jason never really fits in. His life takes a drastic turn when sleeps with his girlfriends mother, and nearly kills his "friend" who told the whole school about Jason's affair. Expelled from school and disowned by his family and friends, Jason turns to the only other person he can relate to.

Bernard, Pewee as he comes to be called, makes it a point to be different. He listens to punk music, wears tattered clothes, and dyes his hair bright colors. When Jason finds himself with nowhere to turn, he finds Pewee to be not so strange after all. Through Pewee, Jason is exposed to new ways of thinking and discovers the greatest music he has ever heard. When the boys go on a trip to New York to hear their favorite band, Rule of Thumb, they are unable to enter the club, but later meet the lead singer, Jim Cassady. In that moment, Jason's life is forever changed.

Flash forward ten years, and we learn Jason is now a screenwriter, struggling to keep his head above water. Gone are the glory days of playing in bands with Pewee. Looking to find some kind of meaning in his life, Jason believes that if only he can find Jim Cassady, his questions will be answered. Unfortunately, no one has heard from Cassady since Rule of Thumb separated years ago. Jason makes it his mission to find this man before his own life unravels before his eyes.

I found Haney's writing style to be very refreshing. Never before have I read characters who carried so much truth in them. I found myself really caring about each one, even those I disliked. This novel captures all of the triumph and heartache of being an artist, and learning how to grow up. The sometimes graphically described moments may be a bit much for some readers, but I found that through this reality, the author perfectly presented Jason's journey to adulthood.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

In last January's issue of TANK*, D.R. Haney quoted Marlon Brando as saying "We've come to replace art with craft and craft with cleverness."

Haney's first book 'Banned for Life' seems hellbent on destroying all three. Born out of this is a type of raw fiction which redeems itself in the telling--a cocky confessional as introspective as it is explosive. It's a whopper of a book at 405 pages and crammed with enough story and cinematic scope to give peter jackson wet dreams, but reads like a devil's dictionary of exploits few of us have lived (or lived through) and far fewer have been able to execute with any authority in prose. What we're left with is an expansive first person account of punk and its discontents in the conversational/ confrontational style of Celine, the best of Lester Bangs "in the trenches" reportage and the unraveling lure of a contemporary Dashiell Hammett set to the pulse of the evolving culture of revolt.

Reviewing Haney's novel is almost as hard as free-associating a punk anthem. One can try to point toward sources the author nods to or shrugs off as he goes along without a backward glance but ultimately finds oneself with something indefinably original--this book, while reinventing itself as the story jumps between relationships, rivalries, times and locales giving cues toward Selby,Jr., Melville or Mailer is, in the end, undeniably Haney.

'Banned for Life', much like one of its best creations--the miniature Travis Bickle/ Sid Vicious incarnate--"Peewee", rambles between youth and young manhood and the desolate environs of suburban North Carolina, NYC's lower east side, blase Los Angeles and war-torn Serbia "..in breathless monologues, veering from subject to subject like a house-trapped sparrow trying to find an open window."

A bildungsroman, cautionary tale, mystery and eulogy this book exposes the true vein of punk yet at the same time, and rarely so, is highly accessible and maddeningly readable to the outsider. For a novel spinning in orbit around the planet of Punk, its really a story of rare friendship, loss, renewal and revolt. One wonders if the events in this book were set at an earlier time if the main characters would be hitting the road with the Beats, setting the city on fire with the Red Faction Army, or calling for the head of Marie Antoinette.

An excellent debut.

*TANK (Volume 5 Issue 6) January 2009

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Banned for Life” is an amazing book; it well deserves all five stars. The book is written like a memoir. I felt like I was sitting with the author while he told me about his crazy past. I especially loved the characters in ”Banned.” They seemed so real. I had a clear picture in my head of who they were and what they looked like. Some of the characters in this book reminded me of some of the crazy friends I’ve had in the past.

“Banned For Life” is the kind of book I’d love to see been made into a film. There are a few different themes running through this book. There is a missing person, the search for that person. There is romance, friendships all played out against a Punk backdrop. There are so many things in this book that I love. The story kept me captivated the whole way through.

D.R. Haney is a very talented author. He drew me into the story. I often caught myself thinking about the characters during the day, I’d be dying to get home so I could find out what was going to happen next. I would highly recommend this book. One of my mates is reading “Banned” at the moment and he is really enjoying it. My review probably isn’t doing “Banned for Life” any justice because I am hopeless at writing book reviews, but trust me when I say that this is a brilliant book. Do yourself a favour and read it.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book began with a great (if profane) opening line and managed to keep a frenetic pace as we journey through through the youth and early adulthood of the narrator, who we meet in high school as a preppy jock and follow into the punk rock scene and beyond. Banned For Life is an authentic and faithful representation of this musical movement in the late '70s and early '80s, and as someone who was on the tail end of that trend, it brought back a lot of memories of bands I haven't listened to or thought about for a while.

I would definitely recommend it (though its not for folks who are easily offended).

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't want to expect too much from this book, so I wouldn't be disappointed if it sucked; however it not only didn't suck, it turned out to be great- one of the best novels I've read in a very long time... In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that the author sent me a copy of this book gratis (thanx, Duke). That is not really an issue, because I legitimately liked it, but it is well known that some reviewers allow themselves to be bought cheaply. I never did that when I used to actually get paid for reviewing records years ago, when I was a "real journalist", and I am no more susceptible to that particular temptation nowadays. [More to follow...]

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this book very much! It was fast paced and despite my reservations about not being able to relate to a punk rock novel, I found myself drawn into the story. It's not just the plot, the characters were so real and alive that I felt like I knew them. Sometimes it was as if I had just met Jason and he was running his mouth off telling me about his life. Although he is practically a stranger, he spared no details and yet I was not offended.

* I received this book through The Next Best Book Club's Author/Reader Discussion Giveaway

[Stephen Bramlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend sent me the book. Though it didn't look like something I would embrace, once I started I was driven by the compelling story, the well developed characters, and the marvelous prose. Haney's story development and style reminds me of Doctorow. The main character is one of those men-on-a-mission to cast off the tag of being damaged goods while working within his own value system - all this in a setting of LA's soul-less one-dimensional lifestyles. This book deserves a wide audience.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a 4 month hiatus from reading, it was so nice to pick up a book that's both well written and entertaining. Got me back on the proverbial horse! Despite having little knowledge of the world of punk rock, I enjoyed the characters and wanted to find out what happens next. Pee Wee reminded me a little bit of Owen Meany (I'm a big John Irving fan) and the whole missing musician aspect brought me back to one of my fav movies from growing up - Eddie & The Cruisers.

[Art Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily one of the best rock lit titles I've ever read.

People talk a lot about Peewee, but for my money, I loved the rendering of Irina, a lovely girl who learns her own mind and unconscious motives as the drama unfolds. So many riveting characters. Such tough language. This is not MFA writing.

[Scot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read an essay by the author and was impressed by the writing style, the command of tone, the clarity of thought. So I turned to this memoir cast as fiction and found myself pulled into the story. It is a long book--or at least it seemed long at times -- but I was really pulled along by the passion of the main character, the narrator, on his quests for what his yearnings demand and by his honest bluntness as he shares this past. The conversations and dialogue and private mental reflections all ring so true for me. This is a talent many writers do not have or demonstrate.

It is labelled a rock and roll novel but it touches on so much more. Still, fans of punk music as it had evolved in the 80s in New York or those interested in the true world of screenwriting in the 90s in L.A. will both find a lot to recognize and react to here.

I didn't expect the ending, but then that's the way life often works. The whole book was worth it for the character of Peewee alone. This kid stays with me, and I can see why he becomes so significant for the author, too. Not everyone will click with this book. But I sure did. Five stars!!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Great story packed within realistic vignettes of life in a band, as well as the realities of post-band adulthood.

The story reads at a furious pace, alternating between present day life and the protagonist's past. Super inventive plot points buck cliches like a bronco on steroids- nothing is trite in this book. Characters are developed well, and the undercurrents of music and relationships are powerful and extremely well-done.

Music fans will enjoy the backstories of the author's bands and the bands that inspired them. Very realistic take on the temporal and emotional investments of making music that matters.

The plot developments at the end are fantastic and satisfying through and through. Can't recommend this book enough.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this and I hated it. The characterisation of people and places was great and despite the grubbiness of much of the subject matter, I wanted to be there. I recognised many of the scenes as universal when immersed in the lives of transient people. For all their failings, I loved Jim and Peewee. I lost track of how many anecdotes were completely spot-on and made me laugh, enjoying the humour of the mundane. One scene perfectly captured the desolation of a Greyhound terminal. This entire tale was rambling and haphazard, (much like this review) but it worked. Parts will stay with me for a long time, and I may find myself changing my rating to five stars. But Irina was just a pain in the ass, and Jason a sucker...

[Sara Habein · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anything, Banned For Life is about how one does not have to sacrifice a punk mentality with age, and that punk does not come at the expense of happiness. Yes, punk is a reaction, and often an anger against the perceived wrongs in the world, but it's also this: If we weren't so hellbent on screwing each other over, if we were all able to do what we want, we might be happy.

(My full review can be found on Glorified Love Letters.)

[Leslie Wilkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for GoodRead's The Next Best Book Club, where the author participated in the discussion, which definitely added to my enjoyment of the book. Honestly, I liked the book much more than I expected to, not having much to related to the underground punk scene of the late 80's / early 90's. But the book is about much more than that. It's about relationships, and about the influence of music, no matter the genre.

[Khris Sellin · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I not love a book that somehow mentions Joey Shithead of DOA -AND Wanda Jackson???
No, this book is so much more than that. It's about the '80s punk rock scene, it's about friendship, love, loss, grief, the excesses of LA and the Hollywood wannabes scene, life quests, soul-searching...
This book has it all. The characters are so real.