Another Bullshit Night In Suck City

It’s not often I’m impressed enough by a book to write stuff about it, but somehow “Another Bullshit Night in Suck City” by Nick Flynn managed it.

Obviously, of course, it was the title that first dragged my eye towards it in the library. I got it really on the basis of that, not knowing what to expect, knowing only that the title was a phrase used by the author’s father, describing another night of being homeless in Boston. It’s not the kind of book I normally read, but once I got started on it, I couldn’t stop.

It’s the story of Nick Flynn’s father, who disappeared when the author was very young. They didn’t meet again ’til Nick was in his mid-20s, and his father ended up staying at the homeless hostel where Nick worked. The book is about both men, and the story of Johnathon, and what had happened to him over the years. It’s incredibly sad in some places, detailing the breakdown and alcoholism of Flynn senior, while also being a pretty honest portrayal of Flynn junior’s life, and the similarities and differences between them.

It’s a fantastic book, and well worth the effort. Hell, it’s only £4 on Amazon at the moment – give it a go.