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Digging the Vein
Digging the Vein's unnamed narrator has a He has a burgeoning drug habit and a wife he's only known for two days, but no job, no money, and no way out. As the narrator's life crumbles, the pills, booze, and problems multiply until he hits on a brilliant heroin. Soon the narrator is associating with a cabal of street freaks. Just as the comedy is piling up, things go sour, making Digging the Vein a brutal look at a self-destructed, marginal life.
219 pages, Trade Paperback
First published February 8, 2006
11 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Tony O'Neill
54 books133 followersBefore he wrote the novel DIGGING THE VEIN Tony O'Neill was a professional musician, playing with bands and artists as diverse as Kenickie, Marc Almond, P.J. Proby and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. His autobiographical debut novel, published in 2006, was a thinly veiled account of his years as a musician and heroin addict, and became a cult hit when it was published in the US and Canada in by Contemporary Press. Praised by the likes of beat legend John Giorno and "Bruno Dante"-author Dan Fante, DIGGING THE VEIN was seized upon by the British press as being a key work in what they dubbed "The Off-Beat Generation." This loose collection of writers and poets -whose collective youth, talent and disregard for the literary establishment was quickly earning them praise and scorn in equal measure - published frequently in cult lit journals like 3am magazine, and cited the DIY ethic of punk as well as cult literary figures like Alexander Trocchi and James Fogle as being their inspirations. The phrase "Here's a laptop, here's a spellcheck, now go write a book!" was jokingly adopted as their slogan. Like much of what the off-beats did, it seemed a move calculated to annoy the literary establishment.
The Guardian article about the Off-Beats "Surfing the New Literary Wave" caused a controversy in 2006 when it claimed O'Neill as a figurehead for the burgeoning scene. It also characterized O'Neill as someone who had "taken the phrase rock'n'roll poet to its furthest edge," while associating him with a style of writing dubbed "Brutalism." For his own part O'Neill claimed not to care about literary movements and had no desire to be associated with other writers. In an interview with 3am Magazine he said that he was drawn to writing "because it's a solitary activity." He went on to decry "those Brooklyn writers who hang out together all the time drinking soy lattes and arguing about what Miranda July's best book is."
"Surfing the New Literary Wave" was the first place that many readers heard about O'Neill and fellow authors like Tom McCarthy, Ben Myers, Adelle Stripe, Heidi James, Paul Ewen, Laura Hird, Lee Rourke and Noah Cicero. Most of those mentioned in the piece were just starting out in their careers, but would soon go on to write some of the most interesting non-mainstream books of the last 10 years.
SEIZURE WET DREAMS, a collection of short stories and poems was released by Social Disease in 2006. It was followed by a volume of poetry, SONGS FROM THE SHOOTING GALLERY [Burning Shore Press, 2007], a collection that avant-garde legend Dennis Cooper described as "precise and beautiful yet [...] imperiled by the damage in its own world." These three small-press books won O'Neill a rabid fan base, seduced by his gritty tales of junkies, hookers and perilous lives lived on the margins of society. When reviewing these early books, many critics drew comparisons between O'Neill's writing and the work of Dan Fante, Jerry Stahl, Charles Bukowski and Irvine Welsh.
He made the jump to mainstream publishing in 2008 when DOWN AND OUT ON MURDER MILE, his second novel, was released by Harper Perennial. Winning praise from the likes of Jerry Stahl, Sebastian Horsley and James Frey DOWN AND OUT was seen by critics as a big leap forward in terms of style and scope. O'Neill once claimed it was - along with SHOOTING GALLERY - the most personal of his books.
His career in Europe took off around this time with the release of the French-language collection NOTRE DAME DU VIDE (13e Note Press). Since then O'Neill has retained a strong following in France and Germany, where each of his books have been translated to great acclaim. However it was with the release of SICK CITY in 2010 [Harper Perennial] that Tony O'Neill finally seemed in danger of earning mainstream acceptance in the US. This pitch-dark thriller managed to juggle it's page turner ambitions with a satirical heart that took aim squarely at the recovery industry and Hollywood's worship
The Guardian article about the Off-Beats "Surfing the New Literary Wave" caused a controversy in 2006 when it claimed O'Neill as a figurehead for the burgeoning scene. It also characterized O'Neill as someone who had "taken the phrase rock'n'roll poet to its furthest edge," while associating him with a style of writing dubbed "Brutalism." For his own part O'Neill claimed not to care about literary movements and had no desire to be associated with other writers. In an interview with 3am Magazine he said that he was drawn to writing "because it's a solitary activity." He went on to decry "those Brooklyn writers who hang out together all the time drinking soy lattes and arguing about what Miranda July's best book is."
"Surfing the New Literary Wave" was the first place that many readers heard about O'Neill and fellow authors like Tom McCarthy, Ben Myers, Adelle Stripe, Heidi James, Paul Ewen, Laura Hird, Lee Rourke and Noah Cicero. Most of those mentioned in the piece were just starting out in their careers, but would soon go on to write some of the most interesting non-mainstream books of the last 10 years.
SEIZURE WET DREAMS, a collection of short stories and poems was released by Social Disease in 2006. It was followed by a volume of poetry, SONGS FROM THE SHOOTING GALLERY [Burning Shore Press, 2007], a collection that avant-garde legend Dennis Cooper described as "precise and beautiful yet [...] imperiled by the damage in its own world." These three small-press books won O'Neill a rabid fan base, seduced by his gritty tales of junkies, hookers and perilous lives lived on the margins of society. When reviewing these early books, many critics drew comparisons between O'Neill's writing and the work of Dan Fante, Jerry Stahl, Charles Bukowski and Irvine Welsh.
He made the jump to mainstream publishing in 2008 when DOWN AND OUT ON MURDER MILE, his second novel, was released by Harper Perennial. Winning praise from the likes of Jerry Stahl, Sebastian Horsley and James Frey DOWN AND OUT was seen by critics as a big leap forward in terms of style and scope. O'Neill once claimed it was - along with SHOOTING GALLERY - the most personal of his books.
His career in Europe took off around this time with the release of the French-language collection NOTRE DAME DU VIDE (13e Note Press). Since then O'Neill has retained a strong following in France and Germany, where each of his books have been translated to great acclaim. However it was with the release of SICK CITY in 2010 [Harper Perennial] that Tony O'Neill finally seemed in danger of earning mainstream acceptance in the US. This pitch-dark thriller managed to juggle it's page turner ambitions with a satirical heart that took aim squarely at the recovery industry and Hollywood's worship
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 15, 2008
I love heroin books. I love hearing about how absolutely wonderful heroin is. As people's life's fall apart they still drone on about how much they love the feeling. It fills me with wonder and a little desire to try it, but I never will.
May 9, 2015
Tony O'Neill is quickly becoming one of my favorite living writers. I've been on a massive binge of his work recently and actually just read Digging the Vein for the second time.
The L.A. influences are noticeable. This guy has obviously been touched by the work of Charles Bukowski, John Fante, and Dan Fante. This is without being derivative. And that's how you seperate the imitators from the writers that truly have a flair for the written word. Like the aforementioned writers, Tony focuses on the prosaic side of his life. This isn't to say that there are boring parts, it just means that it is a very honest and accurate account of his addiction to heroin and crack. It shows the trajectory from the L.A. party scene, failing in various musician roles, and becoming a full fledged junkie.
I was a heroin addict for more than a decade and this book struck every chord with me. The waiting game, the alienation, the disingenuous efforts at rehab, running out of veins, etc. The writing for a debut novel will blow your mind. He seems like a seasoned professional, even this early on in his career.
There's one line in particular, early on, about dope cooking, smelling like lost childhood summers. Just really poetic stuff. This novel kept reminding me of the best parts of Burrough's Junky, cross bred with Fante's Ask the Dust.
I'm a writer and I'm living in Los Angeles. This is one of the only guys in the game right now that's showing me where the bar is set.
The L.A. influences are noticeable. This guy has obviously been touched by the work of Charles Bukowski, John Fante, and Dan Fante. This is without being derivative. And that's how you seperate the imitators from the writers that truly have a flair for the written word. Like the aforementioned writers, Tony focuses on the prosaic side of his life. This isn't to say that there are boring parts, it just means that it is a very honest and accurate account of his addiction to heroin and crack. It shows the trajectory from the L.A. party scene, failing in various musician roles, and becoming a full fledged junkie.
I was a heroin addict for more than a decade and this book struck every chord with me. The waiting game, the alienation, the disingenuous efforts at rehab, running out of veins, etc. The writing for a debut novel will blow your mind. He seems like a seasoned professional, even this early on in his career.
There's one line in particular, early on, about dope cooking, smelling like lost childhood summers. Just really poetic stuff. This novel kept reminding me of the best parts of Burrough's Junky, cross bred with Fante's Ask the Dust.
I'm a writer and I'm living in Los Angeles. This is one of the only guys in the game right now that's showing me where the bar is set.
June 19, 2018
It's superbly written, and it reads so authentically that it hurts...which is part of the problem. The artistry is what lifts this to 3 stars...but the story is an unending bender of drugs, booze, and self-hate that I could barely tolerate it. A relentless tide of misery that sucks the will to live. As beautifully written as it is, this is hard, unpleasant going...and I don't think I'll be revisiting this experience any time soon.
August 18, 2009
Junkies. Yeah, Junkies. One good thing reading about a junkie's life is that it makes whatever the hell you're doing look good. Unless you're a to-the-curb-down-and-out junkie like Tony O'Neill was - or maybe still is, who can tell with they way he left it all hanging. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. O'Neill was a dope fiend, O'Neill fucked his life up, O'Neill went crazy in Hollywood - actually it's the same old story, done a little different. It ain't no recovery story. The guy hates recovery. It gets a little bleak. It's a tad dark. I'm used to dirty needles, spurts of blood, open festering track-marks, girlfriends OD'ing, gangbanger drug dealers, all that - but I still cringed a few times - really.
Decent book, good writer.
Decent book, good writer.
January 1, 2015
I accidentally got another book by Tony O. after not giving the first piece a very good rating. I'm glad I didn't realize for a bit who I was reading or I wouldn't have finished. He definitely should have stopped after this prequel was written. This book was much better than the sequel I read first. I used to think it was self-serving ego that led folks to keep writing about themselves. Now I think it might just be simple old economics and fellas needing the cash to feed that jones!
January 10, 2022
I was depressed for a good part of the day because of this book.
November 30, 2024
This book leaves me in between two worlds. On the one hand it describes the downfall of the character, on the other hand the rising of him doing drugs.
It describes the "drug feeling" like no other book I have read so far, leaving a feeling that I want to try that as well.
But then the other side kicks in, letting me feel (and like the press text says: taste) the negative side. The everlasting need, the wasting of time and life, the meaninglessness of life when high, the stink and rotten smell of decay.
I was never sure if this was autobiographic or if it was just a junky tale.
And I guess this mixture makes this book so good for me. Describing the scene, the changes during the long years of usage (friends, homes, dealers) and the hard fight to get of off this shit.
Impressing book, will follow me for sure for some time.
It describes the "drug feeling" like no other book I have read so far, leaving a feeling that I want to try that as well.
But then the other side kicks in, letting me feel (and like the press text says: taste) the negative side. The everlasting need, the wasting of time and life, the meaninglessness of life when high, the stink and rotten smell of decay.
I was never sure if this was autobiographic or if it was just a junky tale.
And I guess this mixture makes this book so good for me. Describing the scene, the changes during the long years of usage (friends, homes, dealers) and the hard fight to get of off this shit.
Impressing book, will follow me for sure for some time.
July 21, 2019
This guy is a terrific writer! Way better than his friend Welsh... There’s only a problem: a junky bio gets annoying.
We already know what happens, it’s boring and repetitive even if Tony writes so well that you keep turning page after page and his dry, cold honesty is a refreshing new take on the trite subject.
Nonetheless 4 stars; Tony O’Neill is a literary prodigy, even if I preferred his novels.
We already know what happens, it’s boring and repetitive even if Tony writes so well that you keep turning page after page and his dry, cold honesty is a refreshing new take on the trite subject.
Nonetheless 4 stars; Tony O’Neill is a literary prodigy, even if I preferred his novels.
July 16, 2017
A used copy for 35 pounds? New for 200? And for just over 200 pages? Does the book come with actual dope?
March 7, 2021
The place felt like a waiting room for lost soulsThis book leaves a foul taste in your mouth. It's a rough and honest account of a guy hitting rock bottom in the Los Angeles drug sub culture of the early 00's. At moment it felt a bit amateurish: the perfect song or relevant part of a movie happens to be playing at precisely the right moment. And more importantly, there is no realistic in-depth explanation of why the main character suddenly succeeds in getting clean apart from "and then I fell in love". Meh.
July 2, 2015
It's a difficult one. The writer is such a thoroughly unlikeable guy it makes it hard to sympathise with him. I mean of course you do a bit when he is at his lowest ebb and the nature of addiction is selfish but he just never seems a nice guy at the beginning or end. The way he talks about woman makes me feel ill but again that's mostly when he in the grip of it. By his own admission he finds things more acceptable in this state such as certain language he would never use previously but still you know the guy is a bit of an ass hole either way. It's a fast read. The writing was pretty great. I'd like to try his fiction which I imagine, although may be semi autobiographical, would be more interesting. I have always enjoyed stories of despair and addiction. I love Bukowski, Burrows, Kerouac to Elizabeth Wurtzell but these people were always more interesting or likeable but again I must stress he is a good writer and you are swept up in his story.
June 22, 2008
Heroin, drugs, kicking it, and all the shit in between. It's been told a million times and bastardized in films with overused camera angels to show the eyes of dispare. Tony O' Neill has something different; something that makes his book stand on its own rather than just being a drug book. RHYTHM. The book flows in a way you can tap your foot to the sentences and the dialog that's given off to the mentioned Brit pop songs.
August 18, 2015
Another unblinking look at his heroin addiction, and wanton drug abuse, O'Neill is at his best when navigating the "junky mindset" -- revealing things both shocking and, in turns, surprisingly human about the many stops on the way to the bottom, and the set-backs on the way back up. He writes brisk, approachable prose, and for readers unafraid of the subject matter, a specific brand of illumination awaits.
February 25, 2015
Dark, angry and well-written. Tony O'Neill simply tells it like it is. This book is definitely worthwhile for those interested in the psychology of addiction. His honesty is refreshing and he makes no excuses. There is tragedy right here amongst us in our comfortable first world. This book lays it bare and reminds people like me that we don't have to look far to find sadness and despair right under our noses.
July 17, 2008
Dynamic, visceral and overtly cool without shying away from the mundanity or vulgarity of O'Neill's addiction. Now and again swerves into excessive self-consciousness which does irritate but ultimately I was won over time and time again by his openness and vulnerability. A good read for those who like their literature to arrive wounded.
December 18, 2010
Probably, maybe, the best book I've read all year. The most gripping anyway--dark and brutal and uncompromising, but pulls you in like only a few books do. It's like reading a lucid dream. As soon as I finished it (in one sitting), I felt like going back and rereading the beginning--that's the kind of magnetic pull O'Neill achieves.
March 27, 2012
From your first shot of dope and than your last shot. O`neill focuses on everything in between, just read between the lines and put your seat belt on cause the roller coaster you are on is a dark, bumpy and bloody one. READ this book
June 18, 2015
Addictive reading
Definitely a page turner if you are into books that cover stories of addiction. Negative message about AA/NA WHICH is not a good message for people in recovery. Very rare and dangerous to promote social drinking after drug addiction.
Definitely a page turner if you are into books that cover stories of addiction. Negative message about AA/NA WHICH is not a good message for people in recovery. Very rare and dangerous to promote social drinking after drug addiction.
January 26, 2008
An honest portrayal of a drug addict written by a kindred spirit.
July 27, 2008
I would have been dead by page 25 if I was in this man's position.
Honest views... never trust a junkie....
Honest views... never trust a junkie....
February 16, 2009
This book is now available on Ebay. Here is the link.
http://myworld.ebay.com/liquidh20holic
http://myworld.ebay.com/liquidh20holic
January 31, 2012
How did this rancid crap get published? I've read better cereal packets.
August 31, 2014
think you've hit rock bottom?? read this little pulp treat and feel read good about yourself again
April 30, 2016
Book is great needs an editor.
May 28, 2016
love Tony O'Neill I almost have his whole works I enjoy every word he writes
June 22, 2016
Really good book
Really good book,I felt it was very honest! Not a book for everyone,but I loved it,nothing boring here.
Well worth the time to read.
Really good book,I felt it was very honest! Not a book for everyone,but I loved it,nothing boring here.
Well worth the time to read.
February 4, 2017
I believe this is his first book and shows a lot of potential. It's definitely a fast read.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews