A Head Full of Blue

by Nick Johnstone

'When I was fourteen, I got drunk for the first time. Champagne drunk. My mouth was stretched in a smile so wide, that my jaw hurt. The sky had the colours of a bruise.' When Nick Johnstone got drunk for the first time at the age of fourteen he discovered a cure for the depression and anxiety that had been humming in his head since childhood. Over the next ten years he drank to overcome shyness, to make the world bearable, to get through the days and to get through the nights. He also began to cut himself and he began to lie. Intelligent, sensitive, from a loving family, neither he nor his countless doctors, psychiatrists, counsellors and therapists could understand where his disorders came from. Then, when he was twenty-four he was admitted into hospital. Stripped of his 'cure', Nick Johnstone painfully began the process of recovery. Although love proves to be the strongest 'cure' of all, this is a story with no tidy or happy endings.

Honest and gripping, by turns stark and lyrical, "A Head Full of Blue" powerfully evokes the often unfathomable psychology and behaviour that drives addiction, examining self-harm as a coping mechanism rather than a taboo. It is an unusual, moving and thought-provoking memoir.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Autobiography, British Literature

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Lena Nisula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read countless recovery memoirs but this is the first time I've read a whole one in one sitting. Just sayin'

[Janina Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book - in that each and every person that I have lent the book to has seen something different in it. For some it was about alcoholism, for some about being a teenager/ coming of age. Others said it is about depression, growing up with in what feels like the wrong family, addiction... It is written like an account of what happened, not asking for sympathy but not brutalising it either. That as well, for me, made it such compelling writing/ reading.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, interesting to see the perspective.

[Jane Marland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first quit lit I ever read. I've re read this a number of time. It made a big impact on me.

[Kerry Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book time and time again. It’s honest. Real. Sensitive. Unapologetic. It’s inspired me to be a better person time and time again.

[Linde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book at my local bookstore, the cover caught my attention at first. I'm usually not a memoir reader so I didn't really knew what to expect but I thought let's give it a try (also because it was just €8).

A Head Full of Blue is about the life of Nick, his alcohol problem, coping with depression, girlfriends and getting addicted to all sorts of medication. It gave me a good view about what's going on in the head of an alcohol addict. The craving for numbness and forgetting your issues.

I really liked the writing style of this book also the beautiful metaphors is a great way to explain what the character feels. The reason I gave this book 3 stars is because the end was a bit disappointing, you already knew what was going to happen but anyway, a good read.

[Laurie Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true account of this dude's battle with booze. Jesus he could put it away. its a feel good book in a sense that you feel a bit better knowing someone else drinks way more booze than you, thus making your own drinking problem seem not much of a problem anymore.

[Eleanor Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gritty and touching account of the progression and abstention from alcoholism. True to life and a damn good read.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me sadface.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. So deep, sad and relatable.
The author was my Creative Writing tutor - a brilliant writer.