Lost Joy

by Camden Joy, Jonathan Lethem (Introduction)

Lost Joy collects the writing that first brought Camden Joy wide attention in the mid-90s, when he wheatpasted his “manifestoes” around New York, excoriating the music industry and celebrating unsung geniuses of rock and roll. Joy’s voice—heartfelt, mocking, lyrical, razor-sharp—earned comparisons to the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, and Nick Hornby. Rooted in DIY zine culture, his rants prefigure the unfettered public expression of personal views that would explode with the rise of the Internet, and enact in words what Banksy would later achieve in art. Joy’s groundbreaking early fiction, in which his characters often invoke musicians and songs, is also included here. These haunting stories explore the many ways in which we use music to communicate our feelings and make sense of our memories.

Genres: Music

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joy is a guy who loves rock. He also loves writing. When you combine rock with writing you usually get.... well, I don't know! But I do know Joy is a fanastic writer and this collection of 'rock' writing is superb. Eccentric, wild, and a mind-fuck all on one dish. Check his work out, he's very unique and I think his work is important as well.

[Matty Evanosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a book about stuff and finding the aforementioned stuff and being pleased

[Ben Bush]

I spoke with Camden Joy for Bookforum on the occasion of Joy's back catalog being reissued.

I also wrote an essay about Camden Joy for Los Angeles Review of Books.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you love music like i love music this book is perfect.