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Человеческий панк
Пятнадцатилетнему Джо Мартину лето 1977 года несет панк-рок и реггей, дискотечных девчонок, пиво в пабах и краденые машины. Жизнь прекрасна - пока его не изобьют и не бросят в канал с лучшим другом Смайлзом. Прыжок вперед - 1988 год - и Джо едет домой на Транссибирском экспрессе. После трех лет работы в баре Гонконга он вспоминает взлеты и падения прошедших лет и смиряется с трагедией.
Прыжок в 2000-й. Он неплохо устроился - зарабатывает на жизнь ди-джейством, продает записи и билеты на бои. Все замечательно - пока перед ним не появляется лицо из прошлого, и он опять остается один на один с кошмаром той ночи 1977-го. Настала пора хоронить скелет
Прыжок в 2000-й. Он неплохо устроился - зарабатывает на жизнь ди-джейством, продает записи и билеты на бои. Все замечательно - пока перед ним не появляется лицо из прошлого, и он опять остается один на один с кошмаром той ночи 1977-го. Настала пора хоронить скелет
477 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
14 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
About the author
John King
706 books151 followersJohn King is the author of eight novels – The Football Factory, Headhunters, England Away, Human Punk, White Trash, The Prison House, Skinheads and The Liberal Politics Of Adolf Hitler. The Football Factory was turned into a high-profile film. A new novel – Slaughterhouse Prayer – was published on 8 November 2018.
King has written short stories and non-fiction for a number of publications, with articles appearing in the likes of The New Statesman, Le Monde and La Repubblica. His books have been widely translated abroad. He edits the fiction fanzine Verbal and lives in London.
King has written short stories and non-fiction for a number of publications, with articles appearing in the likes of The New Statesman, Le Monde and La Repubblica. His books have been widely translated abroad. He edits the fiction fanzine Verbal and lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 13, 2025
This is the “autobiography” of Joe Martin, punk, of Slough, England, UK. Born c 1962. It opens in 1977, classic year of punk, and Joe is showing off his new pair of Doc Marten’s cherry reds. He talks us through his life until the year 2000. His life is lived through his music, his mates and particularly his best mate, “Smiles”. We also follow his developing hormones.
Joe is well read but not from books – he prefers lyrics. To call him a working class hero is to sell him short. He’s a philosopher of the street - a human punk. It was great to view recent social history through his eyes. He’s grounded and intelligent and can spot a wanker a mile off; he has a soul which we glimpse on every page of this long book. A good, if meandering, story line and very quotable, I hope you’ll agree:
“The ordinary person is isolated, told they’ve never had it so good, and too many of us bend over and touch our toes as the Establishment’s best-dressed nonce applies lubricant and gently slips in, fucks us on the sly, moves on to the next starry-eyed punter. We get this inflated sense of our place in society, accept the state’s values, believe we’re better than our neighbour, that we’re a social class up the ladder with an extra tenner in our pockets and a house that belongs to a bank rather than the council.
“Regional accents are presented as quirks, media whores dropping their Ts as they play at being cockneys when the cockneys are all speaking Bengali and the white boys are out in the shires listening to Orbital and Underworld… The Left and Right lecture us from their period homes, the same old professional class that has always controlled this country, without an original idea between them. Our masters wander around public parks sucking off strangers, hang from the rafters with plastic bags over their heads, lurk in slave dungeons with clips on their nipples, at the same time coining it Left, Right and Centre, telling us all about morality and thrift”.
Although published 20 years ago I found this amazingly prescient in the throes of the Covid 19 pandemic; Joe is in Canton:
"..everything seemed perfect till I walked into the animal market and saw every kind of creature tied and caged, waiting to be sold, dogs and cats along with the chickens, pigs, snakes, monkeys. Two men in suits were laughing as they took turns kicking a pregnant pig in the belly. I pushed them off and they thought I was mad.... There was a monkey in a bamboo cage, and the man with him had a cleaver, a sharp iron chopper to chop off his head. The monkey had the eyes off a child, something off a BBC programme except a million times stronger. The monkey was real and there was no escape. Under the surface there's all this anger bubbling away, and one day China is going to go up..Don't know what's going to happen, but I can feel the tension." (Covid 19 mate - the revenge of the animals and Mother Nature!?)
A masterpiece.
Joe is well read but not from books – he prefers lyrics. To call him a working class hero is to sell him short. He’s a philosopher of the street - a human punk. It was great to view recent social history through his eyes. He’s grounded and intelligent and can spot a wanker a mile off; he has a soul which we glimpse on every page of this long book. A good, if meandering, story line and very quotable, I hope you’ll agree:
“The ordinary person is isolated, told they’ve never had it so good, and too many of us bend over and touch our toes as the Establishment’s best-dressed nonce applies lubricant and gently slips in, fucks us on the sly, moves on to the next starry-eyed punter. We get this inflated sense of our place in society, accept the state’s values, believe we’re better than our neighbour, that we’re a social class up the ladder with an extra tenner in our pockets and a house that belongs to a bank rather than the council.
“Regional accents are presented as quirks, media whores dropping their Ts as they play at being cockneys when the cockneys are all speaking Bengali and the white boys are out in the shires listening to Orbital and Underworld… The Left and Right lecture us from their period homes, the same old professional class that has always controlled this country, without an original idea between them. Our masters wander around public parks sucking off strangers, hang from the rafters with plastic bags over their heads, lurk in slave dungeons with clips on their nipples, at the same time coining it Left, Right and Centre, telling us all about morality and thrift”.
Although published 20 years ago I found this amazingly prescient in the throes of the Covid 19 pandemic; Joe is in Canton:
"..everything seemed perfect till I walked into the animal market and saw every kind of creature tied and caged, waiting to be sold, dogs and cats along with the chickens, pigs, snakes, monkeys. Two men in suits were laughing as they took turns kicking a pregnant pig in the belly. I pushed them off and they thought I was mad.... There was a monkey in a bamboo cage, and the man with him had a cleaver, a sharp iron chopper to chop off his head. The monkey had the eyes off a child, something off a BBC programme except a million times stronger. The monkey was real and there was no escape. Under the surface there's all this anger bubbling away, and one day China is going to go up..Don't know what's going to happen, but I can feel the tension." (Covid 19 mate - the revenge of the animals and Mother Nature!?)
A masterpiece.
July 9, 2024
Wow, what a ride.
First of John Kings books I have read and it will certainly not be the last.
Set in 3 eras, starting off with the late 70s punk era, in Slough, on the outskirts of London. While I was born in 84, I've always had a massive interest in 70s/80s music, and hearing bands like The Jam, The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Business all mentioned in this book, made me smile with envy how I would have loved to have seen these legendary bands in their prime.
While the music is only a backdrop of this intriguing story of Joe, and his friends.
Joe and his best mate Smiles are beaten up and thrown in a canal, this affects them both in ways unimaginable.
In 1988 we see Joe travelling back to Slough from China after a few years of travelling.
And then in 2000 Joe's doing well in life, but a blast from the past changes everything.
This book was superb, it makes me nostalgic from rna time I never knew. The style of writing I've never witnessed before.
I'd heard of John Kings previous work in particular The Football Factory, made into a highly entertaining film directed by Nick Love, starring Danny Dyer, Neil Maskell, Frank Harper and Ronald Manookian, but I am even more interested in reading the novel itself, and the rest of his work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First of John Kings books I have read and it will certainly not be the last.
Set in 3 eras, starting off with the late 70s punk era, in Slough, on the outskirts of London. While I was born in 84, I've always had a massive interest in 70s/80s music, and hearing bands like The Jam, The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Business all mentioned in this book, made me smile with envy how I would have loved to have seen these legendary bands in their prime.
While the music is only a backdrop of this intriguing story of Joe, and his friends.
Joe and his best mate Smiles are beaten up and thrown in a canal, this affects them both in ways unimaginable.
In 1988 we see Joe travelling back to Slough from China after a few years of travelling.
And then in 2000 Joe's doing well in life, but a blast from the past changes everything.
This book was superb, it makes me nostalgic from rna time I never knew. The style of writing I've never witnessed before.
I'd heard of John Kings previous work in particular The Football Factory, made into a highly entertaining film directed by Nick Love, starring Danny Dyer, Neil Maskell, Frank Harper and Ronald Manookian, but I am even more interested in reading the novel itself, and the rest of his work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 6, 2023
John King writes about working class people like no other in the UK. Coming from a very similar background to the main character in the book and from the same age group this is a portrayal of the times in the book which is so authentic. It was as if I was reliving my youth and the highs and lows of those halycon days of 77. Following Joe and his mates through further years was a roller coaster of a ride but written so authentically. I loved every minute of the ride. John's latest book, London Country continues the story of Joe, Dave and Chris and is a must read also.
October 5, 2014
Fuckin' brilliant. Took me so long to read, but that's because of personal reasons.
Anyway, reading this was great, I've always been an Anglophile, the music most especially and the culture. I could say that half of the slangs used I could properly understand, but the others are just way too Brit for me. Nonetheless, this is such a great read. Very interesting, actually.
I never had any proper introduction to punk. I have listened to The Clash's London Calling and other singles, but not a real proper one. This gave me a boost of listening to the Sex Pistols (tho I have a before just few singles) and the Buzzcocks. GREAAAT FUCKIN' BANDS. So, reading this was a very eye-opening thing, I never knew what Punks stood for and this book gave me an idea. ALSO, it was written purely out of thought, not much dialogue scenes, all from the brain and it felt very intimate. Like, I was actually being told of things first hand, which I liked a lot.
It's very easy to streotype people, from the films, music, books and other material that are fed to us by the media / people. So, yes, punk was something I associated to with no-care-in-the-world type of people, which is partly true, but in a more deeper sense. That's something I learned from Human Punk. Labels are just labels, we tend to forget that underneath all that we are all still people, no matter what "type" of person you are.
Anyway, reading this was great, I've always been an Anglophile, the music most especially and the culture. I could say that half of the slangs used I could properly understand, but the others are just way too Brit for me. Nonetheless, this is such a great read. Very interesting, actually.
I never had any proper introduction to punk. I have listened to The Clash's London Calling and other singles, but not a real proper one. This gave me a boost of listening to the Sex Pistols (tho I have a before just few singles) and the Buzzcocks. GREAAAT FUCKIN' BANDS. So, reading this was a very eye-opening thing, I never knew what Punks stood for and this book gave me an idea. ALSO, it was written purely out of thought, not much dialogue scenes, all from the brain and it felt very intimate. Like, I was actually being told of things first hand, which I liked a lot.
It's very easy to streotype people, from the films, music, books and other material that are fed to us by the media / people. So, yes, punk was something I associated to with no-care-in-the-world type of people, which is partly true, but in a more deeper sense. That's something I learned from Human Punk. Labels are just labels, we tend to forget that underneath all that we are all still people, no matter what "type" of person you are.
December 9, 2011
Vi ricordate la Banda dei Brocchi di Johnatan Coe? questo è il fratello cattivo. A fine lettura viene voglia di tingersi i capelli di arancione, sniffare un po’ di colla e rubare la pensione alle vecchiette. Invece mi tocca restare a casa a impiastricciarmi di Lasonil contro i reumatismi. Da rubare.
October 7, 2013
It's a pretty good book. Entertaining. Must know something about punk, dub etc. to fully enjoy :)
September 4, 2022
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but it didn’t quite click for me. Respect it though and is definitely worth the read! The stream of consciousness style is interesting but can make the narrative confusing sometimes
February 27, 2017
Another Anglocentric masterpiece by John King, Human Punk follows his motif of British culture, from his works regarding soccer and skinhead culture to this project on early punk rock and it's impact on British youth. Told in three parts and stretching over thirty years, it's King's epic, his experiment in telling the story of a life.
The first act of the book takes place in 1977, right as the early Punk Movement is hitting Britain, and Joe, a kid from blue-collar Slough, is wrapped up in the music, along with his friends. Spending his days picking cherries for pocket change, he and his friends key a car into the city for their first real concert, leading to a late-night altercation that changes Joe's life, and the life of his best friend, Smiles, forever. The second act finds Joe as an adult, traveling back from his bartending job in Hong Kong, hopping trains across the breadth of Asia, headed home. Drawn back to England by the news of a life-shaking death, he spends his long days on the Trans-Siberian Railroad contemplating the memories of his youth, dashing through Moscow in the days of Gorbachev and sliding past the Berlin Wall to make it home. The final act takes place just after the turn of the millennium, as Joe finds a stable, happy life, only to have it upended by a face from the past (sort-of) that draws him back to a long-unsettled debt, closing the cycle opened two and a half decades previous.
It's an excellent book, written in King's trademark wall-of-text, stream of consciousness prose, making it far from the easiest read, but well worth the commitment. Abounding with joyous musical references that'll make any old punk weep, King provides a soundtrack for his novel that displays not only a knowledge of the history of the subculture, but a deep love for the bands and songs that defined the youth of that generation. In fact, I think this book, while quite capable of causing anyone an amount of enjoyment, it may very well have a targeted audience of those kids who lived it, a nostalgia-ridden love letter to a time, a place, and a sound. It's a truly brilliant read, if you can commit the time it takes to wade into it fully.
The first act of the book takes place in 1977, right as the early Punk Movement is hitting Britain, and Joe, a kid from blue-collar Slough, is wrapped up in the music, along with his friends. Spending his days picking cherries for pocket change, he and his friends key a car into the city for their first real concert, leading to a late-night altercation that changes Joe's life, and the life of his best friend, Smiles, forever. The second act finds Joe as an adult, traveling back from his bartending job in Hong Kong, hopping trains across the breadth of Asia, headed home. Drawn back to England by the news of a life-shaking death, he spends his long days on the Trans-Siberian Railroad contemplating the memories of his youth, dashing through Moscow in the days of Gorbachev and sliding past the Berlin Wall to make it home. The final act takes place just after the turn of the millennium, as Joe finds a stable, happy life, only to have it upended by a face from the past (sort-of) that draws him back to a long-unsettled debt, closing the cycle opened two and a half decades previous.
It's an excellent book, written in King's trademark wall-of-text, stream of consciousness prose, making it far from the easiest read, but well worth the commitment. Abounding with joyous musical references that'll make any old punk weep, King provides a soundtrack for his novel that displays not only a knowledge of the history of the subculture, but a deep love for the bands and songs that defined the youth of that generation. In fact, I think this book, while quite capable of causing anyone an amount of enjoyment, it may very well have a targeted audience of those kids who lived it, a nostalgia-ridden love letter to a time, a place, and a sound. It's a truly brilliant read, if you can commit the time it takes to wade into it fully.
April 15, 2012
Немного о жанре. Эту книгу я начала читать сразу после прочтения классического «Человека, который смеется» Гюго и именно поэтому контраст жанров виден просто уууууух как. Если вы взяли в руки заветную черно-оранжевую книжку не ждите, что там будут пушистые щенки, принцессы и розовые пони, готовьтесь к ненормативной лексике и внезапному сюжету. Поэтому альтернатива для меня самый любимый жанр, черно-оранжевые книжки – самые любимые книжки, да и о чем говорить, если Паланик – мой самый любимый автор. Но я не об этом.
«Человеческий панк» - вторая прочитанная мною книга Кинга, после первой - «Скинхедов» - осталось хорошее впечатление, но не настолько большое. Кинг знает о чем писать, читая его книги погружаешься в концентрированную на 100% Англию – история, политика, панки, скинхеды, мартены, двухэтажные автобусы, небольшие городки и пабы. Книга о том, что какие-то вещи со временем меняются и это свойственно всем. Что-то забывается, о чем-то радикально меняется мнение - говорил, что считаешь путешествия по всему миром тебя абсолютно не интересуют и вот ты через лет 10 уже колесишь через весь земной шар. А вот какие-то вещи остаются навсегда и их уже не изменишь - друзья (особенно как бы они тебя не бесили), интересы, музыка.
И да. Судя по многим рецензиям мало кому нравится то, что, что не книга у Кинга – так все о том же, не знаю, может буду так же думать, две книги – слишком мало чтобы судить об авторе, но на данный момент мне все нравится. Поживем – увидим. Как написано мною выше «какие-то вещи со временем меняются и это свойственно всем».
«Человеческий панк» - вторая прочитанная мною книга Кинга, после первой - «Скинхедов» - осталось хорошее впечатление, но не настолько большое. Кинг знает о чем писать, читая его книги погружаешься в концентрированную на 100% Англию – история, политика, панки, скинхеды, мартены, двухэтажные автобусы, небольшие городки и пабы. Книга о том, что какие-то вещи со временем меняются и это свойственно всем. Что-то забывается, о чем-то радикально меняется мнение - говорил, что считаешь путешествия по всему миром тебя абсолютно не интересуют и вот ты через лет 10 уже колесишь через весь земной шар. А вот какие-то вещи остаются навсегда и их уже не изменишь - друзья (особенно как бы они тебя не бесили), интересы, музыка.
И да. Судя по многим рецензиям мало кому нравится то, что, что не книга у Кинга – так все о том же, не знаю, может буду так же думать, две книги – слишком мало чтобы судить об авторе, но на данный момент мне все нравится. Поживем – увидим. Как написано мною выше «какие-то вещи со временем меняются и это свойственно всем».
June 26, 2009
Good book, the main character has a bit of an existentialist attitude.
October 29, 2021
Not the first time I’ve read this, ace book. Very British and very true to life.
February 24, 2024
I was getting increasingly drunk as I got towards the end of this book but I still believe the final 50 pages or so were (probably) raw, emotional, surprising and brilliant. Might need to re-read them while sober to confirm!
For the rest, this book ticked a lot of boxes for me as the protagonist and myself were born in the same year and had similar small town working class backgrounds. We lived through the same historical events and had similar life experiences and a shared taste in punk, football and (frankly) juvenile delinquency.
Loved the class consciousness as well, and how that evolved - mainly negatively - over the 20 odd years covered by the novel. It was the final chapters though that really made this a great read.
For the rest, this book ticked a lot of boxes for me as the protagonist and myself were born in the same year and had similar small town working class backgrounds. We lived through the same historical events and had similar life experiences and a shared taste in punk, football and (frankly) juvenile delinquency.
Loved the class consciousness as well, and how that evolved - mainly negatively - over the 20 odd years covered by the novel. It was the final chapters though that really made this a great read.
October 6, 2025
I usually enjoy John King's books but I found this one less engaging than the others I have read. It tells the story of Joe Martin in three parts; the first when he is 15 years old and running with thepack, discovering punk music, drugs, drink and getting up to all sorts of adventures - this is very much the coming of age part of the book and is enjoyable; the second part is set some ten years later and sees Joe travelling back by train from three years spent in and around south east Asia and the far east - this is a time of reflection but seems more tedious and I felt much less engaged in this part of the story; the third is a further ten years on and Joe has settled into a job but I soon found I had little interest in him and his life by this point.
Not my favourite John King novel.
Not my favourite John King novel.
January 17, 2020
Working class novel
John King has a great understanding of the working class culture in the later part of the (20th Century). When the book was in Slough, the story is 5 star. This discovering himself by travelling was a little too long and chunky and some of the dialogue - particularly with Luke - uses too much exposition, whilst the other dialogue is authentic. A really good book
John King has a great understanding of the working class culture in the later part of the (20th Century). When the book was in Slough, the story is 5 star. This discovering himself by travelling was a little too long and chunky and some of the dialogue - particularly with Luke - uses too much exposition, whilst the other dialogue is authentic. A really good book
March 10, 2025
Raw, gritty and an emotional roller coaster ride.
I didn't know what to expect when I chose this book to read. The story is told by the main character throughout the book. It was weird to be inside the head of a 15 year old boy and then later at two other ages.
I liked the three eras it was set in and how the politics of the time leached into his life. Also how one incident shaped him.
A very satisfying end to the story.
I didn't know what to expect when I chose this book to read. The story is told by the main character throughout the book. It was weird to be inside the head of a 15 year old boy and then later at two other ages.
I liked the three eras it was set in and how the politics of the time leached into his life. Also how one incident shaped him.
A very satisfying end to the story.
September 25, 2020
I truly loved reading this book. It took me a while to get into it but my memories of the 70’s and growing up at that time were perfectly captured in this novel. The music, the fights at every gig, my black DM’s and my donkey jacket what memories! Growing up with a close group of friends we didn’t have a care in the world!
October 18, 2023
A trilogy of novels. Well written for the genre. It could have the sub-title of "How to avoid living in the moment" as each section wavers between what could be or what has been. The middle novelette "Coming home from Hong Kong" has a blaring omission of "the Hong Kong years", perhaps a future sequel. I liked the train scenes. Good punk references both obvious and obscure.
June 26, 2019
Since it's written very stream of conscious, probably not for everyone. The ending seemed a bit muddled and rushed. But other than that, an engaging and thoughtful look at how UK punk culture really was outside of the tabloids and the press in 77 and what happened to those kids
July 19, 2025
Excellent. Working class slice of life following a group of mates over 3 decades, with music & especially punk constantly in the background, showing it really is the soundtrack to our lives regardless of you being a punk, skin or rasta - appreciate it all.
January 30, 2019
Mujeres seáis
March 26, 2019
re-read. recht ernüchternd.
aber die musik ist gut.
aber die musik ist gut.
October 8, 2020
Another good one by John King. You can almost hear the music blasting of the pages.
August 10, 2021
4.5 Nearly perfect!! Authentic and real—with an honest, smart, good Joe of a narrator—
July 22, 2024
Enjoyable read, interesting perspective of working class punk life throughout the years.
October 6, 2024
A music soaked novel of violence and tragedy. Shot through with a certain nostalgia and philosophical asides
April 3, 2025
Full of emotion and nostalgia. Interesting first-person view of the politics and culture of the time. Not a huge fan of the constant stream of consciousness but that’s personal preference.
June 9, 2025
amazing look into suburban punk and escape to anywhere but Slough
July 3, 2009
One of my absolutely favorite books. I've owned it twice now, as the first copy I borrowed out and never saw it again! A great read, John King's talent shows through. The story spans several years, from a bunch of high school punkers and their eventual growing up and spreading out... and the unfortunately circumstances of their eventual reunion. Very vivid and realistic. Easy to transport yourself in the middle of the story. If I could hug stories, this one I would.
Want to read
August 26, 2016Why Everything You Think You Know About Punk Is Completely Wrong:
http://generation-add.blogspot.com/20...
http://generation-add.blogspot.com/20...
December 26, 2015
Strong novel with a very likable protagonist--it captures the fragmentation of memory, the real life struggles of growing up, and the changing landscape of England from the 1970s through the early 2000s. In prose driven by long, musical sentences and a plot filled with complex characters struggling with their relationships with each other and with themselves, Human Punk is a worthwhile read for any body interested in punk or coming of age literature.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews