What do you think?
Rate this book
The Blues Comes With Good News
Soul searching poetry for a new generation. Inspired by Allen Ginsberg, Sylvia Plath, Mick Guffan and others 'who tell it like it is' The Blues Comes with Good News is a collection of poems by prolific writer, Sonny Hall. The collection ranges from articulating addiction, self-destruction and identity, to romantic relationships, his journey to recovery and ongoing mental health issues. At 18-years-old Sonny entered a treatment centre for alcohol and drug addiction, after losing his biological mother - who he remained close to despite being adopted aged 4 - to a heroin overdose. Three months into his treatment, Hall started writing poems as a way of ordering 'all the madness' in his head and since then his potent, painfully raw, hand-scrawled poems have amassed him more than 120,000 followers on Instagram.
- GenresPoetry
176 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2019
9 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 9, 2019
Quite facile and underwhelming, nothing screams novice like rudimentary rhyming schemes. I dare say that this collection would have been returned to sender before even rendering galley proofs if the Author didn’t look like an erstwhile member of One Direction. Hall’s persona is shallow and forced, he wants desperately to be the cigarette smoking poetry crazed pariah that pubescent teens swoon over, however his attempts are superfluous and just uncomfortable, I.E) his Instagram page where he stands on a balcony brooding over a cigarette espousing his latest journal entry.
In this epoch, a substantial social media gathering has become a viable compensation for a faulty craft.
In this epoch, a substantial social media gathering has become a viable compensation for a faulty craft.
October 11, 2019
Haven’t read such true candour for so long. Intense, sexy, violent and sweet. Excited for Sonny Hall’s growth and future projects ... as such a young poet it must only be the beginning.
December 20, 2020
This poetry collection is an intimate account of Sonny's sorrow.
It is not easy to read or to comprehend; for you to truly understand it, you must feel it deep inside. Men's desperate longing for love, their eternal fight against loneliness, their attempts to understand life's purpose, their need to evade the brutality of the everyday world: all of this, you will find in Sonny's poetry. Sonny's voice is disenchanted and dissatisfied with reality and carries the scars of a hard existence. He writes things such as "I spat on my pencil before writing this poem / after losing unordinary love again" and then "Profound sadness always seems to overrule genius" and also "I once thought to save the whole wide world / Because each human eye holds a motionless riot."
Sonny writes beautifully, and if you don't like his poems, I figure you do not understand the unspoken pain they carry.
It is not easy to read or to comprehend; for you to truly understand it, you must feel it deep inside. Men's desperate longing for love, their eternal fight against loneliness, their attempts to understand life's purpose, their need to evade the brutality of the everyday world: all of this, you will find in Sonny's poetry. Sonny's voice is disenchanted and dissatisfied with reality and carries the scars of a hard existence. He writes things such as "I spat on my pencil before writing this poem / after losing unordinary love again" and then "Profound sadness always seems to overrule genius" and also "I once thought to save the whole wide world / Because each human eye holds a motionless riot."
Sonny writes beautifully, and if you don't like his poems, I figure you do not understand the unspoken pain they carry.
March 10, 2023
“I’ve sadly tried to catch butterflies my entire life” es una de las primeras frases que subrayé del poemario y una de las que mejor lo resume.
La poesía de Sonny es muy muy personal, sincera y muy dura, no trata de esconder bajo las palabras su mirada hacia el mundo, su sentimiento de lucha contra la soledad, el ser querido, la pérdida personal… refleja perfectamente la necesidad de evadirse del mundo, de encontrar un camino a través de la poesía.
Sin embargo, no es un libro fácil de leer, y a veces tampoco de entender, muchas veces se me ha complicado entender ciertas cosas, ya que el nivel de inglés no es nada fácil…Tampoco estoy acostumbrada a leer este tipo de poesía, y había ciertas cosas que me chocaban sobre todo en la parte 1 y 3 que me decepcionaron un poco, sin embargo, hay poemas en Dear Sally y Skanky Truth que superb, y los cuales se que releeré.
La poesía de Sonny es muy muy personal, sincera y muy dura, no trata de esconder bajo las palabras su mirada hacia el mundo, su sentimiento de lucha contra la soledad, el ser querido, la pérdida personal… refleja perfectamente la necesidad de evadirse del mundo, de encontrar un camino a través de la poesía.
Sin embargo, no es un libro fácil de leer, y a veces tampoco de entender, muchas veces se me ha complicado entender ciertas cosas, ya que el nivel de inglés no es nada fácil…Tampoco estoy acostumbrada a leer este tipo de poesía, y había ciertas cosas que me chocaban sobre todo en la parte 1 y 3 que me decepcionaron un poco, sin embargo, hay poemas en Dear Sally y Skanky Truth que superb, y los cuales se que releeré.
November 12, 2020
It is very personal and painful. I wasn’t a super fan, but I’m excited for the next project!
January 30, 2021
I loved ‘The Blues come with Good News’, it was raw and something I could latch onto and enthrall myself in every line and every word. I really appreciate Sonny’s craftmenship although as an avid Hall fan I’ve been disappointed with his ability to connect with the community that supports him. His new endeavor Blue Begger Books is a start but I would wish that he could make his work more accessible to his community that aren’t able to afford 100£ poems and books. As a student I respect the need to make money off his work, but as other comments have mentioned Hall is also a teenage heartthrob. Either way, I will support Hall, I just wish it could be more accessible to those of us in a lower socioeconomic position because his work should be read by as many as possible!
December 3, 2022
I’ve had this book since Hall published it and since then it has been my favourite poetry book of all time. He is the only poet I have found in this day and age who speaks to my preference of poetry.
His work is honest and vulnerable, it is passionate and just a beautiful collection. He has such a unique and enticing way with words that I greatly admire.
I can only read a few poems at a time, because there is so much to digest and that to me is great poetry.
His work is honest and vulnerable, it is passionate and just a beautiful collection. He has such a unique and enticing way with words that I greatly admire.
I can only read a few poems at a time, because there is so much to digest and that to me is great poetry.
April 21, 2020
It's visceral, painful and truthful. Beautiful on paper but made it all the more "honest" when read out loud in the audio. It's a story not only to be read but also one that makes even more impact when heard.
April 23, 2021
Great book, loved the style and design cover and of course words
November 1, 2025
I read this during the Covid 19 pandemic, 2020.
And now, years later, I’ve decided to write about it.
This poetry book by Sonny Hall truly inspired me to understand the creative rhythm of the English language, and to feel more confident when writing in it. My native language is Spanish, and during the pandemic I was about to go to college, where English was everything.
When I first read Sonny Hall, I had no idea what the poems were saying. I didn’t understand at all. Still, I kept reading, over and over. For a whole year, I tried to understand not through translation, but through feeling.
In 2021, I went to Canada.
First Québec City.
And of course, I took Sonny Hall with me.
At night, in the hotel, with a cold beer, I would read him again. I promised myself not to write the meaning of the words, just to understand little by little, through the silence.
And oh my gosh,
how dark it is to understand,
but how beautiful it is to finally decipher the soul of Sonny Hall.
Five years later,
graduated from college,
I went to London.
I have a friend at Oxford, and damn, I finally understood the philosophical madness of academic English.
In London,
I stayed in Hackney.
Bought a book by Wendy Cope.
Read it at Brick Lane with a glass of orange wine.
And damn, I thought of Sonny Hall again.
Thank you for your chaos, your honesty, and for making the English language feel like home.
And now, years later, I’ve decided to write about it.
This poetry book by Sonny Hall truly inspired me to understand the creative rhythm of the English language, and to feel more confident when writing in it. My native language is Spanish, and during the pandemic I was about to go to college, where English was everything.
When I first read Sonny Hall, I had no idea what the poems were saying. I didn’t understand at all. Still, I kept reading, over and over. For a whole year, I tried to understand not through translation, but through feeling.
In 2021, I went to Canada.
First Québec City.
And of course, I took Sonny Hall with me.
At night, in the hotel, with a cold beer, I would read him again. I promised myself not to write the meaning of the words, just to understand little by little, through the silence.
And oh my gosh,
how dark it is to understand,
but how beautiful it is to finally decipher the soul of Sonny Hall.
Five years later,
graduated from college,
I went to London.
I have a friend at Oxford, and damn, I finally understood the philosophical madness of academic English.
In London,
I stayed in Hackney.
Bought a book by Wendy Cope.
Read it at Brick Lane with a glass of orange wine.
And damn, I thought of Sonny Hall again.
Thank you for your chaos, your honesty, and for making the English language feel like home.
November 13, 2019
Upon picking this up from the poets website after hearing numerous friends mention the eclectic mix of poems.
The subject matter has an archaic quality, as if plucked from another time, but put in a vehicle bursting with energy, dark humour besides sickly rosey whit.
As Halls first publication I wasn’t expecting a revised, and weighted boom - and I’m glad for that after reading it.
Instead I was embraced with visceral imagery, of emotions which all experience but few can materialise into words.
It speaks about love loss, presence in life and many other corners to where Halls mind freely wonders. It takes in qualities of life which can often be overlooked by the un-astute.
The book is raw and powerful and if this writer follows the direction he is heading in now, I feel the future will be a good one for Sonny Hall
A must read of raw, unforgiving eloquence.
The subject matter has an archaic quality, as if plucked from another time, but put in a vehicle bursting with energy, dark humour besides sickly rosey whit.
As Halls first publication I wasn’t expecting a revised, and weighted boom - and I’m glad for that after reading it.
Instead I was embraced with visceral imagery, of emotions which all experience but few can materialise into words.
It speaks about love loss, presence in life and many other corners to where Halls mind freely wonders. It takes in qualities of life which can often be overlooked by the un-astute.
The book is raw and powerful and if this writer follows the direction he is heading in now, I feel the future will be a good one for Sonny Hall
A must read of raw, unforgiving eloquence.
November 14, 2019
Some books just require a little more attention than others, my god is this one. For those still debating on whether or not you should pick up where Sonny left off, honestly you're missing out, a must read, you will not regret it. Pure, honest and true to every last word!!!
Maddest Love Brother
Maddest Love Brother
November 15, 2019
Brilliant read. I read an earlier review which seemed to think Sonny’s persona was forced. That couldn’t be further from the truth. What you see is what you get. Can’t wait to see what’s next for this talented writer.
October 5, 2021
This is my favourite book of poetry I've read it at least 6 times over, I just love the way Sonny juxtaposes words, oh the thrills and spills of Mr Sonny Hall absolutely marvellous, truthful and dangerous.
November 14, 2019
Amazing book
November 14, 2019
A fantastic book of poems.
November 14, 2019
if this isn’t on your book shelf then change that. Funny, dark and everything else
November 14, 2019
Dark and honest with a glimpse of the authors soul but never far from a dose of humour.
An outstanding first effort
An outstanding first effort
November 14, 2019
Beautiful and honest the whole way through with touching poems to fall in love with and lovely illustrations scattered throughout. Certainly one to read over and over.
November 15, 2019
STAR
a wonderful insight to Sonny's brain, thoughts and opinions.
I would recommend everyone and their grandmothers to read it.
xxx
a wonderful insight to Sonny's brain, thoughts and opinions.
I would recommend everyone and their grandmothers to read it.
xxx
November 26, 2019
An eclectic mix of weird and wonderful poetry. Nabbed a signed copy as well as one off of Amazon and am extremely content :)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews