'How I Left The National Grid' to be published in the UK, US & Canada In February 2015



After two and a half years of writing, I'm excited that my third novel, 'How I Left The National Grid' will be published in the UK, US and Canada in February 2015. More information to come soon through Zer0 Books / Roundfire. In the meantime, here are some words that have been said about it-

'A cross between Twenty Four Hour Party people and Tom Perrotta's The Leftovers, written by Julian Barnes. It contains a narrative as spiky as a punk set, a whole symphony of ideas composed by Mankowski within a few subtle bars of text. 'This book is the epitome of cool.  A brilliantly written literary treat.' AJ Kirby, reviewer for The New York Journal of Books.

‘Anyone who remembers Melody Maker, or who attended indie nights in clubs strewn with Snakebite, will fall in love with this book immediately. Mankowski captures brilliantly the psychology of ‘fan obsession’. Those of us who marvelled at ‘The Secret History’ or ‘A Passage To India’ are sure to find it enthralling.’ Matthew Phillips, Huffington Post.

‘Already recognised as a major rising talent, Mankowski here establishes himself as a significant voice in British fiction. 'How I Left The National Grid' is a compelling story of youthful rebellion and midlife angst, as a music journalist tries to track down the legendary band that launched his career. His search for the elusive artists and their legacy is a journey through time and place, from the Manchester post-punk scene to the hip media world of contemporary London. This novel will raise knowing smiles from the rock cognoscenti, plaudits from literary critics, and will captivate readers everywhere.' Andrew Crumey, author of Pfitz, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

 ‘There is so much about this novel that people would enjoy. It's funny too- at times I laughed out loud. With the character of singer Robert Wardner I felt he was channelling Mark E Smith, Ian Curtis and Richey Edwards simultaneously. Very powerful.’ Lyn Lockwood, Chief Examiner for A Level Creative Writing (AQA).

‘Scintillating, vivid, haunting and haunted. Mankowski’s original and captivating alternative history depicts an era when we were told there was ‘no alternative’, and sketches a different landscape for the future.’ Adam Hansen, editor of 'Litpop: Writing and Popular Music

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kristen Pfaff biography: representation for it, my TEDx talk, its first chapter and who has become a part of it...

Image
Now being at the point where the first chapter of this book is finally out in the world it is remarkable to think I was first inspired to write a book about Kristen Pfaff from Hole when I read her mother Janet's book about her daughter's life (available  here ) and it contained excerpts from Kristen's diary. An entry in which she describes as a young girl having a conversation with the sea was perhaps the most beautiful piece of writing I've read and it probably began all this work. I have been working on it with Jason Pfaff after I got in touch with him. Jason gives his side of how we decided to work together on  this  podcast. One reason the book has taken longer to write than anyone might have expected is revelations about Pfaff from people who knew her are still being offered to me. However much I know about Kristen the more news about the book comes out the more people come to Jason and me to talk and open up about their recollections of her. Jason Pfaff and I have
Read more

'Kristen Hovers At The Edge': Excerpt from 'I Know How To Live': The Life of Kristen Pfaff via 3AM Magazine

Image
This is the first chapter from  ‘I Know How To Live’: The Life of Kristen Pfaff  by Guy Mankowski  (with an afterword by Jason Pfaff). It’s 1993, and a teeming English summer afternoon. A crowd sways in front of the stage. The singer wears a guitar over her grey trench coat. Smoke flows through her hair as she waves her lit cigarette at the crowd. A man in the crowd shouts, with contempt, ‘she’s dyed her hair!’ There’s a woman next to her in a black miniskirt, carrying a black bass with the confidence of one who treats it as an appendage. The black hair that obscures her face is somehow more convincing than that of the singer, who doesn’t look at her. The singer strums, her singing inaudible at first and the woman to her right winds her mike stand, plectrum in her mouth. There’s a sense of growing conviction about her. Ear-splitting feedback. A sense of occasion, the clenched body language of a band determined to prove themselves to this huge crowd at The Phoenix Festival. Fatima Mansi
Read more

Update on Kristen Pfaff book

Image
  Just wanted to offer a quick update about the book about Kristen Pfaff. Along with Jason Pfaff, for some years a book about Pfaff has been in development. It has benefited from the input of many parties, not least Pfaff’s exes, Mike Huber and Robert Slammon and many others. It also benefits from access to Pfaff’s unseen archive, Jason Pfaff's video archive, as well as other exciting sources. Pfaff’s 27 years were used fitfully and the book will very much focus on her life rather than her passing. As an academic, activist, counsellor and musician Pfaff packed a lot into her years and this book will very much celebrate her life and her time as a key member of cult band Janitor Joe, putting the spotlight onto the years in which less is known about Pfaff. The book will also celebrate Pfaff and others contribution to the masterpiece that was Hole’s ‘Live Through This’. When there is news on the publication front we’ll be sharing it right away. I’d like to offer my thanks to the Pfaff
Read more