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Devil in a Coma

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( 1,306 ratings, 135 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Devil in a Coma, Mark Lanegan recounts his harrowing struggle with severe Covid-19 during Ireland's second infection wave in 2021. Admitted to hospital with little hope of survival, Lanegan slips in and out of coma, battling nightmares and reflecting on a life lived on the edge as his body battles the disease. Written as a series of prose and poetry vignettes, this book offers a raw and visceral account of illness and mortality from a unique artistic perspective.
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Format: Hardback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is especially suited to readers interested in personal memoirs of illness, fans of Mark Lanegan's musical and literary work, and those who appreciate raw, poetic explorations of mortality and resilience.

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The COVID diaries of the alternative rock star and bestselling author of Sing Backwards and Weep

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

One morning in March 2021, with the second wave of infections ripping through Ireland where he was newly resident, Mark Lanegan woke up breathless, fatigued beyond belief, his body burdened with a gigantic dose of Covid-19. Admitted to Kerry Hospital and initially given little hope of survival, Lanegan's illness had him slipping in and out of a coma, unable to walk or function for several months and fearing for his life.

As his situation becomes more intolerable over the course of that bleakest of springs, he is assaulted by nightmares, visions, and regrets about a life lived on the edge of chaos and disorder. He is prompted to consider his predicament and how, in his sixth decade, his lifelong battle with mortality has led to this final banal encounter with a disease that has undone millions, when he has apparently been cheating death for his whole existence.

Written in vignettes of prose and poetry, Devil in a Coma is a terrifying account of illness and the remorse that comes with it by an artist and writer with singular vision.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Devil in a Coma has been praised for its bitter yet compelling narrative, offering a counterpoint to the usual tributes to healthcare workers. Critics highlight Lanegan's expressionistic prose and visceral poetry, describing the work as exhilarating, unexpectedly funny, and weighty despite its brevity. The book is noted for its unvarnished truth and judicious use of humour amidst darkness, making it essential for fans and those drawn to pitch-black wit.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399601849

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 14 December 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: White Rabbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 200.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 160

About the Author

Mark Lanegan's singular body of work encompasses dozens of albums both solo and collaborative and his memoir Sing Backwards and Weep was a Sunday Times bestseller and Rough Trade Book of the Year. He died aged 56 in 2022.

Also by Mark Lanegan

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  • Sing Backwards and Weep
    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER "Mark Lanegan-primitive, brutal, and apocalyptic. What's not to love?" Nick Cave "A stoned cold classic." Ian Rankin "Mark Lanegan writes like he sings, from the pained heart of a damaged soul with brutal honesty." Bobby Gillespie "Powerfully written and brutally, frighteningly honest." Lucinda Williams A ROUGH TRADE AND MOJO BOOK OF THE YEAR From the back...
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  • I Am the Wolf
    With a voice that Pitchfork has called "as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather," former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age vocalist Mark Lanegan draws frequent comparisons to wounded masters of doom like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and Leonard Cohen. But Lanegan's talents aren't limited to his vocal skills. His lyrics...
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