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 Tough account of fixing a broken life August 30, 2008
Healy's autobiography of his troubled childhood, descent into alcoholism, fifteen years living on the streets of London and eventual rehabilitation through chess is a difficult read. That's not because of his style, which is stark and objective, but because his existence was so traumatic: thieving or using con-tricks to get enough money to buy the next bottle of wine or scotch, drinking himself into oblivion every night, nearly getting killed in fights, trusting no-one. It seems barely possible that he could have survived so many scrapes and such a punishing routine, or that there could be any escape, given the severity of his addiction. It's compulsive reading, though in a rather voyeuristic way, and works because Healy relates his experiences without any emotional gloss and because he fleshes out the various characters he knew in the parks the winos would congregate in ("the grass arena"). None of these acquaintances are particularly likeable - many are psychopaths - but they are at least made human, and we see that they are part of a close-knit society invisible to most of us, but which has its own complex rules and survival strategies. I would have preferred a little less relation of his time on the streets and a little more of what became of the dry John Healy, but that's a minor grumble: you won't read many autobiographies more affecting than this one.
Lost & Found August 28, 2008
Out of print and hard to find for a number of years, Healy's autobiographical debut manages to both live up to its cult status and deserve its re-appearance as a Penguin Classic.
Authentic in tone and written with a hard but clean prose style, Healy deserves to be spoken of as an English John Fante or Bukowski.
 Stunningly powerful memoir - moving yet full of humour and humanity August 6, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This memoir, written in the 1980s, but looking back on a life lived on the streets of London in the 1950s and 60s, is a minor masterpiece. Its spare style is the key to its power and you can feel the honesty behind every word Healy wrote looking back on his youth and young adulthood. Reading The Grass Arena, you'll get a completely different perspective on London life, one you've never really considered before. The book captures you with the story, yes, the observations, yes, but also with the variety of characters Healy introduces you to from his eventful life in 'the grass arena' and how he escaped it.
Lucid April 11, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't read much but this book is gripping. I picked it up and ended up reading it for half an hour in the shop... and kinda had to buy it!
This is an autobiography of a boxer & drunk, who became a great chess player whilst in prison.
I'm not well read but I've never seen anyone describe life so lucidly on page. It's sooo much better than any novel i read. There's a lot of brutality in this book and it's not always a pleasant read. But the author has little self pitty and bounces back from the most dire situations.
I admit i haven't finished it. It's like a window into a world that you don't always want to look into. But gripping when your there.
Mean Streets July 14, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Great to see this bruising book back in print. The greatest book about living on the streets ever.
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