Scale: A Novel

A book he had been wanting to read! Christmas gift!

This book has some fantastic insights into philosophy, theology, partying like a rockstar, etc. I have some mixed opinions about the book, especially the ending. But it's a great first work by a very well spoken new author.Like most readers of this novel, I was already a big Keith Buckley fan, his lyrics are on another level from just about anyone in the music game. This translates to a very well spoken style. I've heard some complaints that he sometimes uses big words for the sake of sounding eloquent, but this is usually in the philosophical musings that don't affect the story. The story itself is very brief. And come on, the whole book is just over 200 pages, so it's not like these big words are dragging it out too much, it's certainly not long winded.It's an interesting contrast to most books with similar "Zen" themes. Because yes, the philosophy here is absolutely Zen. However, unlike most other Zen Buddhist stories I've read, there is no closure, there is no enlightenment or happiness found. The end of the book leaves you at the lowest point imaginable and expects you to take the lessons learned earlier in the book and apply them going forward. An interesting approach. You get some incredible highs and enlightened insights throughout the book, but end up just emotionally crushed and drained. Might take me a few days to process how I really feel.Would definitely recommend, and would definitely recommend to Keith to write more, possibly nonfiction.

As an Every Time I Die fan for over a decade, I anticipated this book for a long time leading up to it's release. I have no idea why I am just now reviewing it but after 5 or 6 reads it is certainly past due.As any ETIDiot will tell you, Keith's lyrical genius and affinity for the written word is a staple of the band. So coming into this I was well prepared for what I knew would be a challenging read with many metaphors and detailed descriptions. I was not ready for how much it would pay off.A great read for any fan of Keith's music career or anyone looking to sharpen their wit and vocabulary.

Though my read-through of this novel was one that took place over a few months, I found it to be a great excuse to be a recluse and get lost in the sort of mental imagery that Keith Buckley presents. While there are some hollow negative reviews that complain about a lack of focus or exaggerated vernacular, I find those aspects to be both intentional and liberating. The contrasts between the present-day actions of his main character Ray in the odd numbered chapters and the existential conflicts of his reflections in the even numbered ones felt very real and relatable, especially as a musician and fan of Buckley's work in the band Every Time I Die.It may be a long-winded read with plenty of mouthfuls for sentences, but it's among and in between those unfiltered thoughts that provided a great sense of fulfillment throughout and after the end of my reading. Not sure when I'll pick it back up again, but it's on my list of recommended reading material for fellow musicians to check out.

Compelling, cryptic, and morose. Keith Buckley's unraveling of age story of a doomed musician can at times be a glimpse into madness, but always drove me forward. For his first book, he expertly led me by the nose with an incredible use of vagueness and foreshadowing. Styles weave from standard narration to stream-of-consciousness seascapes with ease. The literary gymnastics Buckley shows in the writing for his band leave the ground like a Lear jet given the long form of a novel. 10/10

I don't really understand what the negative reviews are for. I burned through this book in about three sittings. I played music for over a decade and spent some time on the road so the story was very interesting to me. I love Keith's anologies and philosophical insights; especially Ray's reunion with Evan. The writing style was excellent, especially for a first novel. I hope that Keith continues to write. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves ETIDs lyrics or anyone who enjoys a deeper read.

I disagree with lot of reviewers on this book. I feel like there is a lot of wordy nonsense. A lot of the novel is unnecessarily cryptic and I feel as though Keith is trying really hard to be profound but it winds up a muddied mess of words.I read a chapter then I need a break due to the exhaustion I feel after every page. I might give the book another try some other time but with all the amazing novels to read this one just feels like a pass for me.Edit: I finished the book finally and it grew on me hard! This is excellent. I highly recommend this for someone who wants a good story and a doesn’t have a lot of time since it’s a short read. Admittedly, I wasn’t a fan initially but it really became like moss on my reader soul. I was initially disappointed because Keith’s lyrics are always so awesome and felt he would write an amazing book…I was glad to find I was wrong and jumped to a stupid conclusion. Read this book!

Super interesting read, takes a bit to get into but if you put in the effort it pays off. Very philisophical with some fun humor thrown in, but sad at the same time as it takes an introspective dive into the depression of an individual and how he got there. And knowing about Keith and being a huge fan of Every Time I Die, it was cool to see how this shaped up.

[Note: contains some spoilers]Scale depicts a depraved artist’s journey to self-improvement. It follows two timelines separated between the odd and even chapters of the novel which are short, composed of utterly beautiful words, brilliantly written, and not at all enjoyable… in a traditional sense.I am a vehement and long-standing fan of Keith Buckley’s band Every Time I Die, which is how I came to know of the novel. It is evident that the author has written about something that he knows very well, with the protagonist of the novel Ray Goldman being described as a ‘hopeless and struggling indie rock musician’ and some features of the novel perhaps unsurprisingly being other musicians, bars, music venues, tour buses, and watching a woman forcibly insert a whole bottle of beer into her own rectum. However, other parts of the novel move beyond ‘indie rock’; an unfair and impactful experience at college, Ray’s memory of moving into his first house and feeling protective over his sofa, the various loves and distinct losses of women in particular (his girlfriend Claire, sister Lily, wife Hannah, the woman who allowed him to love himself Sophia)- all which gives the novel such incredible yet uncomfortable human depth, as I hope to explain.Ray Goldman’s story comprises intense self-loathing alongside detrimental environmental and human forces, and also a fight against the inevitability of things. A key theme in the novel, in both parallel stories, is Ray’s relationships, where the division between love and lust is explored. Ultimately emptiness swallows perfection, and Ray destroys in some way each life that he encounters. He explores various ways to ‘get help’ and sometimes questions the existence of a higher power, but ultimately I felt that things were quite inescapable for Ray; very little is resolved in the novel, which is a refreshing albeit crushing honest reflection on the human condition. There is no relief from this, except perhaps following the devastating crash (an ironic and purposeful event). The actual construction of the novel is very clever; the parallel timelines are interesting to read, and seeds are planted in early chapters to culminate in later events- for example saving a particular Frank event for last, but also Sophia. Also, the quality of writing and story-telling is truly exemplary- I laughed out loud during the steroids conversation, and felt genuine terror during the car crash later in the book.Another theme of the novel is Ray’s view of the music he creates, and the view he feels others hold. In one chapter Evan speaks of Ray’s convoluted inability to write genuinely and that he had hoped that in breaking up with Claire, Ray might have written something honest. Here there seems to be some element of truth alongside novelisation; as a long-standing fan of Every Time I Die I can recognise that in their most recent album (Low Teens) lyrically Keith is more literal, almost abandoning the purposefully sardonic and complex patterns and choices of words. In the way that Ray’s father brings him the writing desk at the end of Scale, the reader is left to ponder what circumstances brought the writing desk before Keith Buckley. The novel is quite undisputedly in his own style with words, phrases and ideas being reminiscent of several Every Time I Die songs. Indeed, Keith writes so well that I was wholly involved in the character of Ray enough to be quite concerned at how very unlike a character he is… hence that the novel is not traditionally enjoyable, but rather a painful measure of personal iniquity and loneliness. I think it is wonderful.

Very easy to read and got through it in a day or 2 and can’t wait for his next book

Incredible story!

A really interesting read, especially for fans of Every Time I Die and gigging musicians in general. Keith has an exceptional way with words while also writing a compelling story.