To Throw Away Unopened Paperback – 5 April 2018

By turns funny, moving, and evocative of times we will never see again this is a book that you will come to see more as a friend than as an entertainment.I bought her first book (CCCMMMBBB) mainly for the punk rock war stories but it was the second, more confessional, second half that completely poleaxed me.This is more in that vein. Brilliant, fearless, and hard to put down.

ain't no filters. now you're gone!a full on biting scratching nipping scrap with your sister, during the last few minutes of your mothers' life, with your young daughter also in attendance? would this be your finest moment? would you keep this memory at the back of your mind, hoping the subject never comes up again? or would you put it down on paper, leaving out none of the shame or bitterness you're feeling? if you read viv's first book, you already know the answer!as with her debut book, this is written with an honest and raw catharsis, one with which leads you to think that nothing has been left out, regardless of the shadows it might throw on the character of the author. as well as achingly raw, it is also touching and intimate - a complete picture of a terrible childhood, young lives damaged by warring parents, leading up to the deaths of the latter, primarily her mother, via severe illness, poor relationship choices, a varied and interesting career path (weren't the slits just the berries?) and bringing up her daughter. as i say, nothing is omitted!books/novels/autobiographies written by those who are primarily musicians are for the most part usually wasteful and irrelevant (nick cave and leonard cohen excepted), but viv's style and attitude elevate her writings to a very high standard, and worthy of comparison (in my book) to the gentlemen named above. yes, it's that good!

'To throw away unopened' is a gem of a book by the author of Clothes Music Boys. Viv Albertine managed to create a third career for herself after being in the seminal reggae punk rock band The Slits, writing, directing and acting in film and now writing books. And she is good at it. This second book of hers describes and analyses her personal life in the light of the lives of her mother, father and sister, and daughter. The mother and she herself are the central characters. She writes with great love about her mum, but with extreme candour as well, taking no prisoners: her mother manipulated her and her sister against the father, who gave up after a decade or so, and her against her sister. The analysis is sharp, but with humour. She loved and understood her mother inspite of the manipulative aspects. And forgives all of the family along the way. Insight: single parents groom one child against the other(s) to be the caretaker during old age. By the way, I recommend her 2012 album The Vermillion Years - featuring Jack Bruce on a track.

I read this book in one day as I found it quite gripping. The bedside scene was shocking butI did laugh at an innapropriate moment when Viv said her daughter was between themhopping from one foot to the other with her arms out like a netball player defending the goal. Brilliant.I think this real life style is the way writing seems to be going at the moment with also Karl Ove Knaussguard'sautobiographical books. Brave authors to write the truth but whats the point if you dont.

I came from a straightforward family. What you saw was what you got. We all tried to treat each other properly and with respect, and saying how you felt about anyone or anything was fine. I suppose you could sum it up as basic Christian values and I've always found them logical and no doubt a Sikh or Muslim or Jew or Hindu found their religious teachings in overall moral terms pretty much equally logical. Yes you can pick holes in that BUT I'm not writing a book, I'm commenting on one I've part read....maybe I'll come back to it...doubt it tho'. My question is this; given they were all in various ways unable to quite get along properly with each other - why couldn't they just talk to each other reasonably and sort it out? It was nornal for our family in the 1950's to be cold from lack of central heating and to only have basic food but we looked after each other and loved each other. Viv Albertine's lot seemed to live only for point-scoring off each other, deliberately annoying each other, trying to upstage each other, and although there's plenty of true love in the book between characters, the real pettiness of "point scoring" one against the other has basically got on my wick and I can't be bothered to carry on reading. I've had enough of the bickering and nastiness BUT I commend the elements of true love and care that are also there. Families can be difficult, we all fight against our own selfishness and that of others. I've stopped reading it because my brain keeps shouting "For God's sake sort yourselves out!" Steve Riches, Northampton, UK.

Viv is a brilliant,brilliant writer about human beings navigating being human. If you have had your own toxic,dysfunctional family traumas you will love her honesty and resonate with her processes - if you are lucky enough to have gone through life unscathed and undamaged then read and remind yourself just how very very lucky you are. As Kahil Gibran wrote "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars"

3.5 starsI enjoyed the book. It was easy to read, small chapters, intriguing throughout, and yet, I had and still have no idea who viv albertine is. I was reading this for my book club so didn’t realise beforehand that she is a real person telling her story. I presumed I was reading a fiction book. It makes sense looking back on it that at times I felt as though I was being given information that I maybe should already know.Everybody has a story, and I felt for Viv as she explored her difficult childhood, reliving it through the words of her parents diaries she found years later in their deaths. She certainly lived an unusual and at times poignant life.

After reading her biography, which was also fantastic, I just had to read more of her artistic endeavors. Well worth the price. Her style of writing is a pleasure to read! Bought 2 copies already.

Easily the best book I've read in such a long time. The narrative is eloquent, brutal, raw, touching, human & simply beautiful. Quite possibly genius.

Libro in lingua inglese

Brilliant. I bought copies for all my cousins. If you have a family, read this book.

I paused in reading this book after a few chapters because I found the examination of family rivalries surrounding the death of the author's mother affected me so much. But when I returned to it, I was riveted until the end. This book is so honest and real, and tells of the beauty that remains even in our most difficult moments. It is one of my favorite books ever. Throughout, the author pays homage to authors she loves, her mother's wisdom, the exquisite memories of things that belong to times that are lost. It is a very satisfying read.

If you haven’t read “Clothes Clothes Clothes. Music Music Music. Boys Boys Boys” (Albertine’s first memoir), do it now. You will stay up late, because you will be incapable of putting it down. Then order “To Throw Away Unopened” and repeat the nightly ritual. Her books left me both teary-eyed and fired up. I hope Albertine continues to write, because she’s brilliant. I regret finishing both books so quickly.

I loved this book, and ordering Viv Albertine's first book now. I do think she is a great talent! I recommend this book. Feminism, being single mother, family problems and mom's place in heart. It is all taken place such in such a great way, I loved every piece of this book. Gives peace..

Albertine writes with such honesty about family, and herself. She dives into, and reveals, so much about the sense of loss that comes with the death of parents, but also the opening that milestone creates to gain the clarity of lineage. She bravely reveals her own bad behaviors as she comes to terms with herself, which makes her even more of an inspiration. That, and she was in The Slits!

Loved this memoir by one of the few women to launch and survive the punk rock era. Check out the great interview with Viv Albertine by Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air.

Heard about this author on NPR. This book did not disappoint. A good story about a woman searching for her identity and place in the world. Really good book!

A very well written book. I loved the compassion she felt for her mother after her death,due to the things she had never known.

I loved both her books but relate at my age to this one so much. Her writing is brilliant, her description of where a feeling comes from, its journey to the mind, and ultimate physical action wether good or bad is amazing. Also detailed description of all the little things keeps you hooked. Loved it

Raw and gritty and a wonderful blueprint for living an authentic and unapologetic life while working on Loving and Forgiving. Transcendant!! Thank you Viv!!

Great read. Raw, honest, well written.

Brutal. Couldn't stop reading.