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Touching from a Distance

Author: Deborah Curtis
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

21 reviews
Sales Rank: 2495

Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 4.7 x 0.6

ISBN: 0571239560
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.42166092
EAN: 9780571239566
ASIN: 0571239560

Publication Date: October 4, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: ##ALL BOOKS IN STOCK#PACKED AND SENT BY DANZIG DESPATCH FROM LONDON, ENGLAND (162)##

Also Available In:

•	Paperback - Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and "Joy Division"
•	Paperback - Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis & Joy Division
•	Paperback - Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and "Joy Division"

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Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Great Book June 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I think this book is great piece of writing i've read it six times now. & Deborah Curtis captures everything in a heartfelt & poininot way

3 out of 5 stars

Negative May 16, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is an interesting book and well worth a read as who should know Curtis better than his wife? Unfortunately it seems she didn't really know him very well and it's clear from the numberous band quotes that they didn't understand him either. He was a different person with different people and had his relationship quite compartmentalised, it seems.

What is also interesting is how negative she is about him. Obviosuly she is entitled to feel bitter - suicide is a horribly selfish act, especially in her home, where only she coukd be the one to find him. however, given that the book is dedicated to his daughter it seems starnge she should dwell so much on his faults: mysogeny, selfishness, even cruelty and not discuss his apparent virtues: kindness, a desire not to be a burden, a love of animals, just for example. That said she doesnt doubt his sheer ability as a lyricist.

Finally its distinctly odd to see how oblivious the band seemed to be to his deep emotional turmoil - as if the lyrics weren't enough!

5 out of 5 stars

definately worth a read April 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

as usual with these kind of books, the writers are open to criticism like been too subjective, money grabbing etc. it assumes that the truth cant be told. curtis is portrayed as a big boy - jealous, imprudent but also capable of showing acts of generosity. there were also the strange unexplainable acts - like when debbie jumped out in front of him as a joke or his dancing at the engagement party. he was confident of making it in the music business. the route that got him there were good times but after that the writer was sadly isolated from the band and ian, and ian became more strange and in some ways cruel, like keeping a picture of his dog in his wallet rather than a pic of his wife and daughter. from this point on he treated his wife with disdain, up until the point of his suicide, when he had completely come apart, maybe for the first time in years been honest with himself, but not been able to face up to what he had to do. (the medical drugs and whiskey perhaps impairing his judgement) the book is interesting the whole way thru and i hardly ever put it down. one thing debbie never addressed in the book was ian's voice. was his singing voice the same as his normal voice? it would have been interesting to know her opinion on this.

1 out of 5 stars

worst book i have ever read February 13, 2008
2 out of 9 found this review helpful

i was very excited about the idea of a behind the scenes look at ian curtis's life but have never been more disappointed in my life. the prose reads like the gossipy diary of an illiterate teenager and offers no insight into the mind of someone who was obviously a tortured individual. the text does not flow and is stilted and uninspiring at the best of times. the only saving garce is the full list of lyrics published in the back of the book. despite this however i flet i had wasted my money.

5 out of 5 stars

An honest, sincere and interesting book October 3, 2007
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis' tragically short life is recaptured in part here by his long-suffering and easy-going wife, Deborah. Deborah was with Ian through what were undoubtedly some of the most important years of his life, the years leading up to his joining Joy Division, and the years of success in Joy Division.

This book is touchingly honest, and this makes it quite an emotional read at times. Deborah Curtis' unwavering commitment to her husband, even in light of his infidelity and mistreatment of her, is unnerving, but also quite impressive. The recounting of Ian's intense persona also makes fascinating reading. But perhaps the best thing about this book is that it sheds light on one of the 20th century's most underrated songwriters, from the woman who knew him best. That alone makes it exceptionally valuable. Commenting on the Joy Division years, and showing candour even when discussing her husband's suicide of 1980, Deborah Curtis is to be admired for this thoroughly honest and insightful book.

Serious Joy Division fans will also be delighted by a very thorough discography, and a truly fantastic section which shows all of Curtis' lyrics and poetry. As music biographies go, this has to be one of the best.