Lifehouse

by Pete Townshend

Book Overview

Disillusioned ex-TV executive Ray is on a desperate search for his daughter Mary, who has gone missing, presumed dead. He leaves his wife and rural hideaway and heads back to the city where he was... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743408454
• ISBN13: 9780743408455
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Not Avail
• Length: 145 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Touching and Synesthetic

This is an eerie but tenderly rendered drama by the rock literary master himself. The central character Ray, frazzled, searches the vast wasteland countryside for his missing teenaged daugther, Mary, all the while staying in touch with his distraught wife Sally by mobile phone. Along the way he picks up a young hitchhiker, Rayboy (a literary device to communicate flashbacks to us of Ray's younger self), has run-ins with a schizophrenic Stephen Kingish "Caretaker" side of himself (presumably?) and also intercepts radio transmissions from Hacker, a visionary DJ who organizes the "Lifehouse" concert, an event designed to save humans from themselves in this desolate landscape through the sharing of personal and life-affirming music. Who fans and loyal Pete Townshend followers will both understand the references to the Who's Next musical interludes (Baba O'Riley, Behind Blues Eyes, Going Mobile, etc) and recognize the continuing character of Ray (to be found also in Townshend's "Psychoderelict" radio play). Readers outside this tight circle may find the play (taken on its own) opaque and difficult to follow. Some may find the dialogue too sparse and enigmatic, but the play's spare text effectively reinforces this story's sense of desolation. Despite my own minor frustrations following the plot (and character devices), overall I found this play incredibly touching and sad... hopeless all but for a glimmer. I have not heard the recorded radio play yet and am sure it would lend me further nuanced cues to help me more fully appreciate and understand the story. Not only is this play incredibly moving, but it's also incredibly and sensitively tuned in to the future -- the thing Rayboy feared. From sharing music virtually to windfarms, this drama sent a chill down me. Within the book, Pete Townshend also provides a lengthy and illuminating introduction to the play -- a must-read in itself. I wish I could rate this book a five. But I'm confident that if I had had the benefit of audio accompaniment, I would be doing just that.

Excellent!

After 30+ years Lifehouse finally sees the light of day. While very different from its first inception this radio play ranks among Pete's best work. Its very similar in tone and style to his last "concept album" Psychoderelict. And if you enjoy reading the play I also recommend Pete's Lifehouse Chronicles CD set, which includes the radio play itself plus 2 CDs of original Lifehouse Demos and 2 CDs of more recent work on the project...

Pete is the man

Pete Townshend is of course a musical genius but he is also a very terrific writer Life house is a little better than Horse's Neck.But any one who is a fan of the who should buy this book and add it to their WHO collection.