Dopefiend

By: Donald Goines

Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly

Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

The shocking nightmare story of a black heroin addict

Trapped in the festering sore of a major American ghetto, a young man and his girlfriend - both attractive, talented, and full of promise - are inexorably pulled into the living death of the hardcore junkie. It is a horrifying world where addicts will do anything to get their next fix.

For 23 years of his young life, Donald Goines lived in the dark, despair-ridden world of the junkie. It started while he was doing military service in Korea and ended with his murder in his late 30s. He had worked up to a hundred-dollars-a-day habit - and out of the agonizing hell came Dopefiend.

©2007 Donald Goines (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

raw truth

I am now a recovering addict but when I read this book(in jail) I was still a junkie and everything written in this book is the raw truth about addiction. This is a very good read!!!

Vivid, gritty, sometimes sad, and very real.

At some point in the 1990's I found a vintage paperback of Donald Goines' "Black Gangster" in a thrift store. The cover art gave the impression that it would be an unintentionally corny tale, likely written by some clueless white guy looking to cash in on the popularity of films like "Shaft" and "Superfly". Amused at the possibility, I bought it. And by the time I was far enough in, to realize that it wasn't at all what I had anticipated, I was hooked by the drama, the blunt, fluid writing, and the very real storytelling. This was the work of someone who knew what they were talking about. It was also the work of someone with a true gift as a writer. I vowed to read more by Goines, but never did, until more recently finding some of his works on Audible. "Dopefiend" is for me a better book than "Black Gangster" was. But a large part of that may be Kevin Kenerly's phenomenal narration, giving a believable voice to every character, bringing Goines' vivid words to life.
Some have described Donald Goines as a lesser version of fellow ex-con/ex-pimp Iceberg Slim, but personally I prefer Goines. Slim lived into his 70's and achieved success in his lifetime - which may have enabled his writing to be more careful. Goines on the other hand, financially broke, struggling with drug issues, wrote 17 books in just four years, before being gunned down at 37. There is a desperation, a darkness, and vivid realness in Goines' writing that I have otherwise only seen in pulp author Jim Thompson (who himself was forever poor, forever writing book after book to pay the bills, forever struggling with an addiction problem - alcohol).
"Dopefiend" may not be a highbrow literary peak, but it has a unique, powerful voice, worthy of respect.

Good Read!

A "Page Turner!" Excellent narration. Great voice changes. Story is as relavant today as it was in the 1970's.

Welcome to hell!

This book takes you waist deep into the dark world of a dope fiend. From the users, sellers and the families nothing escapes the author's pen. A trip into a living hell.

I wish they were longer

this story definitely left you rooting for the protagonist. It's a shame that the story was as short as it was. but like all his books, this is definitely worth the read

love this book

love Donald's books. Listening to it was really nice. the person thatread it off made it really nice to listen to

Perfect.

Unapologetically vivid and brilliantly executed. Goines brings a horrifying glimpse into drug addiction that is both cringe worthy and intriguing. Kenerly's reading feels like a cast of a thousand actors. Excellence.

wow

the narrator was easy to listen to... I enjoyed the book. I would recommend this book. he took me into the life of an addict and it was not pretty.

this book is brutal

describes the addict life in raw detail. pretty graphic at times. good read you'll keep coming back like the dope fiends

awesome

I have always loved this book. I have read it at least 5 times over, starting when I was about 15 yrs old. it is gritty & raw to say the least. hearing it narrated was an absolute treat!! I love Donald Goines! The narrator was fantastic! Well done!