Reviews

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk

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altruisticlatte's review against another edition

4.0

I truly enjoyed this novel. I'm a huge Palahniuk fan. I've read six of his other novels and I'd say that if you wanted an introductory novel for how sick, twisted, and bizarre Palahniuk's writing can be, Damned and Lullaby are good books to start with.

I loved this story because it was so much fun to read. It is hilarious from start to finish with both simple and smart humor throughout the story. I adore Palahniuk's version of hell and what one should expect if ever damned for eternity. I felt like I could really tell Palahniuk had fun writing this one.

The characters were precious. I adored Madison from the start. Her background and personality were priceless. I never thought that a novel aimed at an adult audience, told from the perspective of a 13 year old girl, could be so well executed. I love that by the middle of the novel I thought I knew the characters, their backgrounds, their personalities, and how they fit into the little clique they formed while in hell but, by the end, I learned so much more about them that brought their entire personalities fully into the light.

telliot's review

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

jtorr83's review against another edition

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4.0

Okay, so at the beginning the book does kind of suck and honestly I was getting super annoyed at the main character but once you start seeing some of the things Chuck Palahniuk wants you to see the book actually gets pretty good. The most easiest description and summary of this book is that basically people are fake and they will try to do anything they can to ensure they live and go to "heaven". Life isn't really in our control and sometimes things aren't really what they seem. That's basically the book. Add satan and a whiney preteen and bam you got a novel. Overall it was okay and to be honest I want to read the second one because I really want to know what happens to this whiney little girl.

fraba's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

creepepaper's review against another edition

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2.0

Uuughhhhhhh.... I made it through this book. The initial story is interesting, but I feel Palahniuk introduced a hundred different storylines with no true investments and no fulfilling resolution to them. We're half-assed introduced to this "breakfast club" group of characters that seem to be interesting, but we don't really delve into their stories enough. They disappear on and off throughout the whole book and I know they're the "breakfast club" like group because Chuck Palahniuk felt it was necessary to repeat it in text several times.
The main character, Maddie, is undoubtedly a 13 year old girl written by a man who doesn't know what it's like to be a 13 year old girl. The language she used and the self-esteem thoughts she had were just not those of a real human girl.
The story was a whirlwind of a couple mysteries presented, a quest with no definite goal, Maddie working at Hell's Call Center because ????????? And the people being in a cell with her in the beginning but actually being (spoiler) long time residents of Hell all along??????
No, this was not a good book. It gets 2 stars because it was readable enough for me to finish it, I guess.

rachielove9's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was super fun, I think even more so because I listened to it. I loved listening to Madison's "Are you there Satan" letters and the whole thing was incredibly thought provoking. Aside from the fact that it's about a teenager, it's a complete departure from my typical reading material. I picked it up when I saw the sequel had come out and thought it sounded intriguing, to say the least. Breakfast club in hell? Pretty much. Spot on commentary on our society and its issues? Absolutely. Entertaining as all get out? Yes and yes.