aylin25's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jells99's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
yourfriendtorie's review against another edition
3.0
Narrated in first person and with language just like the way teenagers talk, which was annoying until I realized it was actually endearing. Gets inside the fragile heart of a teenage dork who realizes that we are all dorks putting on our chosen identities, moving in and out of them sometimes, and catching glimpses of who we are going to be for the rest of our lives. Some parts of this book disgusted me (as only teenage boys can), and many parts made me cry with compassion and the remembrance of that fucked up angst so unique to high school.
mattwriggit's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A mostly successful exploration of teenage angst, punk music and the 90s.
Some of the language feels dated, but at the same time, it reflects that period well. It can also be really frustrating to be inside this protagonist’s head - he really says what he thinks and sometimes it became difficult to engage with the material.
This is a character piece - the plot basically follows around a year of this teen’s life and the multiple characters around him. By the end, some of the resolutions feel rushed and forced but overall it’s an enjoyable read.
Some of the language feels dated, but at the same time, it reflects that period well. It can also be really frustrating to be inside this protagonist’s head - he really says what he thinks and sometimes it became difficult to engage with the material.
This is a character piece - the plot basically follows around a year of this teen’s life and the multiple characters around him. By the end, some of the resolutions feel rushed and forced but overall it’s an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Ableism
susanatwestofmars's review against another edition
4.0
When I finished reading Joe Meno’s Hairstyles of the Damned, I had two thoughts. First was that this book belongs on my list of rock and roll fiction. The mix tapes, the way these characters connect to music and allow it to define their identity make this a slam-dunk to be included on the list.
My other thought wasn’t quite so charitable. You see, I recently read The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington, and these two books were quite similar. The themes of young boys in puberty, beginning to navigate the mine field that is girls, alienation from the parents (or was that in Snow Angels?)… Even Booklist, the venerated book review source, said, “This is worthy if familiar stuff.”
That sums it up, I think.
Except Hairstyles did something the other two I just mentioned failed to: evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. The afore-mentioned Snow Angels was even set near West of Mars. You’d think that would awaken some feelings.
Not like Hairstyles did. Even though I’m a bit older than these characters, I still smiled at the haircut Brian quested after. I recognized the mosh pits of old. The lazy, languid afternoons, hanging out on the hood of a car. This was my life, to a degree. Not so much that I saw myself exactly, but enough that I was right there all over again. Those college years had been good to me. They were again as I read.
One thing Hairstyles had that Peter Paddington lacked that truly needs to be mentioned is the way in which we got to watch Brian change. He made progress in life. He lost some of his awkwardness, especially with the girls. Meno wasn’t afraid to let this character grow and change and be someone else at the end of the book. As a result, at times, you can’t help but root for Brian when things are going well. You can’t help but groan when he’s a lunkhead. But you don’t give up on him; Brian’s a survivor. You can tell that early on.
I wish I’d read this before Peter Paddington. I’d have done nothing but rave about it. But like my experience with Cecil Castellucci’s Beige, this one suffers from the shame of coming in second.
Pick it up. Tell me what you think.
My other thought wasn’t quite so charitable. You see, I recently read The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington, and these two books were quite similar. The themes of young boys in puberty, beginning to navigate the mine field that is girls, alienation from the parents (or was that in Snow Angels?)… Even Booklist, the venerated book review source, said, “This is worthy if familiar stuff.”
That sums it up, I think.
Except Hairstyles did something the other two I just mentioned failed to: evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. The afore-mentioned Snow Angels was even set near West of Mars. You’d think that would awaken some feelings.
Not like Hairstyles did. Even though I’m a bit older than these characters, I still smiled at the haircut Brian quested after. I recognized the mosh pits of old. The lazy, languid afternoons, hanging out on the hood of a car. This was my life, to a degree. Not so much that I saw myself exactly, but enough that I was right there all over again. Those college years had been good to me. They were again as I read.
One thing Hairstyles had that Peter Paddington lacked that truly needs to be mentioned is the way in which we got to watch Brian change. He made progress in life. He lost some of his awkwardness, especially with the girls. Meno wasn’t afraid to let this character grow and change and be someone else at the end of the book. As a result, at times, you can’t help but root for Brian when things are going well. You can’t help but groan when he’s a lunkhead. But you don’t give up on him; Brian’s a survivor. You can tell that early on.
I wish I’d read this before Peter Paddington. I’d have done nothing but rave about it. But like my experience with Cecil Castellucci’s Beige, this one suffers from the shame of coming in second.
Pick it up. Tell me what you think.
sweetcreature89's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It had me interested from the very first page. It's a different type of book than I would normally read, but hey, sometimes when you read out of your comfort zone, you find awesome books! This was definitely one of those cases. I'm sad that I borrowed this novel from a friend my mine and my husbands. I may possibly buy this book in the future.
Hairstyles of the Damned is an honest, real look at adolescence and the trials and tribulations that a teenager goes through in daily life. It is set in the early 1990's, which is a neat setting as we get to learn more about teen life and the thinkings of a lost kid finding his way through school, music, and the punk scene.
The characters in the novel, mainly Brian Oswald, are true representations of what teenagers are like, how they think, speak, and act. Nothing is held back from the readers. The insecurities, embarrassing thoughts, shallow-ness, and hurt, real thoughts, not buttered-up images of what a teenager should be like you would normally read. It's honest and straight forward on how teenagers really are, have always been, and will always be.
There's a lot questionable situations in this novel, a lot of language, and more than enough of sexual confrontation. Some may see that as a bad thing, but for what this novel stands for, it really works. I didn't mind all the bad things because it was true. That's how human beings are, even if we don't want to always admit it.
This book is a good read for any of you that want a real, honest, raw look at young adult life.
Also, on a final note, I've seen some things around the internet that imply that Hairstyles of the Damned is being made into a movie. This is definitely a movie that I would watch and I will update in the future if I find any new information on this.
Hairstyles of the Damned is an honest, real look at adolescence and the trials and tribulations that a teenager goes through in daily life. It is set in the early 1990's, which is a neat setting as we get to learn more about teen life and the thinkings of a lost kid finding his way through school, music, and the punk scene.
The characters in the novel, mainly Brian Oswald, are true representations of what teenagers are like, how they think, speak, and act. Nothing is held back from the readers. The insecurities, embarrassing thoughts, shallow-ness, and hurt, real thoughts, not buttered-up images of what a teenager should be like you would normally read. It's honest and straight forward on how teenagers really are, have always been, and will always be.
There's a lot questionable situations in this novel, a lot of language, and more than enough of sexual confrontation. Some may see that as a bad thing, but for what this novel stands for, it really works. I didn't mind all the bad things because it was true. That's how human beings are, even if we don't want to always admit it.
This book is a good read for any of you that want a real, honest, raw look at young adult life.
Also, on a final note, I've seen some things around the internet that imply that Hairstyles of the Damned is being made into a movie. This is definitely a movie that I would watch and I will update in the future if I find any new information on this.
leahkarge's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book a couple of years ago. To be honest, the only reason that I read it was because it was about people who went to the Catholic schools in my area (Brother Rice, Mother MacAuley, Queen of Peace, St. Lawrence), including my high school (even though QoP is only very briefly mentioned). I thought that it was an okay book. I'm glad, though, that I borrowed it from my friend (she rec'd it to me) and didn't waste my money buying it since I have no desire to read it ever again. As the title indicates (or indicated for me at least), the book was weird. But there was a lot of swearing so that was fun. (Just kidding; it wasn't particularly fun.)
jessgock's review against another edition
1.0
I read this book because the Gaper's Block book club selected it to be its first title, so I thought I'd read it in case I decided to go to the discussion. Turns out the discussion was scheduled at the same time as my guitar class, so I didn't go, but that might be just as well because I didn't think much of the book, anyway. It's written in the same confessional, rambly style as [b:The Perks of Being a Wallflower|22628|The Perks of Being a Wallflower|Stephen Chbosky|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167352178s/22628.jpg|2236198] and [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165517671s/5107.jpg|3036731], but I couldn't find anything likeable about the narrator or the story. He rambles about girls and music, but nothing really goes anywhere until the last few pages, when he has the sudden realization (ohmigosh!) that the punks and the jocks and the nerds are really all the SAME, just using different interests or activities to distinguish themselves from each other. It felt pretty painfully cliched, like the author just wanted something to distinguish the end from the rest of the story.