chelseamartinez's review against another edition
3.0
Koestenbaum's personal humiliations are sprinkled throughout the book and then come in a self-deprecating torrent at the end. In the middle is much musing on humiliated people, mostly celebrities, some of whom I have heard of. I read this at an odd moment considering that, unlike Michael Jackson, for example, the humiliated celebrities of the past month don't generally come off as credibly ashamed. Could be a whole new essay from Koestenbaum about that, which I would be eager to read.
meganmilks's review against another edition
3.0
this book was frustrating. lots of forced connections, a lot of grandstanding and a lot of unconvincing pop psych and pop phil assertions. read a lot like ARE YOU MY MOTHER -- i wanted to like it, there's a lot to like about it, but the queasily ponderous writing style ("funny fact:" there's a website called tinypenishumiliation.com -- gee whiz!) was obstructive, as was the lack of real wisdom. and omg so many assumptions about and projections onto unwitting bystanders.
all that said, the last fugue/chapter is pretty solid and the chapter on artaud and basquiat is particularly interesting.
probably the style and voice issues have to do with the author writing to a general audience. i think about humiliation and shame a lot, so many of these ideas were already familiar.
all that said, the last fugue/chapter is pretty solid and the chapter on artaud and basquiat is particularly interesting.
probably the style and voice issues have to do with the author writing to a general audience. i think about humiliation and shame a lot, so many of these ideas were already familiar.
meiklejohn's review against another edition
Couldn't finish - well-written, but far too much about bodily fluids and sexual violence, to a point at which the author is obviously just trying to shock. Not interested in being part of that.
nathanpage's review
4.0
My favorite part is when he starts speaking as Liza Minelli drunk on Larry King Live. And every other part.
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