shonaningyo's review against another edition
3.0
Let me try to properly convey my feelings for this book...
Ah..
I have never read a book by Chuck Palahniuk before this one. It had been awhile (or maybe this is my first time) since I've read a narrative that was this sarcastic and jaded. Honestly, I think Chuck voiced the 13 year old protagonist Maddy Spencer very well. I mean, she had quite a bit more chutzpah than many 16 year old girl protagonists written by women that I've come across lately, so I would say that it's pretty pathetic when I have to give a grudging nod of "You know what? Yeah, there's a bit more to you than a vehicle of too-old-for-this-shit, I'm-a-little-brat-and-I-know-it "maturity" that you seem to exude, Protagonist" acknowledgment from a book that isn't really even about self-discovery. Well, it sort of is, but it's not like it takes an entire journey and then some to figure it out like a lot of YA novels are wont to do.
I would say the closest to the kind of 'humor' this book employs would be a cross between George Carlin's offensive for the sake of being offensive and rubbing your prudish proclivities in your face and Augusten Burroughs's "life sucks, but don't take pity, but listen to what I have to say. Yeah shit's fucked up, ain't it? Now as I was saying..." I personally prefer the former more than the latter by a 1000 miles.
There were a handful of moments when I found that the repetition of certain phrases or words did not add to the mood or artistic quality of the story. They fell flat with me. In fact, the story fell almost entirely flat with me in that I felt nothing but slight curiosity as to the story itself (where was it going? How will it end? Where will the narrative lead me next?) and a few lip curls to some of the jabs, classic rich-person depravity (Maddy's mom is a piece of fucking work), and "jokes" that I did not appreciate, mostly because I just don't find them funny. I have a sense of humor, it's just it's very difficult for me to laugh at "edgy" humor without knowing the exact tone of voice that's being used.
Another thing about this book was that I didn't find many of the characters likable. But for a book like this is that really a bad thing? Maddy is a 13 year old who constantly assures us that she isn't like other girls because she knows how to use the words "eschew" and other high school words. She also constantly refers to every popular girl in the real world as an amalgamation of slurs like slut, tramp, whore, skank, etc. which is very judgmental, petty, and immature. She also seems to be slightly racist and homophobic. Either that or she is simply commenting on how society views such groups and is simply a mouthpiece for that sort of commentary.
The world-building of Hell is a bit interesting, but the places of Hell are juvenile in their attempt to shock, at best, what with its dumping ground of excess sperm, soiled diapers, discarded razors, Shit Lakes, and all that jazz.
Despite all this, I was actually sort of entertained by the book. It was a quick read and I'll probably read the sequel to see what else is up in this story.
Unlike others who have read this, I'm not totally discounting Chuck's writing. It's not my cup of tea but I'm willing to muscle through maybe two or more books of his before moving on. I'll just have to get over how sarcastic and passive-aggressive it is at times. Maybe passive-aggressive isn't the right word, though...Jaded? Yeah I used that one before. Jaded is good.
Ah..
I have never read a book by Chuck Palahniuk before this one. It had been awhile (or maybe this is my first time) since I've read a narrative that was this sarcastic and jaded. Honestly, I think Chuck voiced the 13 year old protagonist Maddy Spencer very well. I mean, she had quite a bit more chutzpah than many 16 year old girl protagonists written by women that I've come across lately, so I would say that it's pretty pathetic when I have to give a grudging nod of "You know what? Yeah, there's a bit more to you than a vehicle of too-old-for-this-shit, I'm-a-little-brat-and-I-know-it "maturity" that you seem to exude, Protagonist" acknowledgment from a book that isn't really even about self-discovery. Well, it sort of is, but it's not like it takes an entire journey and then some to figure it out like a lot of YA novels are wont to do.
I would say the closest to the kind of 'humor' this book employs would be a cross between George Carlin's offensive for the sake of being offensive and rubbing your prudish proclivities in your face and Augusten Burroughs's "life sucks, but don't take pity, but listen to what I have to say. Yeah shit's fucked up, ain't it? Now as I was saying..." I personally prefer the former more than the latter by a 1000 miles.
There were a handful of moments when I found that the repetition of certain phrases or words did not add to the mood or artistic quality of the story. They fell flat with me. In fact, the story fell almost entirely flat with me in that I felt nothing but slight curiosity as to the story itself (where was it going? How will it end? Where will the narrative lead me next?) and a few lip curls to some of the jabs, classic rich-person depravity (Maddy's mom is a piece of fucking work), and "jokes" that I did not appreciate, mostly because I just don't find them funny. I have a sense of humor, it's just it's very difficult for me to laugh at "edgy" humor without knowing the exact tone of voice that's being used.
Another thing about this book was that I didn't find many of the characters likable. But for a book like this is that really a bad thing? Maddy is a 13 year old who constantly assures us that she isn't like other girls because she knows how to use the words "eschew" and other high school words. She also constantly refers to every popular girl in the real world as an amalgamation of slurs like slut, tramp, whore, skank, etc. which is very judgmental, petty, and immature. She also seems to be slightly racist and homophobic. Either that or she is simply commenting on how society views such groups and is simply a mouthpiece for that sort of commentary.
The world-building of Hell is a bit interesting, but the places of Hell are juvenile in their attempt to shock, at best, what with its dumping ground of excess sperm, soiled diapers, discarded razors, Shit Lakes, and all that jazz.
Despite all this, I was actually sort of entertained by the book. It was a quick read and I'll probably read the sequel to see what else is up in this story.
Unlike others who have read this, I'm not totally discounting Chuck's writing. It's not my cup of tea but I'm willing to muscle through maybe two or more books of his before moving on. I'll just have to get over how sarcastic and passive-aggressive it is at times. Maybe passive-aggressive isn't the right word, though...Jaded? Yeah I used that one before. Jaded is good.
books_n_bananas's review against another edition
2.0
I haven't read a Palahniuk novel in a while and I have to say I was a bit let down by this one.
I wasn't too upset that it was missing some of Palahniuk's characteristic crass scenes, but it felt like he almost tried to make up for it lackingly-so by buffing up the grossness of his descriptors of Hell.
The plot was a tad lackluster and the only points of interest for me was the comparison to the Breakfast Club and the persons of which drawing from different points in history, but being presented as modern day and that she was assisting in bringing people to Hell.
I think there were too many pieces here that just fell flat ie Satan, who appears once and only once; her appeal, which at the end just doesn't matter for unclear reasons; her relationship with Goran, which isn't really well explained, etc, etc
He accomplished a naive, wealthy, abandoned 13-year old girl very well. So well that it kind of ruined any other attempted highlights of the novel.
I usually really like Palahniuk books because his writing is gruesome social commentary. But this one I just didn't get.
I wasn't too upset that it was missing some of Palahniuk's characteristic crass scenes, but it felt like he almost tried to make up for it lackingly-so by buffing up the grossness of his descriptors of Hell.
The plot was a tad lackluster and the only points of interest for me was the comparison to the Breakfast Club and the persons of which drawing from different points in history, but being presented as modern day and that she was assisting in bringing people to Hell.
I think there were too many pieces here that just fell flat ie Satan, who appears once and only once; her appeal, which at the end just doesn't matter for unclear reasons; her relationship with Goran, which isn't really well explained, etc, etc
He accomplished a naive, wealthy, abandoned 13-year old girl very well. So well that it kind of ruined any other attempted highlights of the novel.
I usually really like Palahniuk books because his writing is gruesome social commentary. But this one I just didn't get.
draculaura_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
nik_snowflake's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a fucked up version of Judy Blumes' "Are you there God, It's me Margaret" which my mother insisted I read at age 9. And, of course, I did. Loved it even. Now, reading Damned, it took me about fifty pages to actually get into it and not want to put the book down forever.... but once I was into the story It was an easy page turner. Not my favorite, but good nonetheless.
bhsmith's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy a good Chuck Palahniuk book. This one certainly doesn't disappoint!
It is hard to put my finger on why I enjoy Palahniuk's writing so much. His subjects are certainly new, different, disturbing and appalling... and it is always refreshing to read something unexpected. But, more than that, his writing is always different with each new story. If you pick up a John Grisham book you know the style of writing, the sentence structure and the overall story arc will be pretty much the same. Ditto most authors, especially those on the Bestseller list. Palahniuk does a great job of mixing things up and making sure you experience something new in the way the story is told, the words are chosen and the characters are portrayed. There are no certainties when you crack open a new Palahniuk book.
This is the second time I've read "Damned." And, the reason I picked it up again is because I'm about to read the sequel, "Doomed." This really is a modern-day twist on all the creepy things Dante told us about Hell. There are plenty of new reasons that you'll be admitted to Hell in Palahniuk's telling: peeing in a pool a certain number of times, having AIDS, honking your car horn too much, being a lawyer, etc. Some of them are quite comical, some leave you thinking, "Did he really just write that?" Madison Spencer finds herself in the underworld after her death at age thirteen. We follow Madison as she explores the underworld meeting new characters and figuring out how the entire system works. Of course, there are some interesting twists and turns along the way... especially the big one in the last few pages that leads nicely into the second book.
I, for one, would recommend picking up any Palahniuk book and giving it a shot. You might be appalled, grossed-out or a bit shaken, but you'll likely keep turning pages.
It is hard to put my finger on why I enjoy Palahniuk's writing so much. His subjects are certainly new, different, disturbing and appalling... and it is always refreshing to read something unexpected. But, more than that, his writing is always different with each new story. If you pick up a John Grisham book you know the style of writing, the sentence structure and the overall story arc will be pretty much the same. Ditto most authors, especially those on the Bestseller list. Palahniuk does a great job of mixing things up and making sure you experience something new in the way the story is told, the words are chosen and the characters are portrayed. There are no certainties when you crack open a new Palahniuk book.
This is the second time I've read "Damned." And, the reason I picked it up again is because I'm about to read the sequel, "Doomed." This really is a modern-day twist on all the creepy things Dante told us about Hell. There are plenty of new reasons that you'll be admitted to Hell in Palahniuk's telling: peeing in a pool a certain number of times, having AIDS, honking your car horn too much, being a lawyer, etc. Some of them are quite comical, some leave you thinking, "Did he really just write that?" Madison Spencer finds herself in the underworld after her death at age thirteen. We follow Madison as she explores the underworld meeting new characters and figuring out how the entire system works. Of course, there are some interesting twists and turns along the way... especially the big one in the last few pages that leads nicely into the second book.
I, for one, would recommend picking up any Palahniuk book and giving it a shot. You might be appalled, grossed-out or a bit shaken, but you'll likely keep turning pages.
kirag's review against another edition
5.0
This made me buy two more Chuck Palahniuk books. What a weird mind, I love it
nephelila's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. Maybe later. But definitely not feeling it as for now.