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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
you know - for a minute there I thought I could give it two stars… but really - no - I can't. I will say this book takes the prize for having to use my kindle dictionary function the most times…ever. Because long obscure words are so much better than - you know - everyday ones. :-/
Dear reader, please know that as I write this review I read Damned and Doomed back-to-back. So, my feelings about Damned are directly reflected by the fact I have read both of these books.
I have loved many of Chuck Palahniuk's books but this was... not what I expected. It felt like a book that was written in a style resembling a stream of consciousness. As if Chuck was discovering the story, as he was typing. In other words, he didn't have an end game when he started writing Damned. Overall, I enjoyed it. But I think I like it better now that I have also read Doomed.
I have loved many of Chuck Palahniuk's books but this was... not what I expected. It felt like a book that was written in a style resembling a stream of consciousness. As if Chuck was discovering the story, as he was typing. In other words, he didn't have an end game when he started writing Damned. Overall, I enjoyed it. But I think I like it better now that I have also read Doomed.
пекло у виконанні паланіка – звісно ж, ні разу не те, про яке вам доводилося читати у данте, мільтона чи навіть у майка міньоли (який, до речі, якраз використовує класичні моделі). якщо за пекло береться паланік, то воно має бути таким, якого ще ніхто не бачив: огидне, жахливе, обурливе, але точно оригінальне. готуйтеся до моря блювоти, океану сперми і пустелі з образаних нігтів – усе, більше не потрібне на землі, акумулюється на пекельних просторах, і душі теж.
ця книжка дуже старається бути кумедна й іронізувати з усього на світі: кожен розділ, наприклад, головна героїня починає словами "ти тут, сатано? це я, медісон", і якщо ви не читали джуді блум, добре вам; найгірше в цьому прийомі те, що пародія паланіка місцями виглядає слабше навіть за наївність оригіналу. але сюжет у тексту зіжмаканий, події розвиваються доволі випадково, унікальність пекла купується дорогою ціною втрати логіки, а самоповтори швидко набридають, тож навіть спроба вийти на метарівень наприкінці роману не рятує ситуацію. meh, коротше.
ця книжка дуже старається бути кумедна й іронізувати з усього на світі: кожен розділ, наприклад, головна героїня починає словами "ти тут, сатано? це я, медісон", і якщо ви не читали джуді блум, добре вам; найгірше в цьому прийомі те, що пародія паланіка місцями виглядає слабше навіть за наївність оригіналу. але сюжет у тексту зіжмаканий, події розвиваються доволі випадково, унікальність пекла купується дорогою ціною втрати логіки, а самоповтори швидко набридають, тож навіть спроба вийти на метарівень наприкінці роману не рятує ситуацію. meh, коротше.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The picture of hell wasn’t that interesting to me. It kinda goes on with no consequences in the story. No real conflict.
"Damned" tells the story of thirteen-year-old Madison Spencer, who dies tragically and is sent to Hell. That's where the book starts, with her already dead. She goes on to have adventures with a group of misfit damned souls reminiscent of The Breakfast Club - and to be honest, that's all I really want to say about the plot. It just gets better and better as the book goes on, and I really don't want to spoil anything since my descriptions wouldn't hold a candle to the ones in the book. Just read it for yourself - it's short and easy to digest. And yes, it's very funny, in a slightly deranged sort of way.
I did enjoy how each of the short chapters begins with a miniature 'diary entry,' beginning with some variation on the phrase "Are you there, Satan? It's me, Madison." And once again I find Palahniuk's use of second person intriguing. (If you remember, I was first introduced to Palahniuk's work through a short story in the anthology I read a few months ago that was told entirely in second person.) The book is told from Maddy's perspective, but she's very much telling it directly to Satan, so she refers to him as "you" for most of the book.
I did enjoy how each of the short chapters begins with a miniature 'diary entry,' beginning with some variation on the phrase "Are you there, Satan? It's me, Madison." And once again I find Palahniuk's use of second person intriguing. (If you remember, I was first introduced to Palahniuk's work through a short story in the anthology I read a few months ago that was told entirely in second person.) The book is told from Maddy's perspective, but she's very much telling it directly to Satan, so she refers to him as "you" for most of the book.
I didn’t make it 3 chapters. This book is insufferably repetitive. The main character is so blindingly annoying, I literally couldn’t take it anymore. I kept thinking to myself “okay, Palahniuk will eventually get on with the story.” But no. Madison just keeps rambling on about her rich parents, how much she hates them, and all the while constantly reminding the audience “hey, I’m not stupid! I know big adult words!” WE GET IT! GET ON WITH IT! You’re in hell! How could this possibly be so dull?! If you’re going to make a character unlikable, at least make them interesting. Nah! She’s whiny, she’s rich, and she’s loathsomely irritating. So, SO disappointed.
I wanted to love it, but the wording quickly became redundant. The downfall could be attributed to the reputation of the author. I expect there to be a shocking twist per Palahniuk's past work, but "Damned" only tells the story of an unlike-able 13 year old grouping up with other fallen souls in hell, on a mission to become more fulfilled in death than in life.
The twist (if it could be called that) was predictable and the theme of "free-will" seems like an after-thought.
The twist (if it could be called that) was predictable and the theme of "free-will" seems like an after-thought.
Ah, the quintessential Thanksgiving read. I didn't enjoy this as much as Palahniuk's earlier work (namely, Survivor), but at least it wasn't as deplorable as Pygmy or Lullaby, his worst.
There was a lot I loved about this -- the protagonist's "job" (at which she uses telemarketing to encourage people to kill themselves), the catharsis of reading her beating up Hitler and ripping his mustache off her face.
But other parts are just painful, like where the author feels a need to repeat ad nauseam about how she may be thirteen, but she knows all of these big-girl words. (Part of the joy of reading about young teenagers is the perspective that an adult brings; we don't read actual books by youngsters because teenagers are -- let's face it -- annoying and ameteurish writers, which is where a lot of this goes. I realize it's a conceit and it's supposed to make it more "believable," but come on -- it's a book about Hell.)
There's also a lot of description of Hell's various gross-out areas: the sea of dead babies, the dandruff desert, the mound of toenail clippings, the lake of masturbated sperm. There's a very, VERY bizarre and gratuitous oral sex scene with a giant lady-demon. And her parents are, yes, celebrity hypocrites, and I don't need to hear it over and over again with so many examples.
I feel like when I was younger, this sort of thing felt edgy, dangerous, and forbidden; but now that I'm older, it's repetitive. I feel like I've written this Palahniuk book before, several times before.
So anyway, in summary, some of it is great; most of it isn't. If you love Palahniuk, this is representative of his entire oeuvre. If, however, you don't like Palahniuk, this isn't going to be the work that turns the tide.
There was a lot I loved about this -- the protagonist's "job" (at which she uses telemarketing to encourage people to kill themselves), the catharsis of reading her beating up Hitler and ripping his mustache off her face.
But other parts are just painful, like where the author feels a need to repeat ad nauseam about how she may be thirteen, but she knows all of these big-girl words. (Part of the joy of reading about young teenagers is the perspective that an adult brings; we don't read actual books by youngsters because teenagers are -- let's face it -- annoying and ameteurish writers, which is where a lot of this goes. I realize it's a conceit and it's supposed to make it more "believable," but come on -- it's a book about Hell.)
There's also a lot of description of Hell's various gross-out areas: the sea of dead babies, the dandruff desert, the mound of toenail clippings, the lake of masturbated sperm. There's a very, VERY bizarre and gratuitous oral sex scene with a giant lady-demon. And her parents are, yes, celebrity hypocrites, and I don't need to hear it over and over again with so many examples.
I feel like when I was younger, this sort of thing felt edgy, dangerous, and forbidden; but now that I'm older, it's repetitive. I feel like I've written this Palahniuk book before, several times before.
So anyway, in summary, some of it is great; most of it isn't. If you love Palahniuk, this is representative of his entire oeuvre. If, however, you don't like Palahniuk, this isn't going to be the work that turns the tide.