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underwaterlily's review
4.0
Beyond the Pale Motel is the type of story you want to end well. You want Catt, the protagonist, to work through her issues and to find peace. You want someone to tell her she's beautiful and worthwhile. You want her to realize she doesn't need to chase society's narrow view of beauty—an unattainable goal, because of her more voluptuous frame. When Catt finally does realize her body is perfect, her revelation is so simply stated, and with such regret, it moves the reader to ponder how any woman can suffer from body dysmorphic disorder.
Francesca Lia Block, author of Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books and The Rose and The Beast: Fairy Tales Retold, is known for her dreamy prose and for her shimmering version of Los Angeles. Her characters feel like real people; they address myriad real world problems, as they navigate an otherworldly cityscape. In Beyond the Pale Motel, Block uses parts of the body to convey how disconnected and incomplete Catt feels. Catt and her best friend, Bree, cut and style hair at a salon called Head Hunters. Catt works out at a gym called Body Farm, in an attempt to inspire desire in her husband, who ultimately leaves her for another woman. The serial killer stalking the city slices his victims into parts: one woman's legs, another woman's arms. When Catt explores sex with random men, she physically separates from her body. Catt only becomes whole after she pursues the Hollywood Killer to an abandoned motel in the desert, where she realizes there is more to life than the pursuit of perfection. There is friendship. There is love.
And through this epiphany, Catt achieves a kind of peace.
*
Francesca was kind enough to answer my questions about Beyond the Pale Motel, as well as her love of fairy tales and mythology, on my LiveJournal!
Francesca Lia Block, author of Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books and The Rose and The Beast: Fairy Tales Retold, is known for her dreamy prose and for her shimmering version of Los Angeles. Her characters feel like real people; they address myriad real world problems, as they navigate an otherworldly cityscape. In Beyond the Pale Motel, Block uses parts of the body to convey how disconnected and incomplete Catt feels. Catt and her best friend, Bree, cut and style hair at a salon called Head Hunters. Catt works out at a gym called Body Farm, in an attempt to inspire desire in her husband, who ultimately leaves her for another woman. The serial killer stalking the city slices his victims into parts: one woman's legs, another woman's arms. When Catt explores sex with random men, she physically separates from her body. Catt only becomes whole after she pursues the Hollywood Killer to an abandoned motel in the desert, where she realizes there is more to life than the pursuit of perfection. There is friendship. There is love.
And through this epiphany, Catt achieves a kind of peace.
*
Francesca was kind enough to answer my questions about Beyond the Pale Motel, as well as her love of fairy tales and mythology, on my LiveJournal!
doritobabe's review
4.0
I think this is one of FLB's few forays into adult fiction. It is definitely one of the darkest stories she has every written. One can notice a trend with her writing however, where over the years, she has shifts from a whimsical fantasy style, to following the vampire popularity trend with Pretty Dead, and the adult supernatural type in The Elementals. Beyond the Pale Motel reminds me of the crime dramas that are so popular on TV now. It is such a different style of writing for Block that I was unable to recognize her voice until about half way through the text.
I suppose she is attempting to mature along with her main audience--people who read FLB novels have done so since they were teens, and here I am now, 25 and still reading--but it is not distinctly *her* anymore. Hence the reason that I couldn't give this book 5 stars; it was interesting and definitely a thriller of a text, but it left me feeling that this isn't the author that I used to know.
I can't expect Block to stay writing teen ficiton forever, and it could also be me, that I am growing out of her whimsy.
I suppose she is attempting to mature along with her main audience--people who read FLB novels have done so since they were teens, and here I am now, 25 and still reading--but it is not distinctly *her* anymore. Hence the reason that I couldn't give this book 5 stars; it was interesting and definitely a thriller of a text, but it left me feeling that this isn't the author that I used to know.
I can't expect Block to stay writing teen ficiton forever, and it could also be me, that I am growing out of her whimsy.
horfhorfhorf's review
2.0
I guess I've officially outgrown all things Francesca Lia Block; there's no room for YA on these shelves anymore.
justlily's review
4.0
Wow, this was a beautiful book. It reminded me very much of a friend of mine. The punk rock, the sadness, the addictions to get over past traumas. The mystery of the murders isn't even the true story but is tied up along with it perfectly. I found the end to be both wonderful and almost unbearably sad. My chest kind of aches now, actually. I don't think I realized until halfway in how this book had taken hold.
By far and without competition the best Francesca Lia Block book I've read. I was never overly taken with her work but I'll pick up anything new she writes, for sure.
By far and without competition the best Francesca Lia Block book I've read. I was never overly taken with her work but I'll pick up anything new she writes, for sure.
erinld2005's review
4.0
I won this on the goodreads giveaway, review to come!
I started reading this today, and finished today. This was an easy read, and a fast read due to the great story. For the most part I really enjoyed it. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because by about a quarter of the way through the main character, Catt, was already on my last nerve. I understand she has low self esteem, among other issues, but she was too insecure and whiny to be like-able. However that is my only complaint. I really enjoyed that Beyond the Pale Motel was dark, psychological, and a bit creepy. I was not sure if this book would be for me or not and I was pleasantly surprised. I have never read this author before and I enjoyed her writing. I thought the Love Monster blog and names for all the types of men was hilarious!! Very good read, and I also have to say the ending was spectacular.
I started reading this today, and finished today. This was an easy read, and a fast read due to the great story. For the most part I really enjoyed it. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because by about a quarter of the way through the main character, Catt, was already on my last nerve. I understand she has low self esteem, among other issues, but she was too insecure and whiny to be like-able. However that is my only complaint. I really enjoyed that Beyond the Pale Motel was dark, psychological, and a bit creepy. I was not sure if this book would be for me or not and I was pleasantly surprised. I have never read this author before and I enjoyed her writing. I thought the Love Monster blog and names for all the types of men was hilarious!! Very good read, and I also have to say the ending was spectacular.
feuryously's review
4.0
This book is so frustrating in that I simultaneously want more of it but it’s also the perfect length.
This is also a ringer. The last time I read this was when it was released. I’m reading an 800 page book currently and wanted to do 5 books in January and knew I couldn’t finish Crescent City in time so I pulled this one out because it was short and sweet (well, bittersweet). Is that cheating? Maybe. But does it still count? Absolutely it does.
This is also a ringer. The last time I read this was when it was released. I’m reading an 800 page book currently and wanted to do 5 books in January and knew I couldn’t finish Crescent City in time so I pulled this one out because it was short and sweet (well, bittersweet). Is that cheating? Maybe. But does it still count? Absolutely it does.
booksandwhimsy's review
4.0
I received an ARC copy from Ms. Block and couldn't wait to delve in. I tried to savor the words but I found myself reading until I couldn't. I finished it in twenty-four hours and want to go back to reread. If you're looking for a haunting, erotic adult novel thats both horror and psychological, this is the novel to read. Beyond The Pale Motel is reminiscent of Muhollond Drive. It's has addiction, a serial killer and broken love. It has hair stylists, best friends and baseball. It's a must read for any fan of FLB and a good introduction for someone who isn't familiar with her work.
rustbeltjessie's review against another edition
4.0
Francesca Lia Block's books are like comfort food for my brain. They're not junk food - there's definite nutritional value - but they're also not some gourmet foodie trend that challenges my tastebuds. They're comfort food: I feel comforted and satisfied when I read them. Even with this one, which is one of FLB's darker novels, I still found comfort in it. It's beautiful and sad and chilling, and sexy, oh my god is it sexy. (Also, I really wish Love Monster were a real blog I could read, and I'd love to read Catt's senior thesis about death in Los Angeles literature and music!)
superdilettante's review against another edition
3.0
I'm more worried about FLB's psyche than ever. The main character, Catt comes upon her estranged best friend about to be murdered and dismembered by Catt's ex-husband's brother (a hot guy Catt has already slept with in her attempt to forget her ex, yes), and she screams and throws her phone to save her best friend.
So the hot guy (named Cyan, FLB has so many characters she's running out of names) ties up Catt and injects her with some sort of paralytic drug, and wheels her around in a wheelchair showing off his museum of obscenity that he's installed in a brokedown old motel (the titular location, yes). The last thing he shows her is the freezer full of body parts he's saved in an attempt to create "the perfect woman." And all Catt can think (more than once!) is "I guess I wasn't hot enough for him to want to hack into pieces." Then he takes her heart, because it's the only good part of her. Good thing he didn't take her brain, then his creation would have been ruined.
So ok, if you like the FLB of yesteryear but it didn't have enough cocks and juices for you, maybe you'll like this. But for me....no.
So the hot guy (named Cyan, FLB has so many characters she's running out of names) ties up Catt and injects her with some sort of paralytic drug, and wheels her around in a wheelchair showing off his museum of obscenity that he's installed in a brokedown old motel (the titular location, yes). The last thing he shows her is the freezer full of body parts he's saved in an attempt to create "the perfect woman." And all Catt can think (more than once!) is "I guess I wasn't hot enough for him to want to hack into pieces." Then he takes her heart, because it's the only good part of her. Good thing he didn't take her brain, then his creation would have been ruined.
So ok, if you like the FLB of yesteryear but it didn't have enough cocks and juices for you, maybe you'll like this. But for me....no.