hmda 's review for:

My Face for the World to See by Alfred Hayes

3.0

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i do not know how to describe my feelings towards this novella, i’m left completely dumbfounded, this was not what i expected at all. the writing was unparalleled to anything i’ve ever read in my life, it somehow managed to engross me with the bleak and suffocating problematic storyline that i would have otherwise hated to read about. there is no doubt in my mind that Alfred Hayes was truly an under appreciated twentieth century genius. the story was so dark, yet narrated in such a contradictory (almost) conversational manner which gave it a sort of sinister feel. it was curious, thought-provoking, and an incredibly compelling read. despite the unsettling troublesome events, i found it rather amusing. overall, for a hollywood novella written in the 50s, it was undeniably great and entertaining enough but i definitely didn’t like everything about it: a solid 3.5 stars.