"Hairstyles" is an honest depiction of growing up punk on Chicago's south side: a study in the demons of racial intolerance, Catholic school conformism and class repression. It is the story of the riotous exploits of Brian, a high school burnout, and his best friend Gretchen, a punk rock girl fond of brawling.
Joe Meno won the 2003 Nelson Algren Literary Award and is the author of "Tender as Hellfire" (St. Martin's, 1999) and "How the Hula Girl Sings" (HarperCollins, 2001). His online fictional serial, "The Secret Hand," is published through "Playboy Magazine." His short fiction has been ...
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Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Akashic Books
Date Published: 2004-09-01
ISBN-13:9781888451702ISBN:188845170X
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Description: Good. 2004-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Punk Planet Books, Chicago
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9781888451702ISBN:188845170X
Description: Good with no dust jacket. 9781888451702. 12mo 7"-7½" tall; 270 pages; Trade Size Soft Cover Paperback, No Dust Jacket, Book Shows Some Wear. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Akashic Books
Date Published: 2004-09-01
ISBN-13:9781888451702ISBN:188845170X
Description: New. Trade Size soft back book New * Unmarked*Ships in a padded water tight bubble bag*[red] All merchandise is fully guaranteed* Buy from a professional company that cares about your satisfaction*G/alb. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Akashic Books
Date Published: 9/1/2004
ISBN-13:9781888451702ISBN:188845170X
Description: New. Paperback. Enjoyable reading copy for your personal pleasure. This copy is nearly flawless! Cover has barely noticeable shelf wear. You are buying a Book in NEW condition with very light shelf wear to include very light edge and corner wear. Buy it Now! ! ! As always, thank you for buying this book from International Book Source, YOUR ONE source FOR ALL your BOOK related NEEDS. Please remember to CHOOSE carefully how QUICKLY you would like to RECEIVE this material FAST, or standard (on ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Akashic Books
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9781888451702ISBN:188845170X
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Akashic Books
Date Published: 2004-09-15
ISBN-13:9781888451702ISBN:188845170X
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9781888451702. read more
""Hairstyles of the Damned" is about Brian Oswald, a guy in high school is growing up punk. At first he's a sort of needy and whiny character who is in love with his best friend, but as time passes in his harsh high school he must learn to be tough and act like a punk. He meets people, does drugs, listen to cool punk music, and gets a girlfriend or two along the way.
Um, yeah. I kinda strongly disliked this book, xD. I mean it wasn't the worst thing ever but I felt like I could've just used the time I read this book reading another book... and yeah if you're wondering why I just didn't quit half way, it's cuz I NEVER leave a book unfinished. So anyway basically I really couldn't connect with any of the characters, the plot was extremely weird, and if there were any punk rock references I guess I didn't pick up on them.
Overall I understand that this book appeals to a certain type of reader (that obviously isn't me) but I mean the people who would like this book probably don't even read... escpecially long books, like this one (I mean for some people 250 pages is a lot). The reason why this book doesn't get one star is because there were some VARY rare moments where I somewhat connected with what Brian was going through (hello, high school angst?) And yet I was left dissapointed by this one. Good effort from the author though!"
"Hairstyles of the Damned is one of those books that you either love or you hate. Luckily for this review, I loved it. This book is full of regular teen angst set against a backdrop of the Chicago punk scene in the early 90's. Full of top 10 lists and mix-tapes, Joe Meno sets the triumphs and failures of his main character against a rockin' soundtrack. Full of heartache, longing, confusion, and sometimes acceptance and understanding, Hairstyles of the Damned can conjure up memories from our own angst filled youth no matter what the decade. I'd recommend this to all of my friends who have been there and know the pain and excitement of being a teen trying to find where they fit in."
"This is a punk rock coming of age story about a shy high school junior named Brian Oswald with a crummy home life who is in love with (or thinks he is in love with) his best friend Gretchen, who continuously pines for a skinhead, white- power 20-something named Tony Degan. Gretchen is not stupid or racist, she also comes from a messed up home life. Her mother has died before the book begins and she is desperately looking for someone to love her and see her and pay attention to her. Brian's feelings for Gretchen wax and wane through out the book as he attempts to sort out his feelings about everything else going on around him. There is band name dropping galore throughout all 270 pages, and someone who was more into the punk or metal scene in the early 90's would appreciate it more than I did. I was a lame theatre kid in high school and pretty much listen to broadway soundtracks and Madonna. Meno strongly features The Ramones and The Misfits and all of the other bands you first discover when you're young and eager to rebel but not sure what you have to rebel against. Tellingly, Brian's first truly transitional music experience happens at a Seven Seconds show, and Meno nails the sense of broadened awareness -- His narrator, Brian wonders, "Why haven't I heard this before?" Meno also aces Brian's sudden, revealing connection with the object of his affections late in the book: for just a few minutes, or maybe just mere seconds of closeness with Gretchen in which hormones kick in and their awkward fumbling becomes artful, their bodies connect, their desire flares and then, just as suddenly, it's all awkwardness and embarrassment and things never to be spoken of again. Sounds just like high school to me."
For a work of fiction, this story reads much like a memoir, which is what I liked about it. The characters were interesting and developed in such an unconventional way, but I really liked the whole vibe I got reading this book, the references to mixtapes and the detail of what characters do and think and feel, good and bad. I admit the story began a bit slow, but about halfway through, the story caught up with itself and began to progress in a way that felt like it had direction. The protagonist is a character I felt drawn to if not because of his likability then because of his vulnerability. It just felt very real, and the incorporation of music in the story as an illustrative tool was particularly effective.
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