Hairstyles of the Damned

Hairstyles of the Damned "Freakshow!" the other added, pointing at us, as if we didn't know who he had been fucking with; as if he was saying, by pointing his finger, Yes, you! I am making it clear now that I am insulting you! Even though I am only a night stocker at the Radio Shack; even though I am twenty-eight and have an illegitimate kid and bills from the white T-top Camaro I wrecked; even though I am a glue-huffing idiot who blows all my cash on coke whenever I can get it, you are the ones who are to be made fun of because, to me, you are funny-looking, and this is the best thing I can do to insult you: me, pointing my finger like this, so I will keep pointing. And he held his finger out like that, jagging at us and pointing again and again until I turned my head and looked back at Gretchen. (Page thirty)

Hairstyles of the Damned, written by Joe Meno (Tender as Hellfire, How the Hula Girl Sings) is about a boy named Brian Oswald and his struggle to find himself in the south-side of Chicago. His struggle is not only to find himself, but to find where he thinks he belongs, as well as to understand how the world works and why it's particularlly messed up in Chicago, with its racism and its punk vs. metal scene.

The book has three sections to it, each starting with a quote or two from Brian's favorite songs, which seem to change genres as the book progresses, as Brian changes a little. The beginning of the book starts with Brian in a Ford Escort, thinking about his friend Gretchen, whom he thinks he's in love with, whom is also driving. Gretchen is rude, ballsy, overweight, a tom-boy, a punk rocker and has a thing for fighting, figuratively and literally. Brian's quest to make the perfect mixtape for her ends up distancing them and ending their friendship for a while.

The book overall has a very Catcher in the Rye feel to it. There is a lot of angst in Brian's eyes, which is very similiar to Holden Caulfield's own. The book, in my opinion, is an amazing novel and allows you to relate to Brian's problems, as well as his friends'. I love this book with all of my heart and, hopefully, giving this review will inspire some kids to go to Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore, and request this book.

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