The Hanged Man
by Francesca Lia Block
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of The Hanged Man.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 567)
Read in July, 2008
While this is a short book, it presents some challenges to the YA reader. More than a decade after its publication, fictional incest isn't quite the narrative dynamite that it once was, so opinions of this book depend on the reader's taste for Block's style. This is a sensual book: much of the text is devoted to descriptions of smells and textures and flowers and so on. And there really isn't much plot. And the narrative moves about the cabin of time. None of this is bad if you appreciate B...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
did i mention that i have a tattoo because of this book? francesca lia block is the sophia coppola of young adult literature. she explores the inner workings of young women via dreamy, romantic, imaginative language that is potent and visceral. and while sometimes her tactics are heavy-handed --- ie, i find what her character emotes in this book is typical to most 14/15/16 year old girls, not sure that she necessarily needed to use incest as a means of achieving an emotional whollop of a poin...more
Like this review?
yes
3 comments
Read in January, 1998
The Hanged Man is about Laurel, who has an eating disorder and lots of problems. Strange things happen sometimes that she doesn't understand, and people take interest in her in ways that excite and frighten her. Every chapter in the book is named after a Tarot card (hence the title "The Hanged Man"), and it uses imagery from Tarot sometimes. Much of the book seems slightly surreal and very stream-of-consciousness, and after you finish reading it you're not sure how to explain what it w...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2001
Another book that I loved by Francesca Lia Block. The heroine is consumed by self-destructive influences (anorexia and dangerous living) in the aftermath of the death of her father who sexually molested her. It is only in the figure of Jack, her demon lover, sent to destroy her? redeem her? that she can ultimately come to terms with her painful past.
Despite it's brevity, I think there's a lot in this book that I would have to read over again to understand. The imagery is beautiful though.
Despite it's brevity, I think there's a lot in this book that I would have to read over again to understand. The imagery is beautiful though.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
hippies, those into Tarot, those into demons and dreaming
Ehhh....I'm not as into Block anymore. Still, this is one of her most interesting books. I gave it two stars because even as interesting as it was, I think I am burned out by the so-called hippie and her descriptions of places like Jamaica....sigh. Still, this book makes me want to explore Tarot further. And I'll probably read it again.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in March, 2008
I gave this book three stars more for the writing style than the story itself. As with Weetzie Bat, this book is written in very poetic, beautifully descriptive language.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I've already read and loved this book. A few years ago I loaned it to a friend and never got it back but now through the joys of paperbackswap.com it has returned to my bookshelf.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2003
It was quite depressing, and a little hard to get through (because of the heavy content), but still well worth reading. Her prose are beautiful, as always.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Francesca Lia Block does it again. I absolutely love this book. It's an extremely easy read. It's simple, but meaningful.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This book was very dark and depressing, but in that teen-angsty way that you can gobble up at a certain (teen-agsty) age.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
One of Francesca Lia Block's best books to date. There was a lot of symbolism which kept the book interesting.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2005
recommends it for:
For those with a taste for magic
My first Lia Block book... wow! If I could write like this, I'd never do anything else.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2002
I can never get enough of tarot card metaphors.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2005
Lyrical, beautiful, and utterly absorbing.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 1995
Abuse issues, done very "dreamily".
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.81 (473 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.82 (464 ratings) number of reviews: 17popular shelves
other editions
quote
"Everything was chocolate ice cream and kisses and wind."
more quotes »