Hairstyles of the Damned

by Joe Meno

book data

1,298 ratings, 3.59 average rating, 200 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		22%
4		32%
3		31%
2		12%
1		2%

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published

September 1st 2004 by Akashic Books

binding

Paperback, 290 pages

isbn

188845170X (isbn13: 9781888451702)

description

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

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12/17/07

Jason Pettus rated it:

Read in December, 2007

(My full review of this book is much longer than GoodReads' word-count limits. Find the entire essay at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com].)

So a big confession before anything else -- that I went into this book really wanting to like author Joe Meno. And of course part of why I want to like him is because he's a Chicago writer, one of the more high-profile writers in Chicago right now in fact, who has won the prestigious Nelson Algren award in the pas...more (My full review of this book is much longer than GoodReads' word-count limits. Find the entire essay at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com].)

So a big confession before anything else -- that I went into this book really wanting to like author Joe Meno. And of course part of why I want to like him is because he's a Chicago writer, one of the more high-profile writers in Chicago right now in fact, who has won the prestigious Nelson Algren award in the past and who used to do a column for the legendary zine Punk Planet, who is now a well-liked professor at Chicago's Columbia College and is single-handedly shaping an entire new generation of Midwestern authors. Plus I want to like Joe Meno because I'm acquaintances with a couple of people at Punk Planet Books, the newish publishing company who put out Meno's 2004 novel Hairstyles of the Damned; and not only that, but am acquaintances with a couple of people at Akashic Books as well, the more established small press that helped Punk Planet Books come into being. Plus it's a book about Chicago, set in the city, ostensibly covering the same period of time as my own youth, and supposedly full of pop-culture references to my own youth, so really how could I not be looking forward to reading it, and of becoming a fan of Meno's?

Which is why I suppose what I have to say in today's essay is so disappointing, because now after reading Hairstyles myself I actually feel kind of let down; I mean, don't get me wrong, it's certainly not a bad book, but it's also certainly not as good a book as I was expecting from a guy with his kind of background cred (and whose book has sold a whopping 80,000 copies as of the writing of this essay). It's merely a so-so book, in fact, a maudlin fictionalized memoir about the city's southwest side in the late '80s and early '90s, which contains diamonds in the rough to be sure, but ones that are unfortunately surrounded by a lot of pabulum and pastiche. Much of it, to be frank, feels like it could've been written by any anonymous youngish angsty author, with the manuscript filled with the kinds of "top-ten list" indie-rock gimmicks that felt hackneyed even when Nick Hornby was using them in 1995. Why yes, he says, as a certain amount of you now roll your eyes, this is one of those "indie-rock novels" that have become so popular among a certain crowd since the mid-'90s or so, which you should be prepared for before starting; that if you disdain breathless exclamations about how a punk show can singlehandedly and permanently change a person's life, you need to stay the hell away from Hairstyles and do it fast. And this should come as no surprise, of course, coming as it does from Punk Planet Books (duh), born from the ashes of one of the most respected indie-rock publications in history; when the small press first started up, in fact, I'm sure such a manuscript seemed like something right up their alley, the kind of novel they had been created to publish in the first place.

But there are problems with the "indie-rock novel" format, serious literary problems that...(less)

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07/08/08

Hannah rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Imogen liked it so I liked it (coz I am a convictionless little bastard most of the time when it comes to Art and can easily be swayed in any ol' goddamn direction or other by any ol' goddamn random-ass espousal or denunciation from someone I love or loath). But I think I wouldn't have otherwise. Mainly coz of how I am also MEAN and tend to have the least room in my heart for that which reminds me most ably of myself.

Certainly there were parts where the narrator's voice was angsty ...more

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09/14/07

Alika Yarnell rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in May, 2006

recommends it for: Punk-rock misfits who don't give you the juicy details

I enjoyed reading this book, but it felt a little simplistic to me. Meno uses language throughout that is very typical of a teenager (like, I mean, maybe, etc) which is fine and doesn’t really bother me but I could see some people getting annoyed. It’s a definite voice technique and if you stripped that away, what would you have? But I like the way the chapters are very short and just move from scene to scene. And the kid is overall very likable. And there’s some good points to be made abo...more

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08/06/07

Kristin rated it:

Read in October, 2007

I truly wanted to love this book because I read The Boy Detective Fails Again by Meno first. I adore that book--it's one of my favorites. This one was disappointing, to say the least.

The first 200 pages were filled with a lot of teenage-boy angst and the nothing that is a high schooler's life. Many of my favorite books are books within which nothing really happens, so this wouldn't have phased me if the "nothing" that happened actually seemed to be moving toward "so...more

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01/12/09

Laura rated it:

Any book that assaults your dad with Misfits lyrics and pranks the school bully with photos of kitty cats with X's on their eyes and pleas to be kind because "everytime you're mean one of us dies" is pretty much one of the greatest punk high school kid coming of age stories ever.... "I ain't no Goddamn son of a bitch!"

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10/09/07

Rose rated it:

Read in October, 2007

recommends it for: punks!

damn! i really like this book. a sort-of love story from the pov of a sort of metalhead-punk rock boy at a catholic boys school, the 'fat' girl he's in love with, his assorted friends getting high and drinking shitty beer in the basement, divorcing parents, and generally coming of age.
there are two moments that I especially love, his describing a girl as something like 'mean and sour looking, like she'd just make out with you because she's bored' and his feeling after going to his first s...more

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01/25/09

kaysootee rated it:

bookshelves: 1980s, 1990s, angst, chicago, coming-of-age, ennui, generation-x, high-school, punk-scene, realistic, relationships, young-adult-fiction

Read in April, 2005

I have the weirdest sensation that I’ve already read this…This was entertaining and kind of fluffy high school relationship stuff. You’ve seen all of these characters before, and they’re not all that distinguished here, but Joe Meno does really have the language down, and the sense of time. If you grew up in that era, you’ll feel right at home…and maybe anyone growing up at all would be able to relate to the constant flow of profanity that doesn’t even have any real purpose excep...more I have the weirdest sensation that I’ve already read this…This was entertaining and kind of fluffy high school relationship stuff. You’ve seen all of these characters before, and they’re not all that distinguished here, but Joe Meno does really have the language down, and the sense of time. If you grew up in that era, you’ll feel right at home…and maybe anyone growing up at all would be able to relate to the constant flow of profanity that doesn’t even have any real purpose except to pepper your language because you want to sound different. We did this, too.

It has that same sort of hazy feel to it…like not much is happening, not much is going on – very GenX, we are so BORED with it all. And there’s this pain, too, of wanting people and having your first experiences with desire and longing, and the first relationships, or encounters. It’s pretty well done.

Brian Oswald is a high school kid, and his best friend is the somewhat chunky, Gretchen who’s into the punk music scene (or at least the look and the most popular music). Brian realizes he has a huge crush on Gretchen, but she’s so not interested in him. She wants the older and more daring and dangerous Tony Degan (who’s in his early twenties but still in high school or still hanging around with the high school crowd). They don’t have much to do or anywhere to go really – except the local food joints, driving around and listening to music in Gretchen’s car. We all did these things. The lovely displaced youth that we are. Brian starts out as kind of a heavy metal kid and gradually evolves into the real punk scene. This is all about his experimentation, finding out who he is and what he wants to be, trying out all sorts of different styles and people and groups. He drifts a bit, but the central theme is this experimentation with everything. The growing up bit. Definitely resonates with me.

Gretchen is a size 12, which last time I checked, could be considered a medium. She’s always going on about what a disgusting cow she is, so maybe she feels big, but she isn’t. This annoys me. It could be just who Gretchen is, but if it’s the author, he just has no idea about size. None at all. Girls reading that who are a size 12 or larger will think, omigod, I’m Huge! Or maybe not. Not an accurate perception. I hate books about fat girls, because they’re all inevitably about how the fat girl wants to be thin. There are no jolly fat people in novels under the age of 60. (less)

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12/13/08

Sarah rated it:

bookshelves: 2005, coming-of-age, fiction

Read in October, 2005

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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12/13/08

Amanda rated it:

bookshelves: read-in-2008

Read in December, 2008

recommended to Amanda by: gibbie
recommends it for: angsty folk

For being written by a creative writing professor, this book is overwhelmingly stereotypical. The rebel girl who dyes her hair pink; the twenty-something who can't get away from high school; the boy with his constant erections and lascivious thoughts who really just wants some confidence. And everyone hates their parents (who likewise have stereotypical issues). While I agree that we all go through a lot of the same things in adolescence, sometimes I just wanted to slap the narrator and yell ge...more

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05/27/09

Natalye Childress Smith rated it:

Read in May, 2009

"Hairstyles of the Damned" -Joe Meno (2004)

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 pro...more

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12/15/08

Julie Pawelek rated it:

bookshelves: coming-of-age

Read in January, 2005

I couldn't believe my ears when I heard The Misfits coming from the RADIO! Sure enough, it was coming from NPR on a Saturday morning. Meno was promoting this book and the background soundtrack and interview was enough to propel me right to the library (15 minutes!) to check out this book. I read it all that day and found it entertaining while immersing me with nostalgia. The lyrics, the band names, the descriptions of the characters and "shows" in the basement brought back sweet memori...more

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01/14/09

Kristen rated it:

Read in February, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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12/31/08

Abby rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in January, 2009

I was seduced by the atmosphere of the Book Cellar -- you know those little bookstores where the employees scribble their own reviews below books they recommend, and they have their own little theme and serve coffee, this one even has wine -- into buying this book at the rec of an anonymous employee. I mean, the Wine Cellar is cute, accessible, in Lincoln Square in Chicago, and this book is by a Chicago author and takes place in Chicago (albeit the South Side; I'm from a North 'burb). Much like...more

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04/24/09

Max Supernova rated it:

Read in March, 2007

My favorite thing about this book is that a friend gave it to me for some reason. Brian, the main character, needed to get beat up, maybe not by a bunch of gangbanger or something, at least really beat up in a mosh pit at a Slayer show. Then again, dude probably wouldn't go to a Slayer show cause he sucks. The book is quiet, which is strange since it's about to a punk rocker. Props to Joe Meno for writing a book. It reminded me of rocker kids who have never been kicked in the face at a show beca...more

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01/25/09

Lindsey rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2009

recommends it for: teenagers, punk-rockers, teenage punk-rockers & teenage punk-rock wannabes

Not only am I not in high school anymore, I am so far from it that there is no point in reading books with main characters in high school. I feel I am a long way off from reading about wrinkled old women, but honestly, this particular book did not do a lot for me, and I loved the other Meno book I had read (The Boy Detective Fails). The prose was a lot more straight-forward in this book, and the plot far less fantastical. While I liked the characters just fine, there wasn't one that compared ...more Not only am I not in high school anymore, I am so far from it that there is no point in reading books with main characters in high school. I feel I am a long way off from reading about wrinkled old women, but honestly, this particular book did not do a lot for me, and I loved the other Meno book I had read (The Boy Detective Fails). The prose was a lot more straight-forward in this book, and the plot far less fantastical. While I liked the characters just fine, there wasn't one that compared to the main character in terms of subtle awkwardness or gentle beauty.

Certain parts of the book made me laugh, particularly the metal references. I was at times reminded of that era of my life, because while I never dyed my hair bright pink, I spent a lot of time in cars going to shows or riding around Northeast Ohio listening to bad (and good) punk shit on the radio. But even though I am in the beginning stages of being freaked out about getting old, that is not a part of my youth that I long for at all. I was totally geeky in high school but in a way that was not even obvious to anyone. It was more the way I stayed at home most nights and wrote 35-page research papers when the requirement was closer to ten. It was in the way I never experimented with drugs or boys because I was not interested in anything at all that my suburb had to offer. I spent a lot of time dreaming about going off to art school and becoming some famous artist or writer or something, and I definitely had some fun times with random friends. But for the most part I lived a really quiet life compared to most teenagers. I was simply a good kid.

I don't know that books like this accurately depict how high school is, although I get the feeling that this book in particular might be something of a veiled autobiography for Meno. Every book about high school features random acts of senseless brutality and impossible crushed-out-ness, and I suppose it is kind of true that these are the most important social rites of a teenager's life. I guess they weren't wholly missing from mine, either. But I am at a completely different and much, much more confusing time in my life right now, and it's not because I am naive or living with my parents or because I am trying to get my bearings or understand the world. The vague understanding I have of the world at this point is more confusing than not understanding anything at all about it. I've certainly had to make a living for myself and am not doing a great job of it. There are questions about my life and the lives of my peers that certainly compel me but there's next to nothing I find overtly compelling about high schoolers these days, or, at least, not fictional ones. I might have loved this if I'd read it in tenth grade, but if there's anything reading it now taught me, it's that I'm all grown up now and the band is playing a different tune... one with fewer power chords.(less)

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10/16/08

Katelynn rated it:

bookshelves: read-for-school

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in October, 2008

Joe Meno's Hairstyles of the Damned, an interesting twist to the common coming of age story, is read through the male perspective of teenage Brian as he struggles between trying to be cool and getting what makes him truly happy: his fiesty best friend Gretchen. The story sees him through quite a few different friends, parental fights, and life situations that are well known the the average youth. What sets this particular book apart is that it takes place in the 90's punk culture of South Chicag...more

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09/29/08

Jim rated it:

Read in September, 2008

This is the second Joe Meno book I've read, very different from "Bluebirds Used to Croon in the Choir," yet I can easily recommend both.

One of the things I liked about "Hairstyles" was the main character's comments on race and racism. To me, it seemed the author was able to comment on race using a developing, authentic voice of a teen growing up on the south side of Chicago.

I loved how Joe Meno incorporated music throughout the book, and used the trans...more

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07/21/08

Monique rated it:

recommended to Monique by: no one but myself.

I like it when the main character (I think his name was Brian Oswald) was at the arcade at the beginning and was talking about how some retarded video game playing genius had probably come and beat his score. I feel like I would say that, maybe, were I in the same situation.
I like it also when Brian Oswald says he doesn't want the pictures from his prom or whatever that climactic dance at the end of the book was called. I don't even remember if he went to the dance, or if he just spent the...more

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04/07/09

Kevin rated it:

Read in April, 2009

It's all about voice, and it does that well. There are a couple moments when it feels forced and inauthentic, but these are largely overshadowed by the moments that feel natural and heartfelt. The journey of the story feels secondary to the voice, which I guess is as it should be, but I had the feeling that Meno was trying to get a strong, meandering teenage voice AND a substantive character arc. I don't think he succeeded at both, but I enjoyed this and got into it. I wish it had fulfilled a li...more

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01/23/08

Karl rated it:

Read in January, 2008

Eh... Teens searching for themselves in early 90's Chicago. A weird blend of Nick Hornby ('High Fidelity': The art of making a mix tape) and a John Hughes film (teens in Chicago and "I'm in love with my best friend who has no clue about it.") The book centers on a metal head loser who, as his home and friends breakdown, discovers the Misfits and becomes a punk nihilist and skater. Some of the writing annoyed me (All punctuation and sentence structure be damned!) with long run on senten...more

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