Freak Show
by James St. James
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| About Freak Show...warning: spoilers! | 1 | 06/17/2008 05:26PM |
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Billy Bloom has been forced to move to Florida for his Senior year of High School. His mom, a little on the bi-polar side, couldn't take his flamboyant attitude toward life anymore. Billy is a self-proclaimed "Gender Obscurist". A fabulously creative drag queen and a character that is resilient, lovable, and stronger than anyone ever would have imagined, including himself.
After enduring unspeakable torture and bullying from his shell-shocked classmates, Billy ends up in the hospita...more
After enduring unspeakable torture and bullying from his shell-shocked classmates, Billy ends up in the hospita...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who doesn't like boxes, and all gender benders
the story of billy bloom is definitely an interesting one. it took a while for me to get into it. most books found in the YA section (as this one is, and i'm glad it is because it's about high school) that deal with any kind of queer-ness have a similar tone and stlye. Am I Blue? and Annie on my Mind, along with Keeping You a Secret and Geography Club. that whole "i'm gay, oh crap! what now?"
billy is beyond that. one, he's a self-defined "glitteroi...more
billy is beyond that. one, he's a self-defined "glitteroi...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
Everyone!
Title: Freak Show
Author: James St. James
Copyright date: 2007
Publisher: Dutton's Childrens books
How many pages: 298 pgs
How long it took me to read: 5 days
Category: Fiction
I learned about this book from: James St. James being on my myspace and shamelessly promoting it.
This book was purchased at: it wasn't. Borrowed it at the library.
This book is: fabulous!
Other books by this authors: Disco Bloodbath
Favorite characters: Billy Bloom, Flip Kelly, Mary Jane McAfferty
When and ...more
Author: James St. James
Copyright date: 2007
Publisher: Dutton's Childrens books
How many pages: 298 pgs
How long it took me to read: 5 days
Category: Fiction
I learned about this book from: James St. James being on my myspace and shamelessly promoting it.
This book was purchased at: it wasn't. Borrowed it at the library.
This book is: fabulous!
Other books by this authors: Disco Bloodbath
Favorite characters: Billy Bloom, Flip Kelly, Mary Jane McAfferty
When and ...more
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Freak Show was by far the strange and dare I say unique book I have ever read. In my life.
Like other books I have mentioned, to enjoy a story, you've got to have an open mind about it. Most people had titled it Really Weird, or Just Wrong. And in to some sense, it's true.
I am not comfortable with gay people and cross dressing. The voice of the story sounded extrememly shallow for me and to me, the main character was someone who I would not consider much of a role model.
Yet, in anoth...more
Like other books I have mentioned, to enjoy a story, you've got to have an open mind about it. Most people had titled it Really Weird, or Just Wrong. And in to some sense, it's true.
I am not comfortable with gay people and cross dressing. The voice of the story sounded extrememly shallow for me and to me, the main character was someone who I would not consider much of a role model.
Yet, in anoth...more
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Read in April, 2008
While I see why everyone enjoys this book -- Billy's voice is strong, entertaining, and often laugh-out-loud funny, and there's no doubt that it's high time we get to see a teen drag queen as the main character -- I also found that I could easily put this book down without being compelled to pick it up again. This means a book is less than successful for me, especially when it means I'm immediately drawn into another book and therefore obviously wasn't all that involved in the first title I was...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
teens 14 and up
Billy Bloom enjoys dressing in a flamboyant style that seems perfectly normal to him, but to his new fellow students in Florida is shocking.
Billy just gets more and more outrageous in an attempt to win people over, and things come to a head the day he wears a swamp queen get up with tentacles. That's the day the football team attacks him in class, and only the intervention by the star player, Flip, saves him from the beating becoming fatal.
With Flip and a secret friendship with a girl whose ...more
Billy just gets more and more outrageous in an attempt to win people over, and things come to a head the day he wears a swamp queen get up with tentacles. That's the day the football team attacks him in class, and only the intervention by the star player, Flip, saves him from the beating becoming fatal.
With Flip and a secret friendship with a girl whose ...more
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Read in January, 2008
The only word for this book is fabulous, and not just that's because it's the favorite word of the narrator, Billy Bloom. Billy is a teenage drag queen whose mother ships him off to his wealthy but distant father in Florida. Rather than try to blend in with the uber-preps at his ritzy private school, Billy goes in queer guns blazing, and becomes the target of relentless bullying. But our Billy Bloom is no shrinking violet, and he decides to keep his head up and his tiara gleaming, even after ...more
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Read in November, 2007
Billy Bloom: teenage drag queen shipped to Florida to live with his old-money family. Stuck in a conservative preppy school. In love with the school quarterback. Can a "glitteroid" with a fabulous, cutting-edge sense of style survive life in the Deep South?
I loved Billy's response to hate and misunderstanding: stand up for yourself, but don't let the struggle define you. Just be whoever you are. Talk about an empowering novel! What I didn't like was how long the story ...more
I loved Billy's response to hate and misunderstanding: stand up for yourself, but don't let the struggle define you. Just be whoever you are. Talk about an empowering novel! What I didn't like was how long the story ...more
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Read in January, 2008
After the students at his Florida high school beat him into a coma, teenage "gender obscurist" and self-proclaimed freak Billy Bloom recovers and decides that popularity is the best revenge. With a battle cry of "tease hair, not homos!" he jumps wig-first into his campaign for homecoming queen. All capital letters and exclamation points, Billy's story tumbles along at a relentless pace. The extreme (sometimes stereotypical) characters and screamingly funny narration directly ...more
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Read in September, 2007
The character Billy Bloom is not only gay, but he’s a drag queen. And we aren’t talking a vanilla Liza Minelli impersonator. She’s like Zelda Fitzgerald – after she burned to death in a fire. She’s Carrie covered in pig blood. Billy is so over the top, fabulous and real. Take away the flamboyant costumes and the melodrama, Billy is still a provocative character. He tells the story of the outsider and someone who won’t compromise his dreams and hopes to fit in with the crowd. Fin...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Perez Hilton and Hedwig fans
Super fun story of teen drag queen Billy Bloom, who is stuck in red-state Florida ALAS! Billy is a spunky hero/ine who is estranged from his parents, beaten up at school and also a bit bipolar. But his story is never downbeat -- the saddest events are frankly discussed and summarily dismissed with a La La La and another glob of glitter.
Tucked inside the first person narrative, you will find beauty tips (use surgical glue to attach metal to your skin), outlandish quips and a few canape recie...more
Tucked inside the first person narrative, you will find beauty tips (use surgical glue to attach metal to your skin), outlandish quips and a few canape recie...more
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Read in May, 2008
I had high hopes for this book. It had good reviews. It has potential to be an important book about being different in a painfully prejudiced high school setting. I also thought it might be funny.
So far (at about page 80) all I can think to say is 'eh.' It's just not well written. I find myself not getting invested in the main character. The violence against him is brutal but presented so casually I'm afraid readers won't see that he almost gets killed, just like Matthew Shepard and s...more
So far (at about page 80) all I can think to say is 'eh.' It's just not well written. I find myself not getting invested in the main character. The violence against him is brutal but presented so casually I'm afraid readers won't see that he almost gets killed, just like Matthew Shepard and s...more
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Read in July, 2008
Billy Bloom is a flamboyantly gay high school boy who has just moved to a very conservative high school in Florida. Rather than try to hide who he is, he celebrates his difference by coming to school dressed in full-out drag as a Swamp Bride. He further infuriates his classmates by deciding to run for homecoming queen. Also complicating Billy's life is the crush he has developed on the star quarterback.
This is definitely very humorous, even the parts that are horrifying (like when he gets...more
This is definitely very humorous, even the parts that are horrifying (like when he gets...more
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Read in April, 2008
Billy Bloom is a 17 year old drag queen who starts his senior year at a very conservative Florida school. Other students are offended by him and he gets beaten up very badly. But that incident begins a friendship between him and the high school football star, Flip. When Billy would like a more intimate relationship with him, Flip runs out on Billy. To make a splash and soothe himself, Billy makes the bold decision to run for homecoming queen.
Alternatively hilarious and heartbreaking this book ...more
Alternatively hilarious and heartbreaking this book ...more
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recommends it for:
Teens/Adults
James St. James of "Party Monster" fame has done it again! While not the ideal book for all audiences (it really takes a certain sense of humor to accept the writing and comedy of James St. James) fans of "Party Monster" will love this book! James St. James writes as if he is right there in front of you, talking to you in person. His over the top dramatics and "flair" will suck you right in from the very first page. I am still in the process of finishing the book bu...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Beth by:
Samrecommends it for: GLBT-book fans, teens who like over the top stuff
Our hero/ine, Billy, is a 17 year old gay transvestite abruptly transplanted to Florida. Oh, the humanity!!
So far this book sometimes hilarious, sometimes tormenting (for the main character and for me.) The hilarious element is winning out so far. (I'm about 1/6 through). Billy is quite the outrageously dressed drama queen. Socially, to quote an Internet acquaintance of mine, he needs a smack with the Clue Bat.
One bit really got me: Billy is describing the football star who is particularly...more
So far this book sometimes hilarious, sometimes tormenting (for the main character and for me.) The hilarious element is winning out so far. (I'm about 1/6 through). Billy is quite the outrageously dressed drama queen. Socially, to quote an Internet acquaintance of mine, he needs a smack with the Clue Bat.
One bit really got me: Billy is describing the football star who is particularly...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
if you like "Running With Scissors", or if you watch LOGO
Freakin' amazing! For anyone who dances to the beat of a different drum, this book is for you. 'Freak Show' will bring out your inner diva. before you know it you will get out your feather boa, platform heels and diamond tiara just to simply bask in all your fabulousness! The main character is unlike any other I have ever read. She is totally human, totally relatable, and totally fabulous! and in the end, you totally 'get' her. It's certainly true what they say, the most beautiful flower...more
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Read in July, 2007
After my love affair with "Disco Bloodbath" I could NOT wait for St. James next release.
I think I was a little too excited for a new release because I was slightly disappointed with "Freak Show". I need to stop thinking about it next to DB though, I think thats half of my problem.
Stand-alone, this book was highly entertaining, quirky, feel-good...and utterly fabulous, of course! While the story may focus on one really outrageous individual, the theme of the book is one ...more
I think I was a little too excited for a new release because I was slightly disappointed with "Freak Show". I need to stop thinking about it next to DB though, I think thats half of my problem.
Stand-alone, this book was highly entertaining, quirky, feel-good...and utterly fabulous, of course! While the story may focus on one really outrageous individual, the theme of the book is one ...more
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This is a fabulous book for those who are open to the subject matter. I would not suggest this to just anyone but there are many who will love it! It is the story of Billy Bloom, self proclaimed Freak Show! Billy has to start over in a new town, at a new school and he is not used to the intolerance he experiences there. They are not use to the eccentric personality Billy brings to their school. It is funny, touching, violent and sad. It is an extraordinary and unique story with a fantastic endin...more
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I was at Barnes and Noble yesterday picking up the new Potter and I saw this book in the teen section while looking for a book for my cousin. I picked it up because it has a picture of a boy in a dress on the front and its pink and honestly i am a sucker for pretty covers. Anyway i read the back and it said it was about a boy who is new to school and he's some what of a drag queen. And then i saw it was by James St.James who wrote Disco Bloodbath which later because the movie Party Monster. SO i...more
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