Set in a glamorous and seedy Los Angeles, Hollywood Ending is a story that will make your heart skip a beat.
Pink-haired Hilda and endearing pun...
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reviews
Nov 12, 2011
Nomes
rated it: 
3.5
'John Belushi is Dead" (also published as 'Hollywood Ending' in Australia) is an strangely compelling and original read.
It's dark and gritty in parts (okay, in more than just parts). it doesn't shy away from vivid descriptions of death/disaster.
It fascinates with its exploration of that morbid curiosity that so many of us have in regards to sudden (gruesome) tragedy ~ particularly in the lives of the famous. It captures that haunting sense of history More...
'John Belushi is Dead" (also published as 'Hollywood Ending' in Australia) is an strangely compelling and original read.
It's dark and gritty in parts (okay, in more than just parts). it doesn't shy away from vivid descriptions of death/disaster.
It fascinates with its exploration of that morbid curiosity that so many of us have in regards to sudden (gruesome) tragedy ~ particularly in the lives of the famous. It captures that haunting sense of history More...
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Nov 10, 2011
Andrew
rated it: 
Hilda and her friend Benji travel LA looking at various places where celebrities have died. They meet Hank, who lives in an apartment where a silent film star killed himself, and Hank and Hilda start a friendship. At first, it seemed this was going to be like a goth Tuesdays with Morrie. Then Hilda meets this douchey screenwriter and a budding romance begins. This book has character problems. Mainly, the protagonist can't seem to meet a normal male human being. Her friend Benji seems like Kip K
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Jun 16, 2011
Devyn
rated it: 
It's funny how books find their ways into our lives. I came across JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD (JBID) because a friend from California had mentioned it to me. However, the book sat around the house for some time. I'd read the description several times over and couldn't work up the courage to crack it open.
That's when my new fascination grew. Death. Having Lupus, death is something that I think about on a daily basis, sometimes even hourly. You'll go mad if you start thinking about it all too More...
That's when my new fascination grew. Death. Having Lupus, death is something that I think about on a daily basis, sometimes even hourly. You'll go mad if you start thinking about it all too More...
Sep 29, 2010
K
rated it:
There’s really no taking this book lightly.
The ‘story’ feels slow to start, the first chunk of the book is more like a sudden immersion into Hilda’s life. In their quest for the macabre, exploring the most salacious of Hollywood deaths, Hilda and her friend Benji are two peas in a pod. Really. No one else will have them. Every day is a trek to a new and storied site, a chance to add to their collections of death mementos. They meet cantankerous Hank at one of these sites and he and H More...
The ‘story’ feels slow to start, the first chunk of the book is more like a sudden immersion into Hilda’s life. In their quest for the macabre, exploring the most salacious of Hollywood deaths, Hilda and her friend Benji are two peas in a pod. Really. No one else will have them. Every day is a trek to a new and storied site, a chance to add to their collections of death mementos. They meet cantankerous Hank at one of these sites and he and H More...
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Sep 01, 2010
Becky
rated it:
I won my copy of John Belushi is Dead via Goodreads First Reads. Thanks!
In a sentence, John Belushi is Dead is the story of Hilda coming to terms with death. Her parents died in a car accident five years ago, and since then she has developed an obsession with Hollywood deaths. After all, if death comes for even the rich and famous, it must be something she can deal with. Then there's Benji, whose obsession with death is a lot more intense than her own.
If I say too much mo More...
In a sentence, John Belushi is Dead is the story of Hilda coming to terms with death. Her parents died in a car accident five years ago, and since then she has developed an obsession with Hollywood deaths. After all, if death comes for even the rich and famous, it must be something she can deal with. Then there's Benji, whose obsession with death is a lot more intense than her own.
If I say too much mo More...
Aug 31, 2010
Mary (BookHounds)
rated it: 
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
Hilda is probably one of the best, most well thought out characters I have read about in a long time. Hilda moves in with her aunt after her parents die in a car crash and she becomes obsessed with death, especially celebrities' death. Hilda travels to famous murder scenes, suicide locations and cemeteries to get close to those unfortunate events with her friend Benji. Benji has his own secrets and you can tell he is quietly unravelling while Hilda tries to pull More...
Hilda is probably one of the best, most well thought out characters I have read about in a long time. Hilda moves in with her aunt after her parents die in a car crash and she becomes obsessed with death, especially celebrities' death. Hilda travels to famous murder scenes, suicide locations and cemeteries to get close to those unfortunate events with her friend Benji. Benji has his own secrets and you can tell he is quietly unravelling while Hilda tries to pull More...
Aug 26, 2010
Michelle
rated it:
Hilda and Benji are not your average LA teenagers. Instead of hanging out at the beach or various Hollywood hot spots in hopes of a celebrity sighting, the pair are content to spend their summer vacation visiting celebrity murder or suicide sites. While in search of the apartment of a lesser known silent film star who stabbed himself to death while at home, Hilda and Benji stumble upon the old and reclusive Hank, now living in the infamous apartment. Hank is cranky and wary of the pair but Hilda
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Aug 24, 2010
Brenda
rated it:
I was really surprised at how much I really liked this book.
Even though the author focuses alot on celebrity death, I mean both of the main characters are totally engrossed in the morbid hobby of visiting the sites of celebrity death, there is a depth to the characters that is exposed very early on in the book that really hooks you in.
The characters are very believable and the problems they deal with make them seem very vulnerable at times.
I was so glad that More...
Even though the author focuses alot on celebrity death, I mean both of the main characters are totally engrossed in the morbid hobby of visiting the sites of celebrity death, there is a depth to the characters that is exposed very early on in the book that really hooks you in.
The characters are very believable and the problems they deal with make them seem very vulnerable at times.
I was so glad that More...
Dec 28, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
This book was amazing and I could not put it down, hence why I read this book in 2 days.
The book did a wonderful job at describing where these celebrities died and how, but it also did a wonderful job at illustrating the line between interest and obsession.
Hilda and Benji are best friends who share the same interest- finding where all these celebrities were murdered, committed suicide, or overdosed. However, Hilda is the one who maintains a simple interest, keeping it a hobby, while More...
The book did a wonderful job at describing where these celebrities died and how, but it also did a wonderful job at illustrating the line between interest and obsession.
Hilda and Benji are best friends who share the same interest- finding where all these celebrities were murdered, committed suicide, or overdosed. However, Hilda is the one who maintains a simple interest, keeping it a hobby, while More...
Jan 13, 2011
Sydney →☺
rated it:
A very underrated book! I picked it up because of the cool looking cover (pink hair ftw!) and was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. John Belushi is Dead is full of morbid references, so if you don't enjoy that kind of stuff, don't read it. This book is filled with gruesome tales of celebrity deaths, finding out who your true friends are, overcoming your past, and realizing that you can't save everyone. The characters were excellently written and I quickly became attached to Hilda, Hank,
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Oct 05, 2010
Carolina
rated it:
The thing is, you can’t go into a book like this expecting rainbows, unicorns, and bubble gum language. The (amazing) cover tells us this, but so does the description of the premise, the central focus of which is death and Hollywood. And let me just say, Hollywood has to be the most perfect setting for teenagers obsessed with death. Yes, the story was a bit creepy at times—several scenes gave me the shivers, yet I couldn’t wait to turn to the next chapter.
I’ll be straight up with you More...
I’ll be straight up with you More...
Sep 15, 2010
Josephine
rated it:
This is yet another free Goodreads book for me; I'm getting quite used to this. When I started reading this novel about two teenagers obsessed with dead Hollywood stars, I thought was just another "look at these punk kids who don't let anyone tell them what to do/ Let's see how many band names and obscure actors we can name-drop" kind of book. As I persisted, however, I found myself drawn into the story of Hilda, Benji, Hank, and Jake. In fact, I read the entire book in one day, eag
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Jun 29, 2011
Liz
rated it:
2.5/5
I was excited to read John Belushi is Dead. Not just because I'm kind of getting addicted to MTV books, but because it seemed like an interesting novel.
And parts of it were interesting. I can't deny that. But honestly, I got bored about 40 pages in, the rest of the book just seemed to drag on and I eagerly awaited the ending--only so that I could finally put this book down and say I finished it.
Parts of the novel downright creeped me out. Seriously.
More...
I was excited to read John Belushi is Dead. Not just because I'm kind of getting addicted to MTV books, but because it seemed like an interesting novel.
And parts of it were interesting. I can't deny that. But honestly, I got bored about 40 pages in, the rest of the book just seemed to drag on and I eagerly awaited the ending--only so that I could finally put this book down and say I finished it.
Parts of the novel downright creeped me out. Seriously.
More...
Aug 18, 2010
Yan
rated it:
Hilda and best friend Benji are obsessed with celebrity deaths. One celebrity death leads them to an apartment room of Hank, an odd old bat. Hilda becomes attached to Hank in his sad, solitary room and a level of understanding when he presents her a tile from Jayne Mansfield’s pool. One day as she stops by his apartment to share in their enjoyment of old American classic films she finds not Hank in her room, but Jake—Hank’s downstairs neighbor. Jake is a 19-year-old high school dropout, Hollywoo
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Apr 08, 2011
Brittany
rated it:
I will admit, I'm one to judge a book by it's cover. I know, that's like, a cardinal sin or something in regards to bookworms, right? Whatever. I'm a judger and you know what? My judgement is pretty good. Case in point: John Belushi is Dead. I gobbled this book up in about 4 days. And that's only because I had mandatory school assignments that couldn't be put off.
This story revolves around Hilda and her eccentric friend, Benji. These two scout apartments, hotel rooms, feilds, empty More...
This story revolves around Hilda and her eccentric friend, Benji. These two scout apartments, hotel rooms, feilds, empty More...
Nov 01, 2011
Pcon
rated it:
I loved the premise of John Belushi is Dead. As someone who is also very interested in the weird and horrifying stories of Hollywood's decadent dead I could relate to the main character and her feelings of fascination and repulsion. The book has great tidbits of information about Hollywood murder and suicides and those parts are really well done. The larger plot lines aren't so well done. I understand there needed to be a bigger story beyond the main character and her friend going around Hollywo
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Feb 08, 2010
Andrew
rated it:
An excellently crafted first novel from Kathy Charles. I was immediately drawn in by Hilda and Benji's antics as they embark on adventures around LA, visiting sites of celebrity deaths. With witty dialogue and suitable attitude, the protagonists are easily likeable.
However, as the novel progresses, we soon start exploring the hidden (although unsurprising) depths of these characters, as well as of those around them, sometimes tragic, and some downright scary. And they are very real - More...
However, as the novel progresses, we soon start exploring the hidden (although unsurprising) depths of these characters, as well as of those around them, sometimes tragic, and some downright scary. And they are very real - More...
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Aug 27, 2010
My Book Views
rated it:
The (dead) celebrity-obsessed are at the center here. Hilda is a fantastic character who impressed me with the amount of empathy she was able to show for someone she's only briefly met, esp. given how hard a time she has connecting with anyone. Hilda was always my reason for reading; had John Belushi is Dead been about someone like Benji, the macabre nature of the book would’ve been nearly impossible to take. And yet, I felt Benji should’ve been developed more. The extreme he goes to at the en
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Jan 27, 2011
Jo
rated it:
Hollywood Ending is like nothing I’ve read of late. Kathy Charles beautifully captures the voices of bored kids who have that nuanced way of looking at the world thanks to all of the iS**t they surround themselves with. It’s a tale told with sad irony, through jaded descriptions of faded Hollywood. Kathy has a natural feel for the young punks who think nothing of yesterday except for its gory remains, old folks with long, sad memories, and D-listers hanging out in West Hollywood in the hope of b
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May 04, 2011
Jason
rated it:
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
I'm usually a big fan of the surprisingly intelligent MTV Books; but while this latest is I suppose okay for what it is (a simplistic coming-of-age tale about two teens in Los Angeles obsessed with dead celebrities, and the trouble this gets them into one summer), the actual quality of the writin More...
I'm usually a big fan of the surprisingly intelligent MTV Books; but while this latest is I suppose okay for what it is (a simplistic coming-of-age tale about two teens in Los Angeles obsessed with dead celebrities, and the trouble this gets them into one summer), the actual quality of the writin More...
Aug 26, 2010
Christie
rated it:
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Hilda and Benji have a morbid fascination with death. Spending most of their time together traveling to the sites of famous murders and overdoses. As Benji starts to take the death obsession to a point that makes Hilda uncomfortable, she starts to pull away. Orphaned and living with her workaholic aunt, she finds a most unlikely friends in Hank, a reclusive senior citizen. As she actively tries to get Hank to disclose his secrets, she reveals a few of her own as wel More...
Hilda and Benji have a morbid fascination with death. Spending most of their time together traveling to the sites of famous murders and overdoses. As Benji starts to take the death obsession to a point that makes Hilda uncomfortable, she starts to pull away. Orphaned and living with her workaholic aunt, she finds a most unlikely friends in Hank, a reclusive senior citizen. As she actively tries to get Hank to disclose his secrets, she reveals a few of her own as wel More...
Aug 18, 2011
Erica
rated it:
4.5 stars
John Belushi is Dead is an awesome read. I hadn't heard a lot about it, but I am super happy I decided to read it. I was charmed by the characters and fell in love with the story.
John Belushi is Dead has a slower start, but don't let that throw you! Soon you will be so captivated by the story that you won't put it down til the last page is turned. Thestory was so fascinating - it was a bit morbid and definitely off the beaten trail. I loved all the random celebri More...
John Belushi is Dead is an awesome read. I hadn't heard a lot about it, but I am super happy I decided to read it. I was charmed by the characters and fell in love with the story.
John Belushi is Dead has a slower start, but don't let that throw you! Soon you will be so captivated by the story that you won't put it down til the last page is turned. Thestory was so fascinating - it was a bit morbid and definitely off the beaten trail. I loved all the random celebri More...
Jun 30, 2011
Bookworm1858
rated it:
John Belushi Is Dead by Kathy Charles
Gallery Books/MTV Books, 2009
309 pages
YA; Contemporary
3.5/5 stars
Source: Library
Read for YA Overlooked Book Battle.
Hilda and her best friend Benji share a unique fascination with the death of celebrities; whether it's memorabilia once owned by Janye Mansfield or the site of John Belushi's death, they want to see it. As they live in LA and it's finally summer, they're at their leisure to explore everywhere. B More...
Gallery Books/MTV Books, 2009
309 pages
YA; Contemporary
3.5/5 stars
Source: Library
Read for YA Overlooked Book Battle.
Hilda and her best friend Benji share a unique fascination with the death of celebrities; whether it's memorabilia once owned by Janye Mansfield or the site of John Belushi's death, they want to see it. As they live in LA and it's finally summer, they're at their leisure to explore everywhere. B More...
Nov 28, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
You know from the (amazing) cover and title that this story isn't going to be all rainbows and unicorns. And it isn't. Not at all.
Hilda and Benji aren't like other teenagers. Instead of going to the mall and hanging out with friends, they spend their time visiting the death cites of celebirties. You could say they have an obsession with dead celebirties, particularly the ones who have committed suicide or have died a gruesome death.They spend most of their money on artifacts from these sit More...
Hilda and Benji aren't like other teenagers. Instead of going to the mall and hanging out with friends, they spend their time visiting the death cites of celebirties. You could say they have an obsession with dead celebirties, particularly the ones who have committed suicide or have died a gruesome death.They spend most of their money on artifacts from these sit More...
Jan 08, 2011
Wallace
rated it:
Welcome to the macabre side of Young Adult fiction. In John Belushi is Dead, Kathy Charles explores a side of teenage life that is often not looked at in a favorable light. Kids who might otherwise be labeled as goth, get a deeper look in this debut novel. The book’s protagonist, Hilda, narrates a summer of her life where she and her friend (basically her only friend), Benji, drive around their hometown of Los Angeles looking at the sites where celebrities died. Weird? Maybe.
For Hilda, More...
For Hilda, More...
Feb 15, 2011
Cheree
rated it:
Hilda has always felt a bit odd. Together with her best friend, Benji, they prowl the sites where celebrities have died, sometimes taking away a piece of history to remember it. When one apartment they come across has an old man living there, Hilda and Hank form a bizarre friendship. When Hank's downstairs neighbour, Jake, brings himself into the equation, Hilda starts to discover that Hank is hiding a dark secret. As Hilda's new relationships grow, she starts to question whether her fascination
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Feb 17, 2011
Steph Su
rated it:
MTV Books publishes this Australian import in the US—and boy, should we be grateful for it. JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD packs an emotional punch through tight narration and a thoughtful presentation of difficult issues.
Perhaps we may not share Hilda’s fascination with dead celebrities, but we can easily relate to her struggles to find her place in the world, from her changing relationship with Benji, to her new friendships with Hank and then Jake. She’s a quiet protagonist, but that doesn’t m More...
Perhaps we may not share Hilda’s fascination with dead celebrities, but we can easily relate to her struggles to find her place in the world, from her changing relationship with Benji, to her new friendships with Hank and then Jake. She’s a quiet protagonist, but that doesn’t m More...
Oct 24, 2010
Lina
rated it:
Death is something that continues to fascinate human thought, because it is the only avoidable reality that comes with life. We enter the world and at some time later on, we leave it. The only way to cheat death, is to immortalize yourself. Yet, at the end of the day does it matter if you died a natural death or died from a drug overdose? We all reach the dirt someday.
John Belushi is Dead is a breakout novel by Kathy Charles, that touches on the obsession with death, especially celebri More...
John Belushi is Dead is a breakout novel by Kathy Charles, that touches on the obsession with death, especially celebri More...
Oct 09, 2010
Lori (Pure Imagination)
rated it:
Are you tired of typical YA books? Tired of Cheerleaders? Sick of Jocks? Maybe you don't even feel like reading about Vampires or Werewolves? Sounds like you need something gritty and maybe even a little morbid. I suggest you read John Belushi is Dead. I can almost guarantee that you have never read anything like it before.
Hilda, the main character, is not your everyday teen. She doesn't go to parties with her friends. She doesn't stalk hot celebrities in LA. No, along with her best fr More...
Hilda, the main character, is not your everyday teen. She doesn't go to parties with her friends. She doesn't stalk hot celebrities in LA. No, along with her best fr More...
Jan 07, 2010
Steph
rated it:
This novel was wonderful, and unsettling, and sometimes just plain scary. I hate to use the word 'edgy' but I think it applies here.
Hollywood Ending will appeal to everyone with a bit of morbid curiosity, and is a must-read for anyone who's ever been fascinated by a celebrity death (it's certainly very timely after a whole string of deaths of well-known personalities). I really enjoyed this novel, though there was something so disquieting about Benji and the obsession he shares with More...
Hollywood Ending will appeal to everyone with a bit of morbid curiosity, and is a must-read for anyone who's ever been fascinated by a celebrity death (it's certainly very timely after a whole string of deaths of well-known personalities). I really enjoyed this novel, though there was something so disquieting about Benji and the obsession he shares with More...
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