John Belushi Is Dead

Jul 31, 2011 Nomes rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya, 2011, book-titles-that-rule-the-shelves

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 that you get from just standing in the s...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Andrew rated it 2 of 5 stars

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 Ki...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Emi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian

on the whole, Hollywood Ending/John Belushi is Dead was thoroughly enjoyable for me. i loved the overall plot, the characterization and the simple language. unfortunately, there were some things about it that irritated me, namely the character Jake, who i want to kick in the face. repeatedly.

the strongest features of this book are the characters. Benji and Hank were two of the most well-fleshed out and described characters. i think Kathy Charles was amazing in how she showed a character's person...more on the whole, Hollywood Ending/John Belushi is Dead was thoroughly enjoyable for me. i loved the overall plot, the characterization and the simple language. unfortunately, there were some things about it that irritated me, namely the character Jake, who i want to kick in the face. repeatedly.

the strongest features of this book are the characters. Benji and Hank were two of the most well-fleshed out and described characters. i think Kathy Charles was amazing in how she showed a character's personality through their actions and words and speech patterns rather than simply describing them.

Benji is just the right combination of you care about him but he creeps the living daylights out of you. the subtle hints in his sick behaviour and casual remarks warns the reader immediately that there's something off about Benji and we should watch out for him. his strong feelings for Hilda aren't glossed over, but portrayed in the way he acts around her, its subtle and also in-your-face, just like reality. the story about Benji is one of the strongest, especially the lead-up to his suicide attempt, the disturbing things he says and does, his strangely detached family life, his fascination with death, his experimentation with the goldfish, it all builds up very well to his attempt at suicide.

Hank is another very well-rounded character. i like that he is believable in his jibes and remarks, that he is not a kindly old man, or just a lonely old bastard. Hank is a well-characterized, believable traumatised and depressed old man, who is rude and outspoken yet scared of the outside world. he is tough to understand and remains a mystery right to the end.

okay, now the problems with this book- moments of absolute WTF-ery. don't you hate it when you're reading a totally decent book and pretty much loving it and then the author puts stuff in that makes you want to throw the book at the wall?

let's call this problem Jake. as a character, sure, he's characterised well enough, believable enough, but dammit, he sure is a dislikeable dude. everything about him shouts CREEP to me. never mind the fact that he appears so strangely and out of nowhere and as the reader i'm supposed to accept him as the love interest? i'm not buying it. Hilda describes him as there being something off about him when he first appears, and i agree with her. he's depicted as strangely forward and way too interested in Hilda. Hilda is understandably wary and suspicious, as she should be, yet the next thing she's doing is running off on dates with this 25 year old man and catching lifts in his convertible (facepalm- a convertible? how much more seedy and predictable can you get?).
Jake is arrogant, annoying and downright pisses me off. in the first 'date' with Hilda, he lies to get them a free meal. the second time, he scoops the cream off Hilda's desert with his finger and eats it. (like, don't even get me started about hygiene, but that really erks me to no end.) did i mention that they just MET each other? Jake's character is also kind of inconsistent, especially his behaviour on their picnic. it looks like Kathy Charles is trying to change him into a more likeable dorky guy, but it doesn't work because my creep-radar is already going berserk. i really want to stomp on his head. (and i will only comment on his Hilda-inspired writing and attempts at being romantic with a single word- facepalm.)

in the same way, Hilda acts differently with Jake. it seems to contradict the character i've built of her previously. she never seemed daring or rebellious like she's supposed to be. as in lynette calls her rebellious, but i've seen nothing to prove it so far, only a companion of Benji who follows him along to wherever he wants, with a bit of knowledge on dead celebrities and is part of an online celebrity death community. the most daring thing she does is when she takes off her dress in front of Jake to climb over a fence. anyway, she talks differently (maybe she's trying to flirt, aha.) around him and overall acts differently, which makes me doubt her overall character consistency. either way, the romance between Jake and Hilda is so incredibly forced, the development is not convincing and i simply don't trust it. not having a reader trust in a character or a relationship is a countdown to disaster.

overall, Hollywood Ending is a decent book with a great concept and strong characterizations. it's dramatic and builds up the suspense well (even though its a little rocky and wasted at times). it is only a shame that Kathy Charles forced the romance aspect of this book so much, it was not needed at all, and only proved to be its biggest shortcoming. the subplot of the screenwriter using Hilda and Hank and the forced romance betwen Hilda and Jake only serves as cannon fodder- like the typical ingredients needed for a predictable Hollywood movie. should the focus be more on Benji or Hank, or especially Hilda getting over her demons (which is not dealt with very well at all, let along mentioned much), Hollywood Ending would be a much more well-rounded and satisfying novel.(less)

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Jun 16, 2011 Devyn B rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 much. Luck...more

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Sep 29, 2010 K rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

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 Hilda become...more

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Sep 01, 2010 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

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 more about the plot, there...more 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 more about the plot, there wouldn't be a whole lot of point in reading the novel, because the summary from the book cover is pretty detailed. Instead, on to what I liked and didn't like:

I really liked the characters. Hilda, especially, was extremely well-developed and she just felt like a real person. Benji...I didn't like him, and he was a little overdone, but he was still well developed. When I say I didn't like him, I mean it in the sense that if he were a real person, I would be terrified of him and I definitely wouldn't like him. Hank, too, was a great character. And Jake. I love Jake, and I love the dynamic of his relationship with Hilda. It is so nice to see a novel where the female protagonist doesn't immediately think "oooh I'm in love!" and then start obsessing the first time she sees a cute guy. Their relationship developed in what I felt like was a genuine and excellently written way. And it wasn't knock-you-over-the-head romance, which was a very pleasant change. Romance was more of an undertone.

I didn't like the end. I won't tell you what it was, of course, but I didn't like it. I wasn't a fan of some of Hilda and Benji's interactions, either - they felt kind of forced in places. In all honesty, though, there wasn't a whole lot I didn't like about the writing and the characters in the book. My problem was with the subject matter.

Dead celebrities. Two teenagers who have an obsession with dead celebrities. Okay, fair enough, but I don't really want to hear all the gory, graphic details about all these celebrity suicides and murders. The attitude Benji especially had toward suicide (accidental or otherwise) as something to shrug off and/or glorify really bothered me. I'm not particularly squeamish and I love creepy stories, but I had some problems with the approach this novel took to death. It did get better by the second half, though.

Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes Hollywood and is okay with some blood and guts. Not a good book for someone who has a problem with blood, definitely, and like I mentioned before, I got kind of bothered by the idea of glorifying death. Still, though, on the whole I think it was a good book and one that's worth your time if you're okay with the subject matter.
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Aug 31, 2010 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-book-challenge, 2010-young-adult-challenge, from-publisher-author, young-adult

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 herself togeth...more

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Aug 26, 2010 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya, aussie-lit, contemp, own

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...more 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 sees something unique and is worried about the paranoid old man who won't leave his stifling hot apartment. Soon Hilda is doing everything she can to escape the attention of Benji (who is becoming more creepy and sadistic daily) while finding any excuse to watch old movies or discuss the past with Hank.

Thinking she is the only one who cares about Hank, Hilda is surprised to find Hank's apartment empty one day except for Hank's handsome downstairs neighbor, a 19 year-old screenwriter named Jake. Jake couldn't be more unlike Hilda - successful, driven, fashion conscious - but she still finds herself wanting to spend more time with him even as he is convinced that Hank is hiding some terrible, sinister secret. A secret Hilda suspects but one she can't decide if she wants to know or not.

John Belushi is Dead is a singularly unique and at times almost disturbing dark novel. Kathy Charles has crafted a truly compelling book with many unpredictable twists - and some you can guess right away, but are still powerless to stop. What really makes this book a stand-out are the starkly real characters. Hilda is confused and intent on shutting off the rest of the world until Hank (and Jake) force her to open her eyes to life happening all around her. And then Benji - one scary dude - whose obsession with death seems so darkly real yet utterly separate from Hilda's resigned fascination with the same subject. Not to mention the cantankerous and paranoid Hank, who has countless stories of old Hollywood to tell. I cannot express to you how thrilled I was to see an old man featured in a YA novel (at least one that wasn't overly sugar-sweet) and he plays his role beautifully. The emotions and dialogue are fresh and even if the constant stories of murder are at times a little much, they definitely added to the story in terms of mood and ambiance. Hilda's quiet yet forceful voice ensnares you from page one and her constant observations of friends, family, and death are irresistibly appealing. John Belushi is Dead is an edgy book with a unique voice and an outstanding cover. It's one you won't want to miss.(less)

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Aug 24, 2010 Brenda Casto rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 Hilda started distancing herself fro...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Kelly Bigley rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 Benji turns...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Sydney →☺ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: covers-i-♥, favorites

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,...more

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Oct 05, 2010 Carolina rated it 5 of 5 stars

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, though. Th...more 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, though. This book is seriously edgy for the teen category. It will likely give you pause and should open the door to discussion between teens and the old farts in their lives. BUT. Given the subject matter, I think it almost had to be in order for it to feel authentic. You have two teenagers obsessed with celebrity deaths, both of them living in a jaded, LA environment. They ain’t listening to the Jonas Brothers, yo. But this book is so much more than death and Hollywood. JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD illustrates the very gray space that teenagers exist in, that period in time we question all we’ve ever believed, learning for the first time that not every question has an answer and not every answer is one we can stomach. Their regular visits to sites of grizzly celebrity murders are just a manifestation of their desire to understand death, the ultimate bane of our existence.

For Hilda, this macabre obsession is especially poignant. Her pain isn’t obvious at first, though you know from the get-go that there is something really powerful lying beneath the surface. But we quickly learn that at a very young age, in the most horrifying of ways, Hilda has been forced to confront her own mortality, and we realize that beneath the pink hair and the goth appearance lies a little girl who can’t make sense of what has happened to her. So she delves into a world of darkness searching for answers, attaching herself to a creepy dude that seems to get where she’s coming from. It’s all a bit morose, but it’s also that morbid part of her nature that draws the reader in—it helps us understand the demons she’s harboring, even though Hilda herself doesn’t seem to understand why she is the way she is.

But along the way, Hilda begins to comprehend the true nature of her demons—and that she’s not alone in having them. We see a romance blossom and a friendship form in the most unlikely of places. And in the process, she is forced to confront her fascination with death and the effect it has had on her ability to live.

JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD is such an emotional book that pulls you in and makes you fall in love with Hilda—laugh with her and hurt for her. Every one of the characters was compelling and genuine, but Hilda is a true star, stealing the show. She is so authentic and her voice almost intoxicating. I was so drawn in by her. Like with a train wreck, I found myself morbidly interested in those grizzly deaths—I was creeped out, yes, but intrigued nonetheless because she was, and I felt invested in her. But there’s more to the story than its compelling characters. JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD touched on the most basic human desire to live, while also forcing us to consider the nondiscriminatory nature of death:

"In the end, we all fade to black."

That’s some heavy stuff, no? It’s eerie and a little sad, and yet…oddly comforting, sort of like JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD. Read it. Be moved by it. Talk about it.(less)

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Sep 15, 2010 Josephine Beyke rated it 4 of 5 stars

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, eager to reveal...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Liz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

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.
From Page 164

"Hilda!" Jake yelled, knockin...more

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Aug 18, 2010 Yan rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more 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, Hollywood screenwriter, whose ambition led him where he is today. Jake it seems has been taking care of Hank, but Hilda is the only who will get all of Hank’s secret: One haunting enough to try to commit suicide.

John Belushi is Dead is so different from the YA novels I have read so far yet it is not. What makes the novel so different are the characters: Benji, Hank, Jake, and Hilda. I find them all so completely fascinated that I would not mind if my jaw hangs open.

Benji and Hilda are fascinated with death and with Benji that obsession borders on insanity. With Hilda death provides a sense of comfort that is chilling: “Death didn’t just come for me, or my parents, it came for everyone: the rich and famous, the beautiful and privileges. The though made me relax, and I imagined the relief I felt was similar to the feeling some people got when they cut themselves” (page 53).

Hank has his own secrets that won’t necessarily surprise you, but leaves you with a fulfilled answer and a deeper depth of gratitude. Whereas Jake is slightly different than your typical male hero. He is far from the perfect man or gentlemen, but there is an instant connection, a level of comfortableness, and a wholesomeness about him that doesn’t have the need to fill the void of silence. Like Hilda says, being around him brings forth a lightness you won’t find in the many other characters in the novel.

One thing that is both an asset and a frustration was the numerous recounts of celebrity deaths. I particularly do not care for such facts, but if you are interested then John Belushi is Dead is full of them! But this was a big part of Hilda’s personality so I was quite happy with the research done.

What makes John Belushi is Dead so addictive was not for the plot, but the characters. Hilda may be obsessed with celebrity deaths, but I am obsessed with her and wherever her journey took me.

Side note, a quote that made my eyes boggled: "what the hell do ya think I'm gonna do? My cock's been useless for years. I'm lucky to get any piss out of it, let alone make it stand to attention long enough to get any rocks off" (page 73—Hank).(less)

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Nov 01, 2011 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, ya

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...more

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Feb 08, 2010 Andrew rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 - we all know...more

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Aug 27, 2010 My Book Views rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 end...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Jo Vraca rated it 5 of 5 stars

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...more

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May 04, 2011 Jason Pettus rated it 3 of 5 stars

(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 writing is much...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Christie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

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 well. The close...more

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May 16, 2013 Chee Vang rated it 2 of 5 stars

It's been awhile since I've read this book so I'm probably going to sound vague with names and stuff, but I wanted to sound off on why I didn't like this book very much, which is one of the few things I do remember pretty well.
I wanted to like this book, and when I was reading the first half of the book, I was really enjoying it. It was dark, but it seemed rather real as well. But then the book meets up with a new character and it threw the story into a weird twist where it became a typical YA r...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Erica rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 celebrity tidbits it included,...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Bookworm1858 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011, ya-read, book-battle

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. But after barging into Hank's apartment to look at th...more 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. But after barging into Hank's apartment to look at the bathroom where a silent film star killed himself, Hilda begins to rethink their life. Benji, however, seems intent on moving even farther into the darkest places.

As you can probably tell, this is a pretty dark book filled with tidbits about the deaths of celebrities, apocryphal or not. I was pretty disgusted with their behavior which is positively ghoulish much of the time. Hilda is a good narrator, describing how she and Benji were drawn together by their shared fascination when younger. Hilda has her own dark past due to the death of her parents while she survived.

I was more interested in Hank, the old man she befriends, who has dark secrets in his past and his neighbor Jake, a young screenwriter. Meeting them and seeing Benji's journey into darkness is what helps Hilda learn more about herself and to begin to rethink her life path. She doesn't have all of the answers by the end of the book but she's a little bit stronger.

I also enjoyed the references to old Hollywood such as when they view Sunset Boulevard (highly recommended) and Rear Window (not my fave but still good). Due to my interest in classic movies, I recognized the actors and films mentioned although I realize many in my peer group probably wouldn't. But most of the references are to 70s-90s singers and actors who died of drug overdoses; their tragedies attract Hilda and Benji's interest.

Overall: Although pretty well-written, the subject matter was too dark for me.

Content: Language; some drugs and sexual content.

Cover: I don't know about the outfit represented by Hilda has pink hair for most of the book so that's appropriate. (less)

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May 12, 2012 Kapri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviewed

John Belushi is Dead is a very unique novel. I knew from the description that I would love it, and I did.

Hilda and her friend Benji have a very morbid hobby. They obsess over dead celebrities with tragic endings. While this is morbid, it's not over the top. There was a good balance.

What made this book amazing is the characters. There was such a colorful cast of characters. And they were all real. They all had their good and bad qualities and their quirks.

One of my favorite characters was Hank....more

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Nov 28, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, read-2011

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 sites, w...more

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Oct 26, 2010 Wallace rated it 4 of 5 stars

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, it is a w...more 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, it is a way of coping with her parents death from a car accident. For Benji, well, it’s a weird obsession. Though Hilda’s relationship with Hank (an older man whom she meets while casing his apartment as the scene of a silent film starts suicide) is sweet and absolutely tantamount to her finding a balance in her morbid interests, the real intrigue for me was how Hilda uses her adventures to make sense of her lot in life, and her feelings about life and death.

"I would look at a picture of Jane Mansfield in the front of that car, and everything would seem okay. Death didn’t just come for me, or my parents, it came for everyone: the rich and famous the beautiful and privileged… Looking at those pictures kept me sane." (p.53)

I admit that Hilda’s musings (or rather those of Ms. Charles) made clear sense to me about why, perhaps, I too am morbidly curious about places where history happened; places where the famous and infamous died. Along with a solidly entertaining novel, Kathy Charles presents us with ideas to think about. Why are we so obsessed with celebrity? Why do people become even more famous when they die — particularly in tragic ways?

"We are all interested in it for different reasons, I guess. I suppose I want to look darkness in the eye and not be afraid." (p.170)

It becomes obvious, not too far into the book, that Hilda and Benji are fascinated by their dark hobby for different reasons, and the outcome is dramatic. It took me only two sittings to finish this book, I was thoroughly entertained, and about four minutes after turning the last page to call a friend (who I knew would be up for it) to make a date to visit some of the places from John Belushi is Dead.(less)

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Feb 15, 2011 Cheree Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

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...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Steph Su rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya

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 mean she la...more

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Oct 24, 2010 Lina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: other, fiction-general

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 celebrity deaths....more 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 celebrity deaths. Turn on VH1 and there will always be something about celebrity tragities.

Hilda and Benji are our lead characters who are best friends due to their shared obsession with dead celebrities. Instead of going to the mall or doing "normal" teen activities, the run around Hollywood looking for pieces of the past.

At first the book comes off as a place for the writer to drop her fun facts about the morbid, gritty lives and deaths of: John Belushi, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Fortunately, as soon as we are introduced to the character of Hank the story develops some true depth.

Hilda's obsession with death comes from seeing her parents die in a car crash ala Jayne Mansfield, which, oddly enough, gives her the comfort. In her mind if death can happen for someone like Jayne Mansfield, then it can't be that bad. However, in the back of her mind she is haunted by her own morbid thoughts.

The relationship she later develops with Hank and Jake allows her to realize that there is no glory in being death. Death tends to glorify people and puts a halo of sanctity over their personality, even if they were controversial in their lifetime (Michael Jackson). As the story progresses Benji becomes a darker, more disturbing character and Hilda realizes that there is nothing amazing about dying.

It really is a coming of age story in its own right and while I felt there were some cheesy parts, like Hilda and Jake's relationship, I do think the story itself was something worth reading.

Final Grade: B+

There was alot of name dropping in this book and some personal pet peeves with the interpretation of some celebrities (I wish they brought up that Jayne Mansfield was one of the most brilliant women in Hollywood, although people only cared about her breasts) and music. At the same time, this book was a great read and I truly enjoyed it. I was glad to see the characters develop and deteriorate in ways that make sense. There were enjoyable characters, a fun story with a message that can be defined as: LIVE YOUR LIFE. THERE IS ONLY ONE.
(less)

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