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On the Many Deaths of Amanda Palmer: And the Many Crimes of Tobias James
Rohan Kriwaczek again takes us into a strange reality that is not quite real. Amanda Palmer rose to indie rock fame as the front woman for The Dresden Dolls, and continues to thrive as a solo act.
In On the Many Deaths of Amanda Palmer Kriwaczek builds on Amanda's playfully gothic image by centering the book around her imagined death.Upon hearing news of Amanda Palmer's death, her fans began posting their own writing, artwork, and thoughts onto the Internet, eventually creating their own genre called the Palmeresque. By collecting a selection of these submissions in one place and providing commentary, Kriwaczeck explores issues of authorship, celebrity, popular culture, marketing strategies and the corruption of art. Amanda's fans will of course enjoy this outrageous depiction of their favorite songstress, and this book also appeals to anyone interested in the essential questions of modern media.
In On the Many Deaths of Amanda Palmer Kriwaczek builds on Amanda's playfully gothic image by centering the book around her imagined death.Upon hearing news of Amanda Palmer's death, her fans began posting their own writing, artwork, and thoughts onto the Internet, eventually creating their own genre called the Palmeresque. By collecting a selection of these submissions in one place and providing commentary, Kriwaczeck explores issues of authorship, celebrity, popular culture, marketing strategies and the corruption of art. Amanda's fans will of course enjoy this outrageous depiction of their favorite songstress, and this book also appeals to anyone interested in the essential questions of modern media.
- GenresFictionPop CultureArt
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Rohan Kriwaczek
8 books3 followersRohan Kriwaczek is a British writer, composer and violinist of part-Austrian descent.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 15, 2011
Many years ago now, not too long after I got sober but before I started my education in earnest, I remember being so intimidated by the public radio show "This American Life" that I told myself I didn't like it, and I would switch the channel (which I actually mostly did listen to at that point, shout out to Mississippi Public Broadcasting) when it came on. The reason why it intimidated me was that it used a lot of language I didn't quite understand (yet) and explored all these deep, existential facets of the human experience that I hadn't (yet) learned to even recognize, much less delve into just for the sake of personal enlightenment, or even just for the sake of self-congratulatory intellectual stimulation.
And all of that "intellectualism" was/is all wrapped up in class for me. I grew up working class, and one of the things that distinguished "those" people from us was education, and "fancy" language, and a life lived on the salaries of the mind rather than the wages of the body. And, of course, all of that difference was hierarchically valued. "Those" people were the "best" people, and we were the "lesser" people, and no matter how proud you tried to be of yourself and your class, every indication from the larger society (from distribution of material resources to political power to societal accolades and just general popularity) made it clear that "those" folks had more intrinsic worth, more beauty and light and morals and smarts, more inherent value as human beings, than yours did. So, "This American Life" pushed those buttons for me early on, because I didn't quite "get" it intellectually (yet), and it seemed not for "my people," and that feeling was inevitably tinged with shame...
I say all that to say that this book was not exactly like that for me now because there's been a lot of education, a lot of (sometimes obnoxious) intellectual growth and awareness, and a gigantic (and also sometimes obnoxious) vocabulary expansion, but it made me think about that time in my life. Because this book is one of those artsy, hip, almost abstruse works that I'm never quite sure I "get" when I see or read or hear them. So as I was reading it I was aware that there was probably something happening that I wasn't catching, and when I recognized that awareness it made me think of how before my education that awareness would've made me not read the book at all. There was even that tinge of shame, albeit a modified one: now I'm educated, yes, and maybe even one of those "professional" people, but I'm not one of the "artsy" people who really "get" and appreciate oh-so-profound and esoteric work like this. (It's like I keep moving the marker of who are the "best" people, and it's inevitably whatever people I think I can never be.) BUT, mostly I was able to just observe all of that internal dialogue and not go with the feelings, just being aware of it, noticing how very much I've changed since I got sober and began my education.
After all THAT was out of the way, I actually found this book DEE-lightful, and sometimes for reasons I couldn't even point to (because I didn't necessarily consciously "get" what was happening literarily, I guess). And maybe I'm making this review all about myself because other than that I don't have much to say about the book because I really am not sure what it was, and maybe that's the point. It's just not like anything else I've ever read. It's kind of uncategorizable (unless you're one of those profound, esoteric artsy types who really does "get" it, in which case, please fill me in), and that was actually part of the joy of it. It felt kind of like being a kid and just delighting in something, a dandelion, dirt, blowing bubbles in milk, just because it is, not because you understand it in any kind of cerebral way. Yet, it was a very cerebral book... Maybe at this point in my development, the cerebral is comfortable enough for me that it's become my "just is." Whatever was going on with me and my experience of this book, it was thrilling enough that I must read his other book soon: (An Incomplete History of the Art of the Funerary Violins)
PS. I adore "This American Life" now.
And all of that "intellectualism" was/is all wrapped up in class for me. I grew up working class, and one of the things that distinguished "those" people from us was education, and "fancy" language, and a life lived on the salaries of the mind rather than the wages of the body. And, of course, all of that difference was hierarchically valued. "Those" people were the "best" people, and we were the "lesser" people, and no matter how proud you tried to be of yourself and your class, every indication from the larger society (from distribution of material resources to political power to societal accolades and just general popularity) made it clear that "those" folks had more intrinsic worth, more beauty and light and morals and smarts, more inherent value as human beings, than yours did. So, "This American Life" pushed those buttons for me early on, because I didn't quite "get" it intellectually (yet), and it seemed not for "my people," and that feeling was inevitably tinged with shame...
I say all that to say that this book was not exactly like that for me now because there's been a lot of education, a lot of (sometimes obnoxious) intellectual growth and awareness, and a gigantic (and also sometimes obnoxious) vocabulary expansion, but it made me think about that time in my life. Because this book is one of those artsy, hip, almost abstruse works that I'm never quite sure I "get" when I see or read or hear them. So as I was reading it I was aware that there was probably something happening that I wasn't catching, and when I recognized that awareness it made me think of how before my education that awareness would've made me not read the book at all. There was even that tinge of shame, albeit a modified one: now I'm educated, yes, and maybe even one of those "professional" people, but I'm not one of the "artsy" people who really "get" and appreciate oh-so-profound and esoteric work like this. (It's like I keep moving the marker of who are the "best" people, and it's inevitably whatever people I think I can never be.) BUT, mostly I was able to just observe all of that internal dialogue and not go with the feelings, just being aware of it, noticing how very much I've changed since I got sober and began my education.
After all THAT was out of the way, I actually found this book DEE-lightful, and sometimes for reasons I couldn't even point to (because I didn't necessarily consciously "get" what was happening literarily, I guess). And maybe I'm making this review all about myself because other than that I don't have much to say about the book because I really am not sure what it was, and maybe that's the point. It's just not like anything else I've ever read. It's kind of uncategorizable (unless you're one of those profound, esoteric artsy types who really does "get" it, in which case, please fill me in), and that was actually part of the joy of it. It felt kind of like being a kid and just delighting in something, a dandelion, dirt, blowing bubbles in milk, just because it is, not because you understand it in any kind of cerebral way. Yet, it was a very cerebral book... Maybe at this point in my development, the cerebral is comfortable enough for me that it's become my "just is." Whatever was going on with me and my experience of this book, it was thrilling enough that I must read his other book soon: (An Incomplete History of the Art of the Funerary Violins)
PS. I adore "This American Life" now.
April 11, 2025
This was an interesting novel, kind of set out like non-fiction, but obviously not! I particularly liked the text on the mock funerals.
It wasn't exactly funny, but I did find it amusing when each 'extroduction' claimed that the text preceding it wasn't a true palmeresque!
All in all, a wonderful gift from Alkaline-kiwi!
It wasn't exactly funny, but I did find it amusing when each 'extroduction' claimed that the text preceding it wasn't a true palmeresque!
All in all, a wonderful gift from Alkaline-kiwi!
June 10, 2018
Honestly couldn’t finish this fast enough. I’m so glad it’s over so I can get it off my shelf. That being said, I did read the whole thing, but more out of sheer stubbornness than any ounce of actual enjoyment.
September 1, 2019
holy shit
February 6, 2012
"The Many Deaths of Amanda Palmer..." caught my eye when Miss Palmer herself reviewed the piece. Having an interesting in the concept of fictionalizing ones own death, I picked up the book a number of years ago from the local Borders. I'm saddening that I didn't finish it sooner than I did!
The novel places itself right on the line separating fiction from nonfiction, and as such, created a story all it's own. The psychological and literary analysis of the stories within stories is beyond fascinating, and the representation of each individual piece allows to the book to set itself out and become, not only a piece of satire of modern literature, but a societal truth that's pivotal to the piece: that, indeed, we all may die, but that doesn't mean we have to be forgotten, nor immortalized, before or after our inevitable fate.
Overall, a brilliant read. Next time you're looking for something fascinating and question-brewing, get a copy for yourself, and keep it.
The novel places itself right on the line separating fiction from nonfiction, and as such, created a story all it's own. The psychological and literary analysis of the stories within stories is beyond fascinating, and the representation of each individual piece allows to the book to set itself out and become, not only a piece of satire of modern literature, but a societal truth that's pivotal to the piece: that, indeed, we all may die, but that doesn't mean we have to be forgotten, nor immortalized, before or after our inevitable fate.
Overall, a brilliant read. Next time you're looking for something fascinating and question-brewing, get a copy for yourself, and keep it.
January 15, 2015
This book was very different, but also very interesting. I enjoyed reading it, but it did take a little bit to get into. The high level of conspiracy, bogus personalities, etc. made me constantly question whether certain historical facts were partly true or completely false. The ending and appendices definitely made the book all come together for me and created an extra level of interest. I can understand why not everyone enjoys this book, but I found the historical aspects, academic journal type mock articles, and different writing styles really clever.
January 22, 2020
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting but as a long time fan of Amanda I really enjoyed it. Thproration before each new story can be irritating to begin with but rereading this book I found them interesting.
Overall it's very Amanda, there's a weirdness with this book that you won't get anywhere else. :)
Overall it's very Amanda, there's a weirdness with this book that you won't get anywhere else. :)
January 23, 2016
Awful. I love Amanda Palmer but this (despite the title) was nothing to do with her apparently. I say apparently because I couldn't get more than about 20 pages in when there was a dissertation about the science of dead celebrities. I was hoping for a nice alternative history style of work (maybe with an actual plot) and got a textbook for a course I had no interest in taking.
June 26, 2016
A truly bizarre, macabre, and entertaining read.
Extra shout-outs go to:
- Text Number Six: On the Aesthetic Decline of the Mock-Funeral
- Text Number Seven: On the Unreported Death of Amanda Palmer
- Text Number Four: On the Near Perfect Death of Amanda Palmer
Really glad that I picked this one up. A truly original world created by one hell of a weird-ass author.
Extra shout-outs go to:
- Text Number Six: On the Aesthetic Decline of the Mock-Funeral
- Text Number Seven: On the Unreported Death of Amanda Palmer
- Text Number Four: On the Near Perfect Death of Amanda Palmer
Really glad that I picked this one up. A truly original world created by one hell of a weird-ass author.
December 5, 2010
Tried to get into it, couldn't make it work for me. Cool idea, but rather boring execution.
May 9, 2017
I just couldn't get into it.
March 17, 2011
Weird premise, weird end... interesting book.
Read
February 6, 2014I've been skipping around this book. Reading the "death stories" only. I agree with a few other reviews too many stats.
I've passed this on to my friend Alyssa who's a fan of Amanda Palmer as well.
I've passed this on to my friend Alyssa who's a fan of Amanda Palmer as well.
January 5, 2012
too much "pre-stuff"
Boring stats, history, more boredom.... blech.
Boring stats, history, more boredom.... blech.
January 10, 2012
I think it would have been more interesting if I knew more of her music, but it was pretty cool. I'm pretty sure every person credited was fake.
January 21, 2012
Love AFP, but this book was too clever for its own good.
February 17, 2013
18/06/2012 - 22/06/2012
Read
August 16, 2015I love AFP but no this book. It was a bit dry and boring and maybe I'll get back to one day...... Maybe.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews