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Toxicology
A bold new novel about the intersection of art, love, fame, and money from the acclaimed author of Dogeaters .
Jessica Hagedorn's edgy and entertaining new novel centers on the lives of two women who are neighbors in Manhattan's West Village. Mimi Smith is a filmmaker of low-budget slasher movies in search of new material. Her neighbor Eleanor Delacroix is a legendary writer of erotic fiction, now nearing eighty and addicted to cocaine and gin. Their personal and artistic lives begin to collide in unexpected ways as Eleanor grieves over the recent death of her live-in lover, the renowned painter Yvonne Wilder, and as Mimi deals with the challenges presented by her newly sober brother Carmelo; her drug-dealing boyfriend, who has mysteriously disappeared; and her wayward fourteen-year-old daughter, Violet. Looming over all these characters is the ghost of Agnes-an "illegal" and cousin of Mimi's who might have been murdered by her New Jersey employers. Toxicology is a dark yet playful exploration of money, desire, mortality, and the connection between creativity and self-destruction.
Jessica Hagedorn's edgy and entertaining new novel centers on the lives of two women who are neighbors in Manhattan's West Village. Mimi Smith is a filmmaker of low-budget slasher movies in search of new material. Her neighbor Eleanor Delacroix is a legendary writer of erotic fiction, now nearing eighty and addicted to cocaine and gin. Their personal and artistic lives begin to collide in unexpected ways as Eleanor grieves over the recent death of her live-in lover, the renowned painter Yvonne Wilder, and as Mimi deals with the challenges presented by her newly sober brother Carmelo; her drug-dealing boyfriend, who has mysteriously disappeared; and her wayward fourteen-year-old daughter, Violet. Looming over all these characters is the ghost of Agnes-an "illegal" and cousin of Mimi's who might have been murdered by her New Jersey employers. Toxicology is a dark yet playful exploration of money, desire, mortality, and the connection between creativity and self-destruction.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2011
16 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Hagedorn
39 books178 followersJessica Tarahata Hagedorn was born (and raised) in Manila, Philippines in 1949. With her background, a Scots-Irish-French-Filipino mother and a Filipino-Spanish father with one Chinese ancestor, Hagedorn adds a unique perspective to Asian American performance and literature. Her mixed media style often incorporates song, poetry, images, and spoken dialogue.
Moving to San Francisco in 1963, Hagedorn received her education at the American Conservatory Theater training program. To further pursue playwriting and music, she moved to New York in 1978.
Joseph Papp produced her first play Mango Tango in 1978. Hagedorn's other productions include Tenement Lover, Holy Food, and Teenytown.
In 1985, 1986, and 1988, she received Macdowell Colony Fellowships, which helped enable her to write the novel Dogeaters, which illuminates many different aspects of Filipino experience, focusing on the influence of America through radio, television, and movie theaters. She shows the complexities of the love-hate relationship many Filipinos in diaspora feel toward their past. After its publication in 1990, her novel earned a 1990 National Book Award nomination and an American Book Award. In 1998, La Jolla Playhouse produced a stage adaptation.
She lives in New York with her husband and two daughters, and continues to be a poet, storyteller, musician, playwright, and multimedia performance artist.
Moving to San Francisco in 1963, Hagedorn received her education at the American Conservatory Theater training program. To further pursue playwriting and music, she moved to New York in 1978.
Joseph Papp produced her first play Mango Tango in 1978. Hagedorn's other productions include Tenement Lover, Holy Food, and Teenytown.
In 1985, 1986, and 1988, she received Macdowell Colony Fellowships, which helped enable her to write the novel Dogeaters, which illuminates many different aspects of Filipino experience, focusing on the influence of America through radio, television, and movie theaters. She shows the complexities of the love-hate relationship many Filipinos in diaspora feel toward their past. After its publication in 1990, her novel earned a 1990 National Book Award nomination and an American Book Award. In 1998, La Jolla Playhouse produced a stage adaptation.
She lives in New York with her husband and two daughters, and continues to be a poet, storyteller, musician, playwright, and multimedia performance artist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 1, 2015
Not really bad but I had a hard time relating to this book. The setting is in Manhattan and all the main characters are female and they live the cosmopolitan life in the 80's or 90's.
It is the story of two American ladies in New York: Mimi the younger of the two is a movie director who hits a stage in her life when she needs an inspiration to find back the creativity that she used to enjoy when she was a lot younger. Her friend is an senior citizen, lesbian Eleanor who is now a has been in erotic writing and to forget her loneliness has turn into drugs.
Unlike her first novel, Dogeaters (3 stars) where the setting of the book is here in the Philippines, there is almost (except Mimi's brother Carmelo) nothing Filipino in Toxicology. That's probably the reason why I did not like the book because this is just my second Hagedorn novel and I was expecting to find at least some local references in this book. In fact, it is almost a struggle to continue reading this book because of the competition offered by Orhan Pamuk's Snow (currently reading) and other more interesting books of mine.
The only thing that I really enjoyed here is the witty and dark writing of Jessica Hagedorn. It is almost devoid of melodramatic scenes unlike in Dogeaters and most of the interesting (those that will stay in your mind for a few days after reading) are dark and angsty. The plot is somewhat disengaging and implausible. Almost all the characters are drug users and alcoholic and for someone like me who's leading a clean life, this book will not leave any marks in my mind even few days after finally closing it.
It is the story of two American ladies in New York: Mimi the younger of the two is a movie director who hits a stage in her life when she needs an inspiration to find back the creativity that she used to enjoy when she was a lot younger. Her friend is an senior citizen, lesbian Eleanor who is now a has been in erotic writing and to forget her loneliness has turn into drugs.
Unlike her first novel, Dogeaters (3 stars) where the setting of the book is here in the Philippines, there is almost (except Mimi's brother Carmelo) nothing Filipino in Toxicology. That's probably the reason why I did not like the book because this is just my second Hagedorn novel and I was expecting to find at least some local references in this book. In fact, it is almost a struggle to continue reading this book because of the competition offered by Orhan Pamuk's Snow (currently reading) and other more interesting books of mine.
The only thing that I really enjoyed here is the witty and dark writing of Jessica Hagedorn. It is almost devoid of melodramatic scenes unlike in Dogeaters and most of the interesting (those that will stay in your mind for a few days after reading) are dark and angsty. The plot is somewhat disengaging and implausible. Almost all the characters are drug users and alcoholic and for someone like me who's leading a clean life, this book will not leave any marks in my mind even few days after finally closing it.
May 31, 2011
Hagedorn's novels often construct an arena where making art, finding love, defining meaning, pop culture, and the soul converge to tell some kind of story, where dream-like sequences merge with unapologetic, blunt, raw happenings. This book was no exception, telling the story of interconnected artists in various stages of "fame" and "success" who fight to make art and struggle even more "to make" life. These mostly unhappy characters and trying moments I kept going back to the question if art is worth this price. Not sure the novel tries to answer that question with an emphatic yes or no, but I think the answer may be there's no perfect answer, just like there is no "perfect" life. Being an artist or not being one guarantees neither happiness nor torment. Just living, whatever label you apply to yourself it seems, guarantees some of both. It would be unfair to judge this book merely on the emotional, philosophical discomfort it might cause, except that it makes you face it and think about it, and sometimes that's what the best art can do.
October 3, 2011
I did not like this book at all. I had to force myself to finish reading it.
February 9, 2015
I never thought that i would be very much pleased with this book. This is the most engaging book that i have read so far this year.
I am not really familiar with Jessica Hagedorn or the kind of material she creates. But when I finished this book, I was immediately smitten with her work and writing style.
I have to admit that at first, I find the book a drag. There were too many problems for the characters to handle. That is why I had my doubts if I will be able to finish the story. To my surprise, these character dramas, was I think the reason that I became more engaged in the story.
Here are the five reasons why I fell in love with the book:
1.The good narration
The words are very well chosen. Though there are some words that I am not familiar with, still I was not totally lost in the story. It was easy to read, to understand and to imagine. The author can be straightforward, but she can also be romantic and poetic.
The narration is easy to follow, even though the author has to introduce different character POV. The pacing of the story is straightforward. The fillers and flashbacks were presented clearly giving a clearer picture of the whole story.
2.The characters
I must say that I fell in love with the characters. The author was able to create strong and unique personas. But what really struck me was Eleanor’s character.
She may be unique and erratic, but her being different is what makes her real and beautiful. I like how she passionately falls in love with her partner. I like how she confidently stands with her sexuality and defied her parents’ expectations.
If I will be given a chance to meet one fictional character, I would probably choose her. Her interview part in the book is one of my favorites.
3. The arts, music and the literature
I may not be that familiar with all the art, music, literature and showbiz references used in the book. But these do not make me less interested with it.
Trusting my imagination and trying to read between the lines, these references only makes the whole story interesting, colorful and real. This book made me realized that using concrete references can make the story more real and true.
4. The dark side
I must say that the author did not hold back in describing the gore parts in the story - from the story of the Bloody Wedding, to the death of Agnes. It was really terrifying and disturbing. I am not really into gore stuff but, this part in the book was created in good taste. It even makes the story more interesting.
5. The dreams and metaphors
One of the powerful and striking things that I find in the story is the characters’ dreams. They are very symbolic and mysterious. In literature sense, it adds color to the whole story. I find the creation of these dreams very poetic and artistic.
All in all it was an amazing book. The story is really addicting. The only flaw I find disturbing and sometimes annoying is the absence of parenthesis. I had a difficult time in following the sequence of the story. I was confused with who said what. But then again, once you are hooked with the story you won’t be able to notice this anymore.
The ending could also be a disappointment. At the end of the book I was slapped with the words “The end. Try to find out for yourself what happened to the rest of the story.” But thinking about this, the ending could probably be the best ending for the book.
On a side note, even though the book is a good book, I am not recommending it to everyone.
The story
**may this summary gives justice to the book.
After her smashing film Bloody Wedding, Mimi Smith was struggling to create and produced a new material for her second movie. But this is not the only problem that she has to face. After months of living with her dad, Violet, her rebellious daughter, decided to live with her. On top of that, she has to go find her missing cousin, Agnes. Given her depleted finances, she is at lost with all the problems in her life.
On the other hand, Eleanor, a famous writer and Mimi’s neighbor, also has her own problems to face. She may not have the same financial and family problems that Mimi has, still, she has to battle her own depression on the death of her lover, Yvonne. She lived her life in isolation with booze and weeds as a company.
As a famous writer, Eleanor was invited for an interview and a story telling session for a famous magazine. Being elusive for interviews, she was surprised to find herself being interviewed by a magazine. However, she strongly declines going to the storytelling event.
Moreover, Eleanor also decided to offer Mimi the financial assistance she needed for the film. Mimi being proud not to accept anything from the old woman, tried to refuse. Accepting anything from her would be the last thing that she wanted to do. Just like how she tried to talk to her ex beau, Violet’s father – Dashielle.
Finally after a long time, she tried to settle everything between the two of them.
Everything was slowly turning out fine in Mimi’s life when finally she has to face the horrors of what happened to her missing cousin. The horrifying death of her cousin Agnes, gave Mimi the material for her second movie. She promised herself that she will pour all her angst and emotions to the movie to somewhat give justice to what happened to Agnes.
The story ended with Mimi representing Eleanor in the story reading convention with Eleanor’s last piece of writing.
I am not really familiar with Jessica Hagedorn or the kind of material she creates. But when I finished this book, I was immediately smitten with her work and writing style.
I have to admit that at first, I find the book a drag. There were too many problems for the characters to handle. That is why I had my doubts if I will be able to finish the story. To my surprise, these character dramas, was I think the reason that I became more engaged in the story.
Here are the five reasons why I fell in love with the book:
1.The good narration
The words are very well chosen. Though there are some words that I am not familiar with, still I was not totally lost in the story. It was easy to read, to understand and to imagine. The author can be straightforward, but she can also be romantic and poetic.
The narration is easy to follow, even though the author has to introduce different character POV. The pacing of the story is straightforward. The fillers and flashbacks were presented clearly giving a clearer picture of the whole story.
2.The characters
I must say that I fell in love with the characters. The author was able to create strong and unique personas. But what really struck me was Eleanor’s character.
She may be unique and erratic, but her being different is what makes her real and beautiful. I like how she passionately falls in love with her partner. I like how she confidently stands with her sexuality and defied her parents’ expectations.
If I will be given a chance to meet one fictional character, I would probably choose her. Her interview part in the book is one of my favorites.
3. The arts, music and the literature
I may not be that familiar with all the art, music, literature and showbiz references used in the book. But these do not make me less interested with it.
Trusting my imagination and trying to read between the lines, these references only makes the whole story interesting, colorful and real. This book made me realized that using concrete references can make the story more real and true.
4. The dark side
I must say that the author did not hold back in describing the gore parts in the story - from the story of the Bloody Wedding, to the death of Agnes. It was really terrifying and disturbing. I am not really into gore stuff but, this part in the book was created in good taste. It even makes the story more interesting.
5. The dreams and metaphors
One of the powerful and striking things that I find in the story is the characters’ dreams. They are very symbolic and mysterious. In literature sense, it adds color to the whole story. I find the creation of these dreams very poetic and artistic.
All in all it was an amazing book. The story is really addicting. The only flaw I find disturbing and sometimes annoying is the absence of parenthesis. I had a difficult time in following the sequence of the story. I was confused with who said what. But then again, once you are hooked with the story you won’t be able to notice this anymore.
The ending could also be a disappointment. At the end of the book I was slapped with the words “The end. Try to find out for yourself what happened to the rest of the story.” But thinking about this, the ending could probably be the best ending for the book.
On a side note, even though the book is a good book, I am not recommending it to everyone.
The story
**may this summary gives justice to the book.
After her smashing film Bloody Wedding, Mimi Smith was struggling to create and produced a new material for her second movie. But this is not the only problem that she has to face. After months of living with her dad, Violet, her rebellious daughter, decided to live with her. On top of that, she has to go find her missing cousin, Agnes. Given her depleted finances, she is at lost with all the problems in her life.
On the other hand, Eleanor, a famous writer and Mimi’s neighbor, also has her own problems to face. She may not have the same financial and family problems that Mimi has, still, she has to battle her own depression on the death of her lover, Yvonne. She lived her life in isolation with booze and weeds as a company.
As a famous writer, Eleanor was invited for an interview and a story telling session for a famous magazine. Being elusive for interviews, she was surprised to find herself being interviewed by a magazine. However, she strongly declines going to the storytelling event.
Moreover, Eleanor also decided to offer Mimi the financial assistance she needed for the film. Mimi being proud not to accept anything from the old woman, tried to refuse. Accepting anything from her would be the last thing that she wanted to do. Just like how she tried to talk to her ex beau, Violet’s father – Dashielle.
Finally after a long time, she tried to settle everything between the two of them.
Everything was slowly turning out fine in Mimi’s life when finally she has to face the horrors of what happened to her missing cousin. The horrifying death of her cousin Agnes, gave Mimi the material for her second movie. She promised herself that she will pour all her angst and emotions to the movie to somewhat give justice to what happened to Agnes.
The story ended with Mimi representing Eleanor in the story reading convention with Eleanor’s last piece of writing.
August 3, 2015
aaarg this book. so much of it i absolutely adored, but there are parts where it feels like massive sections are missing. i think the cousin story line should have been entirely removed; i don't understand the point of the brother, and what was the point of bobby??? i wanted full Eleanor and Mimi stories, i LOVED them both and i didn't get enough time to know them. i want so desperately to give this 5/5 but it's 3/5 at best, which is a bummer bc i can see what this book could have been and it's killing me that i don't have those pages to read, y'know?
June 16, 2011
there was a lot of cocaine in this book
March 20, 2013
Really good book. Made me want to move to NYC and do coke.
August 14, 2018
Didn't finish..
July 31, 2020
I've read this 3 times during traveling and I have to say I love how this book took risks and the struggles and how they're exactly to the point. The amount of different perspectives is the one thing that I admired from it. The minus one star is only for the triggering environments, scenarios and dialogues but then again, it's exactly what you expect. Like how the title of the book speaks for itself. All in all it's an amazing good read.
January 18, 2018
first read 2011.
August 15, 2020
3 out of 5 stars
April 2, 2024
I read the whole thing and I still have no idea what the hell was going on.
February 19, 2025
This is cute so far. There's a lot of characters to keep straight, but I'm willing to look past that and pay better attention. A lot of the characters are also written similar - many angry, many not very polite and many do drugs. It's a fun book though - sorry I didn't sell that aspect.
finished - I didn't want this world to end for me. It wasn't exactly cozy - but I was comfortable. Mentions chronic drug use and familial estrangement - raising a teenager when you don't have yr life together yrself and might never. Being a senior citizen, drug user, horny still - and creative. These characters are cozy. Although I didn't "relish every page" like some books I adore. But I would find myself at work looking forward to being with the book and be back in that world. It wasn't a very plot-driven book, although there was plot. I just had no idea where it was going. And that's not a bad thing.
criticism: Why wasn't Agnus' story in it more if the author bothered to make that chapter from her perspective? It felt unfinished in general, without some more about her. Just Suddenly: [spoiler.] It felt tacked on. But what do I know
loved it!
finished - I didn't want this world to end for me. It wasn't exactly cozy - but I was comfortable. Mentions chronic drug use and familial estrangement - raising a teenager when you don't have yr life together yrself and might never. Being a senior citizen, drug user, horny still - and creative. These characters are cozy. Although I didn't "relish every page" like some books I adore. But I would find myself at work looking forward to being with the book and be back in that world. It wasn't a very plot-driven book, although there was plot. I just had no idea where it was going. And that's not a bad thing.
criticism: Why wasn't Agnus' story in it more if the author bothered to make that chapter from her perspective? It felt unfinished in general, without some more about her. Just Suddenly: [spoiler.] It felt tacked on. But what do I know
loved it!
July 14, 2011
it's kind of trippy to move across the country, read 'the great night' which takes place in your new backyard, and then read 'toxicology' which takes place in your old backyard. like horatio street backyard.
my money's on heath ledger for inspiration, btw.
but my god this is a new york book. not in the whatever author who writes those gritty new yawk books way, but in a name dropping ny1 anchors way. like who is going to know stuff like that except us? they're not even going to know that they don't know. they will have no idea.
but it was just what i needed. and i have a huge soft spot for ms. hagedorn. and i'm glad she pulled that little trick of hers again. reminds me of one of the best overwhelming not-ready-for-this hey-lookit-i'm-talking-to-a-girl moments of my life. ah, hunter.
my money's on heath ledger for inspiration, btw.
but my god this is a new york book. not in the whatever author who writes those gritty new yawk books way, but in a name dropping ny1 anchors way. like who is going to know stuff like that except us? they're not even going to know that they don't know. they will have no idea.
but it was just what i needed. and i have a huge soft spot for ms. hagedorn. and i'm glad she pulled that little trick of hers again. reminds me of one of the best overwhelming not-ready-for-this hey-lookit-i'm-talking-to-a-girl moments of my life. ah, hunter.
May 14, 2025
Toxicology is the 4th novel I've read by Filipino-American writer and playwright, Jessica Hagedorn. Incidentally, Toxicology is also my 4th read of 2025. Hagedorn's writing is edgy, artsy, unique and quite a wild ride. If you haven't read any of her novels, then you're in for a treat!
Quite frankly, Toxicology wasn't what I was expecting. It is edgy, unique, and artsy as to be expected from Jessica Hagedorn, but not as engaging as her other novels. I liked the characters and the storyline for Toxicology, which is written in a unique voice only Jessica Hagedorn can bring to the table... BUT, some of the imagery just went over my head. I liked Toxicology, but it just didn't resonate with me like her previous novels did.
If you want to explore Jessica Hagedorn's writing, I wouldn't recommend starting with Toxicology. Try reading Dogeaters or The Gangster of Love instead.
Quite frankly, Toxicology wasn't what I was expecting. It is edgy, unique, and artsy as to be expected from Jessica Hagedorn, but not as engaging as her other novels. I liked the characters and the storyline for Toxicology, which is written in a unique voice only Jessica Hagedorn can bring to the table... BUT, some of the imagery just went over my head. I liked Toxicology, but it just didn't resonate with me like her previous novels did.
If you want to explore Jessica Hagedorn's writing, I wouldn't recommend starting with Toxicology. Try reading Dogeaters or The Gangster of Love instead.
August 17, 2011
I can't remember where I read about this book or why I thought I would like it, but it was not my thing. Pop-culturey though it was, it was just a little bit much for me. Perhaps I am not edgy or cool enough to be part of this books readership. I didn't identify with the characters or their struggles, and the way it was written, I didn't want to empathize with them either. The author did pick some cool names for her characters - there is an elderly lesbian cocaine dealer named Cleo - so the book has that going for it. However, this book will not make my list of must-reads for my daughter Cleo or for anyone to enjoy when she is ready for more mature books.
Want to read
April 11, 2011ooh, I loved Jessica Hagedorn in college, I would definitely like to pick her up again. Here's this, from the Greenlight Bookstore newsletter: Toxicology centers on two West Village neighbors: a low-budget slasher filmmaker desperate to revitalize her career, and a legendary and scandalous literary figure now nearing eighty. Their personal and artistic lives begin to converge around various disappearances, drugs, and murders, creating a dark, savagely funny, and ultimately heartbreaking novel exploring the connection between creativity and self-destruction.
March 19, 2016
A fascinating yet frustrating novel. Many of the characters I grew to love...and grew to love to hate. But there were a few sub-plots that didn't seem as developed as they could have been...which irritates me, as I was very much intrigued by them and the clues they left behind to tease the reader. There's also a sub-plot about a cousin named Agnes that seems right out of left-field, compared to the thrust of rest of the book. It's a diamond, surrounded by a lot of gravel.
October 25, 2016
Toxicology reads as if it is written by someone who isn't comfortable with the English language. Not "this is a bad translation" uncomfortable but "I don't think that word means that you think it means," uncomfortable. I found myself asking, "Is that REALLY want you want that character to do? Have you meet another human?" It's close enough to real life, yet far enough from an alternate/parallel existence of how people actually function to just seem strange.
July 22, 2011
Behind Dogeaters, Toxicology is Hagedorn's best book. It pulls you in, takes you on a wild ride and lets you off wondering what happened. Hagedorn gets pop culture and the complexities of being an artist in the current moment. Her language is raw, imagery rich and content uninhibited. I always respect her for giving the finger to the center and valuing otherness.
February 29, 2012
This novel defied my expectations. Book about writers? Usually boring, but not this one. Books that end with a "text" from the writer? Usually blah blah blah, but certainly not this one. The concluding text was brilliant. Also, this novel was an explicit and illuminating survey of modern culture. There are even labradoodles, however briefly mentioned.
April 7, 2013
Wow, awesome writing. Aptly named, abounding with toxic substances, environments, relationships, and twisted plot lines through NYC, NJ, Philippines, California, Mexico. Mostly centered around two artistas – a struggling Filipina indie filmmaker and her neighbor in lower Manhattan, an 80-year-old lesbian American writer – and their lifelong journeys there. All in 225 pages.
February 11, 2015
Average. I like the narration and the character set, but not the story as a whole. Every character has a different story to tell although it did connect all together in the end. I'm just gonna say I like Eleanor's part. This is an entertaining, light read but sometimes I just want to finish it, get over, and move on.
June 19, 2011
Hagedorn's writing style is mesmerizing. In so few words she captures such vivid images. I read in awe as she drew seemingly disparate threads of various lives into interconnectedness. I also loved that the characters spanned all ages.
Read
September 22, 2012This book was on a list somewhere so I picked it up at the library. I read the first couple of chapters and could not not get into the book. Seemed very depressing and the plot was difficult to figure out. Gave up.
May 21, 2011
This is vintage Jessica Hagedorn. But the difference this time is that the conundrums of ethnicity is not explicit, almost muted. I gave it three stars, because of the prose: inventive, sensual.
September 26, 2011
Lot of drugs, lot of what just happened, some interesting bits but tough to recommend.
December 2, 2011
was not an easy read as it was pretty disjointed. Never really got to like any characters specifically and don't feel it ended well.
January 20, 2012
Do eighty year old cocaine users really call it blow?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews