Blood and Guts in High School: Amazon.ca: Kathy Acker: Books

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Naked Lunch: The Restored Text

by William S Burroughs

4.1 out of 5 stars (191) CDN$ 13.14

The Crying Of Lot 49

by Thomas Pynchon

4.2 out of 5 stars (106) CDN$ 11.24

Atrocity Exhibition

by J G Ballard

3.8 out of 5 stars (11) CDN$ 13.10

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

by Italo Calvino

4.4 out of 5 stars (78) CDN$ 15.64

City Of Glass

by Paul Auster

4.1 out of 5 stars (32) CDN$ 12.05

› Explore similar items

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence
Never having known a mother, her mother had died when Janey was a year old, Janey depended on her father for everything and regarded her father as boyfriend, brother, sister, money, amusement, and father. Read the first page

Explore More
Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

2.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Tries too hard, April 25 2004

By	R. Shore (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ce commentaire est de: Blood and Guts in High School (Paperback)

I read this novella for a postmodern fiction class and was disappointed with what I settled on as its purpose. This book, however successful in addressing the issue of the taboo (the pedophilia, incest, abuse), which, as I have skimmed articles related to the book, was one of Acker's intentions, was simply shock for the sake of shock. It seemed as if all the pictures were simply to shock, all the embarrassingly sleazy plotlines, and the non-traditional form, existed simply to be sleazy and non traditional. Who knows if this is a truth. All I know is I felt nothing but relief after finishing the novel, which I felt was wholly unreadable, as Acker may feel comfortable admitting.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

4.0 out of 5 stars You will know her, Dec 26 2003

By	"jahluv" (Hamilton Bermuda) - See all my reviews

Ce commentaire est de: Blood And Guts In High School (Paperback)

I see that many reviewers feel repulsed and perturbed by this novel's somewhat shocking content and unconventional narrative style. While I can understand that some of the content may offend potential readers, and that the de-emphasizing of the plot (as opposed to lack of plot..there is, in fact, some narrative progression here) may baffle them, I can still state quite certainly that this book is a moving and thoroughly enjoyable read. I found myself identifying with the novel's protagonist, and suspect that there may be a little bit of Janey in everyone. The final chapters of the book are the most moving, culminating in a genuinely captivating sequence of illustrations that are every bit as important as the preceding text. So in final analysis: Yes, this book switches format many times - from dramatic dialogue, to conventional text (which itself changes subject many times), to poetry, to illustration. Yes there are lots of references to genetalia, and yes there are distinctly feminist overtones throughout. However, none of this should stop anyone from picking the book up and giving it an openminded read. It is not as difficult as some reviewers have made it out to be, and the shocking elements are not, as one reviewer claimed, there for controversy's sake. Take a trip into the mind of little Janey. You'll be glad you did.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

1.0 out of 5 stars This is not a book to be set aside lightly., Jun 19 2003

By	"writing_static" (Melbourne, AU) - See all my reviews

Ce commentaire est de: Blood And Guts In High School (Paperback)

Instead, it should be flung to the ground with great force. Acker is nothing more than a paedophile, a dirty old toothless man trapped in a woman's body. Comprehensively awful. Had a man written this, he would have been lynched instantly. Avoid at all costs.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 7 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A Map of My Dreams-- by Janey
Janey is a little girl wandering through a fantasy landscape of men who reject her-- her father, Jean Genet, the Persian Slave Trader, Tommy. Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 17 2001 by frumiousb

1.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't force myself to finish it
I liked _Empire of the Senseless_ a lot and I have a bunch of her other books but this just seemed like something written by a 13 year old. Lisez davantage

Published on Aug 17 2000 by Shane Tiernan

2.0 out of 5 stars In two minds...
I tried really hard to like this book but to be honest I found its lack of a plot frustrating and it made the book really unenjoyable. Lisez davantage

Published on Sep 14 1998