2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Like Palahniuk for Women., May 10 2008
This review is from: Clown Girl: A Novel (Paperback)
The hilarious tale of a broke and down-on-her luck clown for hire, missing her clown college applicant boyfriend, her rubber chicken, and a recently miscarried child, Clown Girl is a phenomenal debut by Monica Drake, long-time attendee of the writer's circle where Fight Club's Chuck Palahniuk sharpened his pen. Palahniuk himself introduces the novel as "its own reality," and one really gets the feeling that he isn't far off. Drake paints a portrait of Baloneytown, which could be the urban wasteland of any American city, and a whole cast of unforgettable characters, all of which comes together to create that reality.
Further troubles befall the protagonist, nicknamed "Snuffy," when she falls in with a cop (no one talks to cops in Baloneytown)and a band of female clowns whose corporate gigs lean farther and farther from art. Essentially, this novel is an examination of the classic struggle of the artist: art versus life, art versus success, art versus sexuality. And in this exploration, it is a huge success. Drake is a deeply talented artist with words, creating moments of outright laughter or horror with the flick of her wrist, the subtle arrangement and choice of words.
Although an abrupt and unfulfilling resolution drags it down a little, Monica Drake's first novel is an overall success. Full of wit, personality, flair, and interesting reflections, it reads like a softcore version of a Chuck Palahniuk story, toned down to a realistic level by the weighted hand of a female author. As a woman myself, I felt a genuine interest in the lead character, whose trials and troubles (although fictionally absurd) resonate deeply by means of a sharply introspective narration. I would recommend this to any woman (or man, really) who can appreciate a quirky Palahniuk-esque tale but wishes that it were possible to enjoy one without the bitter aftertaste gratuity for gratuity's sake.
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