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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Great Works of Our Time, November 7, 2001
This review is from: MFU: Most Fucked-Up Person Alive Tells All (Paperback)
MFU is essentially a densely compact bomshell of linguistic cunning. Some authors know how to turn a phrase. This is a turned book. Seldom is language used as effectively as it is here. The jump-cut narrative pulls no punches and lambastes everybody and everything with equal sarcasm and cynicism. The subtitle, "The Autobiography of Being Pissed Off," is highly apropos. It also does not let itself get tied down with a traditional narrative. The story overlaps itself, contradicts itself, supercedes itself at every turn. Somehow, through it all, a picture of the mind at work emerges. In the end, this book is in many ways to literature as the ambient experiements of Brian Eno would be to music. Eschewing logic, convention and yes, even good taste, it eventually disperses to a kind of Brownian hum -- the backround radio noise of an angry universe. Attempting to find the clues to the mysterious identity behind this strange piece of (art?) is as challenging an experiment in literary exploration as any, and yet equally fascinating. This is the kind of book that you either love, or hate. I love it. Maybe you'll hate it. Either way, it will not leave you untouched.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Great Works of Our Time, November 7, 2001
This review is from: MFU: Most Fucked-Up Person Alive Tells All (Paperback)
We've all known authors who could turn a phrase. HC can, apparently, turn a book. That is to say that this one of the most finely crafted, densely packed examples of language as an art itself. HC exchews logic, plot, even good taste in the interests of explosive verbiage. They say that some people use sex as a weapon. I would say that HC uses this book as a weapon. Underlying it all is a deep, seething cynicism, so all-encompassing and even in its target as to raise a great curiosity in the reader about the author themself, perhaps even more so than the (pro?)tagonist. And yet, despite the accuracy of the subtitle, 'An Autobiography of Being Pissed Off,' the readers are told amazingly little about the pair (author and character). The game of trying to understand the motivation that could cause the creation of this artifact is nearly as entertaining as the book itself. This is the kind of book that you will either love, or absolutely hate. It's certain to offend many, and baffle even more. Nonetheless, it's sure to never leave the reader untouched; unaffected. It's an experience, and one not to be missed.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of a Kind, October 18, 2001
This review is from: MFU: Most Fucked-Up Person Alive Tells All (Paperback)
MFU is an anonymous classic. HC has defined a new kind of ego-free satire which will become a paradigm for the 21st century (in fact, it may be the only worthwile thing to come out of the 21st century). Buy several copies, so you can keep one in your backpack or coat pocket to be ready for the next trip to the hospital or morgue. Whether you're there for yourself, or just visiting, MFU makes the hours fly by.
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