Psyche in a Dress (Hardcover)

by Francesca Lia Block (Author)
Key Phrases: hell god

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–If the Greek gods lived today, would Psyche be a film star, compelled by her father to act however he directed her? Would Hades have been abused by his parents? Would Aphrodite own a dress shop selling clothing made of petals and butterfly wings? Would Orpheus be a rock musician who hides his talent by working as a bartender until after hours, when he plays for strippers? It is Block's genius to cast the gods with all their beauty and horror, manipulativeness and self-destructiveness, cruelty and tenderness into a modern society that feels a lot like California. This novel in verse, which begins with Psyche's (sometimes graphically described) affair with Eros, spirals down through Hades, and flows up again to Joy, will hook readers with its vivid imagery and the immediacy of its emotions. It may also send them hunting for Bulfinch's Mythology (Random, 1998) to learn more about the sources of the stories. Riveting and brilliant, this is a must for most YA collections.–Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Far from action-packed adventures of brave heroes on perilous journeys, these contemporary retellings of Greek myths are erotic and intellectual, and they are for older readers (including adults) who can appreciate the meanings of the complex metaphors. These aren't playful fractured fairy tales. True to the original myth, Block takes Eros to Psyche's bed at night; Psyche loves him, though she has been warned never to look at him. Block also brings a contemporary sensibility to stories about other mythic figures, including Echo; Persephone; Narcissus, who loves himself; and Orpheus, who plays guitar in a seedy nightclub, where he has sex with the strippers before he meets Eurydice. Readers who don't get the allusions will be confused, even lost, but the short vignettes of urgent free verse make for a fast read, with delicate moments as well as scenes of monsters close to home. Block raises the edgy question, "Is beauty monstrous?" Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060763728
• ISBN-13: 978-0060763725
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #311,742 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #28 in

  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Block, Francesca Lia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my new favorite book, September 11, 2006

By	persephone (north carolina) - See all my reviews

I don't know how to begin describing this book other than simply and undeniably beautiful. Greek mythology FLB style. (and since i'm obsessed with both greek mythology and FLB it was extra wonderful for me) She uses the myths of Psyche, Echo, Eurydice and Persephone and intertwines them to create one story about love and the human soul. I flew through it in a coupe of hours and cried when I finished it because I didn't want it to be over. i espessially loved all the classical mythology that it was satuarted with, it was everywhere, all these little allusions interwoven within the more obvious stories (the ones i mentioned before) and since i'm familiar with greek mythology i was able to spot and appreciate these allusions, but even if you don't know a lot about mythology you will still be able to appreciate and moved by this lovely story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lovely, but very short, May 12, 2007

By	Savannah Brooks "psychotic faerie" (midwestern small town hell) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

it's got all of her usual beatuiful imagery, and this book does some interesting things with the myths of persephone and psyche. i'm still thinking about the concepts in the book long after i've read it.
all of that's lovely, but...

the book is written in poetry form for some reason, even thought the language is the same as her other books, so there aren't many words on the page, and there aren't many pages. so you'll probably finish this book in a few hours.

the other drawback is the ending, which has a piece that feels a little bit tacked on to me... there's a place where you think that the story is over, but it just keeps going.

all in all this is a lovely little book, but if you want to read something by ms. block and you don't already own say, dangerous angels or ecstasia, i'd get those first. it's more for the real collectors i guess.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Francesca Lia Block, January 4, 2007

By	Ellie Williams "Trish" (Menlo Park, CA) - See all my reviews

Francesca, over the years, has changed the way she writes her work tremendously. "Psyche in A Dress" is a lot like "Echo" in the way that it is like poetry and leaves you wondering after every chapter.

Please disregard what the below person said...they obviously don't know anything about writing. Francesca is famously known for her way with words. You should know, after the very first page of someone's work, that the rest of the book will be written the same way. It's your own fault if you don't put the book down after the first two or three pages. Because her work is done so well, she will be helping in the way of the written work for a film version of Weetzie Bat AND creating a show for MTV.

I would rate "Psyche in A Dress" just as high as I would "Neclace of Kisses" or "Weetzie Bat". Although it is a short read, that does not mean it is a terrible book. Francesca writes much differently than most writers, and that is why her work is treasured world wide. She puts her words out there, she is blunt, but beautiful about it. She is short and to the point, but uses words in a way that makes it seem like you are right there in the scene.

Don't even bother picking up this book if you don't understand the use of descriptive words. This book breaks the barrier for other authors to begin looking at writing as an art form. This book leaves you wanting more, and will lead you to picking it up more than once for a quick read. It is an inspiration and joy to own this book. The world needs more positive energy and this lightens the way for it.