Damned
Overview: The daughter of a narcissistic film star and a billionaire, thirteen-year-old Madison is abandoned at her Swiss boarding school over Christmas while her parents tout their new projects and adopt more orphans. When she dies of a marijuana overdose, the next thing she knows she’s in Hell, sharing a cell with a motley crew of young sinners: a jock, a cheerleader, a nerd, and a punk rocker, united to form the six-feet-under version of everyone’s favorite detention movie. Madison and her pals trek across the Dandruff Desert and climb the treacherous Mountain of Toenail Clippings to confront Satan in his citadel.
Pages: 256 Pages
Writer: Chuck Palahniuk
Recommendations:
Review By: Jason Schulte
Rating: 
As a devoted Fight Club fan, I couldn’t resist diving into this book by the same author. Chuck Palahniuk takes us on a wild ride through hell in this one. The main character, Madison Spencer, finds herself in the fiery depths after kicking the bucket. At first, she blames her pot-smoking ways for her eternal damnation. The story jumps back and forth between her time in the afterlife and her less-than-perfect life on Earth.
Madison’s parents are a Hollywood star and a billionaire, but they’re too busy saving the world to bother with their own daughter. So, when Madison realizes she’s got nothing left to lose in hell, she hatches a plan to take over. Because, let’s face it, once you’re in hell, where else are you gonna go?
Throughout her journey, we discover all the surefire ways to land yourself a one-way ticket to hell. We also get a sneak peek at the different areas of hell, like a twisted little guidebook on where not to go once you’re there. And, surprise surprise, telemarketers are actually demons from hell making annoying calls at the worst possible times.
While the story has its fair share of laughs and thrills, there are definitely some letdowns along the way. The ending, for example, falls a bit flat. And the whole concept of being locked in cells in hell, only to have a group of misfits casually stroll out without consequences, is a bit of a head-scratcher. But hey, at least they still show up to man the phones and make survey calls to the living.
In a nutshell, this story has some great elements, but it also has its fair share of misses. It’s like a rollercoaster ride through hell – thrilling, unpredictable, and occasionally disappointing. But hey, isn’t that what makes a good story worth reading?
While I found many aspects of the book enjoyable, there were certain sections that required a bit of perseverance to reach the more captivating parts. I must admit, I do struggle when a book abruptly concludes without a proper ending. It leaves the story hanging, begging for a sequel that may or may not materialize. This book offers a humorous take on Hell, but at times, it may leave you itching to skip ahead to the more engaging sections. So, buckle up and prepare for a devilishly good time, with a few bumps along the way!