Blood and Guts in High School
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- Create Date：2022-10-18 09:53:39
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Kathy Acker
- ISBN：024130251X
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Summary
'Acker gives her work the power to mirror the reader's soul' William S。 Burroughs
'Kathy Acker's writing is virtuoso， maddening， crazy， so sexy， so painful， and beaten out of a wild heart that nothing can tame。 Acker is a landmark writer' Jeanette Winterson
This is the story of Janey， who lived in a locked room， where she found a scrap of paper and began to write down her life。 It's a story of lust， sex， pain， youth， punk， anarchy， gangs， the city， feminism， America， Jean Genet and the prisons we create for ourselves。 A heady， surreal mash-up of coming-of-age tale， prose， poetry， plagiarism and illustration， Kathy Acker's breakthrough 1984 novel caused huge controversy and made her an avant-garde literary icon。
Published to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Kathy Acker's untimely death， Blood and Guts in High School is published for the first time in Penguin Classics， acknowledging the profound impact she has had on our culture， and alongside the authors her work pulsates with the influence of: William S。 Burroughs， Cervantes and Charles Dickens， among others。
'Kathy Acker's writing is virtuoso， maddening， crazy， so sexy， so painful， and beaten out of a wild heart that nothing can tame。 Acker is a landmark writer' Jeanette Winterson
This is the story of Janey， who lived in a locked room， where she found a scrap of paper and began to write down her life。 It's a story of lust， sex， pain， youth， punk， anarchy， gangs， the city， feminism， America， Jean Genet and the prisons we create for ourselves。 A heady， surreal mash-up of coming-of-age tale， prose， poetry， plagiarism and illustration， Kathy Acker's breakthrough 1984 novel caused huge controversy and made her an avant-garde literary icon。
Published to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Kathy Acker's untimely death， Blood and Guts in High School is published for the first time in Penguin Classics， acknowledging the profound impact she has had on our culture， and alongside the authors her work pulsates with the influence of: William S。 Burroughs， Cervantes and Charles Dickens， among others。
Reviews
Ioana
，
This reminded me a lot of 'No One Is Talking About This' by Patricia Lockwood - but with more mixed media in the form of drawings and poetry， as well as with more of a narrative drawn throughout。 But my feelings about it are similar， albeit just slightly better - the structure reads pretentious， but I did find the rawness， the vulgarity and the depiction of sex trafficking scarily spot on。 The book opens with 10 year old Janey having a sexual relationship with her father， her 'boyfriend， brother This reminded me a lot of 'No One Is Talking About This' by Patricia Lockwood - but with more mixed media in the form of drawings and poetry， as well as with more of a narrative drawn throughout。 But my feelings about it are similar， albeit just slightly better - the structure reads pretentious， but I did find the rawness， the vulgarity and the depiction of sex trafficking scarily spot on。 The book opens with 10 year old Janey having a sexual relationship with her father， her 'boyfriend， brother， sister， money， amusement， and father'。 She displays jealousy， fear of abandonment， as well as physical desire。 This is something that she maintains throughout， as she becomes trained as a sex slave。 It's genuinely disturbing， and I can see why it was scandalous when it came out and its reviews remain split。 I found it thought-provoking， striking， but it wasn't my favourite medium or writing style， it reads more like an exhibit in writing， an art show， rather than the author expressing herself freely。 The events that Janey goes through present a contradiction in how we comprehend them and how she does - she is a strong person， never intimidated or scared， who rolls with the punches and with the awful cards she's dealt。 I continue to be surprised that she even enjoyed aspects of her life that I would consider assault， and this contrast between the reader impression and the emotions of a child， with undeveloped emotional intelligence and understanding of self， is astonishing。 。。。more
Hannah Ebersberg
，
That was a trip
Shane
，
This book is messy and confusing。 The characters are pretty real and the situations are raw and disturbing， but the disjointed writing and confusing narrative kind of ruin it towards the last 1/3 of the book。
Madeline
，
Disturbing。 Disturbing。 Disturbing。
aly gerdes
，
I did not like this book at all the first time I read it。 On my third go， it finally clicked。 Such a good， critical， provocative book。
Juan Luis Garcia A。
，
'A human is a being halfway between an alligator and a bird who wants to be a bird。'I had this book sitting on my shelf for over a year before I finally decided to read it。 I did not expect the content that it contains， so it was definitely a very shocking read。 It concerns itself with highly triggering and HEAVY topics。 It is a complex read， and while I enjoyed reading it， at times I got highly frustrated by my inability to decipher certain parts that I felt might have been allegorical。 That is 'A human is a being halfway between an alligator and a bird who wants to be a bird。'I had this book sitting on my shelf for over a year before I finally decided to read it。 I did not expect the content that it contains， so it was definitely a very shocking read。 It concerns itself with highly triggering and HEAVY topics。 It is a complex read， and while I enjoyed reading it， at times I got highly frustrated by my inability to decipher certain parts that I felt might have been allegorical。 That is obviously my fault！ Definitely interested in reading more of Acker's work。 。。。more
Jacob Cook
，
'Writers create what they do out of their own frightful agony and blood and mushed-up guts and horrible mixed-up insides。’ （p。100）Those are the raw ingredients at least。 In Blood and Guts in High School， Kathy Acker massacres herself and puts the eviscerated remains on full display… It’s ugly。 Dirty prose， pornographic parody， scatty illustration， poetry， and automatic writing disturb the deconstructed narrative often to create this big gloopy， blood-stained mess – or， sorry， ”postmodern masterp 'Writers create what they do out of their own frightful agony and blood and mushed-up guts and horrible mixed-up insides。’ （p。100）Those are the raw ingredients at least。 In Blood and Guts in High School， Kathy Acker massacres herself and puts the eviscerated remains on full display… It’s ugly。 Dirty prose， pornographic parody， scatty illustration， poetry， and automatic writing disturb the deconstructed narrative often to create this big gloopy， blood-stained mess – or， sorry， ”postmodern masterpiece”。Sure， Acker had a point， I guess， with her critique of capitalism。 Whether she’s being fucked and fucked about by her dad – and President Carter， and Jean Genet – or selling her soul with a fake smile at the bakery， or being indoctrinated by a Persian slave trader， it constantly proves a raw deal for young Janey。 I mean， who doesn’t feel like their trapped by the system and its institutions of power every now and then？ I found Acker’s insight and dramatic renderings sporadically impressive， funny， sad， and interesting。 But the intent to shock， with formal interruptions and punky bitterness， is too often incomprehensible and dull。 The only way you’ll find this shocking is if it’s the first and only novel of its kind that you read。 But I recognise the influence from Beat writer William S。 Burroughs in her rejection of conventional narrative and the use of the cut-up technique， which Burroughs used in his most famous “novel”， Naked Lunch （which I really ought to read again）。 When I think about it， Blood and Guts is certainly less maddening than the inscrutable text that inspired it， even if it isn’t as original or ambitious。 Though it’s counter-intuitive， Blood and Guts is best when you’re not trying to figure out what it all means， letting its surreal episodes wash over you hypnotically until it topples itself。 But if you’re wanting experimental fiction by a woman writer， Eileen Myles’ Chelsea Girls and Inferno will do just fine。 。。。more
mortician’s daughter
，
uncomfy。 all over the place。
Siobhan Reilly
，
I couldn’t finish it。 maybe i’m too scattered or Kathy is。 but it’s too much
Serdar
，
Kathy Acker had a fascinating life and a sad death， but reading her fiction is like dashing myself against a wall where someone has painted a trompe l'oeil door。 I want to believe there's a way in， but I'm defeated at every turn。 The broiling rage of her work is not what alienates me， but the intentional directionlessness it's been channeled into。 You can only use lack of reward as a purported aim for so long before it just becomes， well， unrewarding。 Maybe "Empire of the Senseless" will be bett Kathy Acker had a fascinating life and a sad death， but reading her fiction is like dashing myself against a wall where someone has painted a trompe l'oeil door。 I want to believe there's a way in， but I'm defeated at every turn。 The broiling rage of her work is not what alienates me， but the intentional directionlessness it's been channeled into。 You can only use lack of reward as a purported aim for so long before it just becomes， well， unrewarding。 Maybe "Empire of the Senseless" will be better？ 。。。more
Tabitha
，
That would be a no for me。
Dany
，
Now。。。。。 when I tell you that this book is a ride。。。。 you definitely gotta have a strong stomach for that one。 Bizarre is one way to describe the experience of reading this。 It feels like Kathy Acker while writing this book was either blatantly honest， exhibitionist even， concerning her unlovely inner world or was thinking "I'm gonna fill this book with so much smut just to make fun of anyone trying to psychoanalyse it"。 Outlandish content aside， I did enjoy some parts - the punky fuck-you-all a Now。。。。。 when I tell you that this book is a ride。。。。 you definitely gotta have a strong stomach for that one。 Bizarre is one way to describe the experience of reading this。 It feels like Kathy Acker while writing this book was either blatantly honest， exhibitionist even， concerning her unlovely inner world or was thinking "I'm gonna fill this book with so much smut just to make fun of anyone trying to psychoanalyse it"。 Outlandish content aside， I did enjoy some parts - the punky fuck-you-all attitude of it， the witty writing， it's discontinued structure （although hard to follow most of the times） the most of all the unexpected appearance of Jean Genet and their little fantasy friendship with the narrator （before it gets real weird in the end）。 I would hardly recommend this to anybody， unless they are really into counterculture and defiant literature， in which case it is a must-read。 。。。more
Ayesha Shamsi
，
interesting
Ieva
，
i don’t know what to think，in all honesty。I enjoyed the storyline， but for me it was too all over the place。 It’s was like talking to a smart， interesting person who wants to tell you everything， so they speak very fast。 You understand some bits， and you are fascinated by those bits。 But everything else just remains gibberish and whiplash of thoughts。
Robert Monday
，
A chore
Sara Platero
，
No he entendido nada del libro。 Empieza presentando a una niña de 10 años y a su padre y lo siguiente es la "niña" como si fuera su "pareja" hablando de actos sexuales con este de forma constante。Es un libro rarísimo， sin un argumento claro y que solo busca provocar。 No he podido acabarlo por el mal cuerpo que me ha puesto。 No he entendido nada del libro。 Empieza presentando a una niña de 10 años y a su padre y lo siguiente es la "niña" como si fuera su "pareja" hablando de actos sexuales con este de forma constante。Es un libro rarísimo， sin un argumento claro y que solo busca provocar。 No he podido acabarlo por el mal cuerpo que me ha puesto。 。。。more
Izzie Jackson Nock
，
It’s not often I finish a book and think to myself ‘I have no idea what i’ve just read’， but this is one of those times！ certain parts of this I really enjoyed， and I love the pastiche technique that Acker uses & has become known for in her work。 I’d like to read more of her stuff just to become more accustomed to it， and once I have i’ll probably give this a reread。
Hazel
，
Dear dreams，You are the only thing that matters。 You are my hope I live for and in you。 You are rawness and wildness， the colours， the scents， passion， events appearing。 You are the things I live for。 Please take me over。 Dreams cause the vision world to break loose our consciousness。 Dreams by themselves aren't enough to destroy the blanket of dullness。 The dreams we allow to destroy us cause us to visions/see the vision world。 Every day a sharp tool a powerful destroyer， is necessary to cut aw Dear dreams，You are the only thing that matters。 You are my hope I live for and in you。 You are rawness and wildness， the colours， the scents， passion， events appearing。 You are the things I live for。 Please take me over。 Dreams cause the vision world to break loose our consciousness。 Dreams by themselves aren't enough to destroy the blanket of dullness。 The dreams we allow to destroy us cause us to visions/see the vision world。 Every day a sharp tool a powerful destroyer， is necessary to cut away dullness， lobotomy， buzzing， belief in human beings， stagnancy， images， and accumulation。 As soon as we stop believing in human beings， rather know we are dogs and trees， we start to be happy。 Once we've gotten a glimpse of the vision world （notice here how the convential language obscures: WE as if somebodies are the centre of activity SEE what is the centre of activity: pure VISION。 Actually， the VISION creates US。 Is anything true？） The biggest pain in the world is feeling but sharper is the pain of self。When I was a child， I would go as far out as possible and jump around and throw my arms around and all the stars are turning。 The winds are blowing through me。 My arms and legs are the winds。 Slowly， the whole universe is starting to revolve like a giant wheel。 This wheel isn't a thing: it is everything。 Everything is on the surface。 That everything is me: I'm just surface: surface is surface。Whirling and whirling and whirling。My body aches and aches and I remember who I am。 OBLIVION IS THE ONLY CURE FOR AGONYMy disease is forever。I know no comfort。 Since we're both maniacs，let's be nice to each other。I want myself to live。I want to burn。all I ask is no one loves mein return。 -kathy acker when i remembered to jot stuff down（100x more incredible the second time through - kathy acker is so bold and creative and people in the reviews say she's lost her edge， or that her book has aged poorly， or that writers these days do all the stuff she does often - LITERALLY WHO？ whoever else ever married literature and porn and fuck-capitalism with scribbles and intricate dream maps？ who did it while writing this well？ with so many fonts and forms and plagiarised shit and so much poetry and satire and psychowhatever and all？ it's also deliciously short and rereadable， which i like。 we are all desperate for love。） 。。。more
Matteo
，
freewheeling fascinating and a bit of a scattered reading experience
Buzzkill
，
What。 The fuck。 Did I just read？？？This book is the definition of mind-fuck。It's disturbing， it's raw， it's crude。And it's a fascinating glimpse into consciousness， because that's all this is。 Stream of consciousness。 It's muddled and confusing， but it has beautiful phrases that will stick with me。 How can a book be so confusing， and yet state things that are so relatable to the human condition？ I guess because the human condition is confusing in and of itself。 What。 The fuck。 Did I just read？？？This book is the definition of mind-fuck。It's disturbing， it's raw， it's crude。And it's a fascinating glimpse into consciousness， because that's all this is。 Stream of consciousness。 It's muddled and confusing， but it has beautiful phrases that will stick with me。 How can a book be so confusing， and yet state things that are so relatable to the human condition？ I guess because the human condition is confusing in and of itself。 。。。more
Claire
，
Weird but thought provoking。
Clara Mars
，
spent the entire afternoon in olin reading this book in one sitting just so I didn't have to actually check it out。 very strange couple of hours。 some of it i liked， some of it i didn't。 have wanted to read this for a while， but not really what I expected。 reading this after moshfegh is interesting， because it makes moshfegh seem SO much less disturbing。 anyway， im gonna need some time to think about this one。 spent the entire afternoon in olin reading this book in one sitting just so I didn't have to actually check it out。 very strange couple of hours。 some of it i liked， some of it i didn't。 have wanted to read this for a while， but not really what I expected。 reading this after moshfegh is interesting， because it makes moshfegh seem SO much less disturbing。 anyway， im gonna need some time to think about this one。 。。。more
kyli🌈
，
i really really liked this book at times I found it hard to follow but， I enjoyed the unusual way of writing the use of illustrations， poetry， etc etc
Anna
，
Mixer + my eyes！ The worst book I have ever read。
Charlie Bouilloux
，
hmmmm
Steven
，
I don't think I've ever read anything quite like this before。 This is some gloriously fucked-up shit。 Had Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen ever been parents - now there's a scary thought - I'd imagine them reading this to their kids as a bedtime story， ha！ I don't think I've ever read anything quite like this before。 This is some gloriously fucked-up shit。 Had Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen ever been parents - now there's a scary thought - I'd imagine them reading this to their kids as a bedtime story， ha！ 。。。more
Melinda Boyd
，
Kathy Acker the great iconoclast。 This is punk fiction。 An endless delight。
Holly Rowley
，
There is really no one like Kathy Acker。Essential read， even if u end up hating it。Didn’t necessarily get all of it so it’s one you go back to n see differently each time if this is ur thing
Kenzie
，
reading acker is nuts because you’ll wade through the most bewildering bizarro nonsense ， just to reach a sentence that boils your insides / reduces humanity to its core 。
Faith
，