Synopses & Reviews
A wonderful accomplishment. . . . The power is in the writing. Mr. Meno is a superb craftsman.”Hubert Selby Jr.
The author moves the story along at a surprisingly fast and easy pace. The evil eyes of small-town America seem to peer from every page of Menos claustrophobic noir, where the good and the bad are forced down the same violent paths.”Kirkus Reviews
Joe Meno writes with the energy, honesty, and emotional impact of the best punk rock.”Jim DeRogatis, pop music critic, Chicago Sun-Times
A likable winner that should bolster Menos reputation.” Publishers Weekly
Joe Meno writes with the energy, honesty, and emotional impact of the best punk rock.” Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times
Fans of hard-boiled pulp fiction will particularly enjoy this novel.” Booklist
A young ex-con in a small Illinois town. A lonely giant with a haunted past. A beautiful girl with a troubled heart. Strange and darkly magical, How the Hula Girl Sings begins exactly where most pulp fiction usually ends, with the vivid episode of the terrible crime itself. Three years later, Luce Lemay, out on parole for the awful tragedy, does his best to finds hope: in a new job at the local Gas-N-Go; in his companion and fellow ex-con, Junior Breen, who spells out puzzling messages to the unquiet ghosts of his past; and finally, in the arms of the lovely but reckless Charlene. How the Hula Girl Sings is a suspenseful exploration of a country bright with the far-off stars of forgiveness and dark with the still-looming shadow of the death penalty.
Review
"A wonderful accomplishment....The power is in the writing. Mr. Meno is a superb craftsman." Hubert Selby, Jr.
Review
"The author moves the story along at a surprisingly fast and easy pace. The evil eyes of small-town America seem to peer from every page of Meno's claustrophobic noir, where the good and the bad are forced down the same violent paths." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Joe Meno writes with the energy, honesty, and emotional impact of the best punk rock." Jim DeRogatis, pop music critic, Chicago Sun-Times
Synopsis
Luce Lemay, fresh out of prison and ready to repent, can't catch a break in his old hometown. No one can seem to forget the tragic accident that left an infant dead and led to his incarceration. When a lovely waitress named Charlene begins to respond to Luce's diligent romantic overtures, he thinks he's finally been redeemed. But his happiness is short-lived, and in a violent climax, Luce finds out just how far small-minded people will go to protect their narrow world-view.
This novel describes the ugly, unforgiving underbelly of the American dream with a voice as raw and visceral as a desperate cry for help in some godforsaken back alley. By turns achingly tragic and wholeheartedly hopeful, Hula Girl plumbs the depths of the schizophrenic American psyche and forces us all to confront the harsh realities and sublime potential of the human heart.
Synopsis
"Joe Meno writes with the energy, honesty, and emotional impact of the best punk rock." --Chicago Sun-Times
A young ex-con in a small Illinois town. A lonely giant with a haunted past. A beautiful girl with a troubled heart. Strange and darkly magical, How the Hula Girl Sings begins exactly where most pulp fiction usually ends, with the vivid episode of the terrible crime itself. Three years later, Luce Lemay, out on parole for the awful tragedy, does his best to finds hope: in a new job at the local Gas-N-Go; in his companion and fellow ex-con, Junior Breen, who spells out puzzling messages to the unquiet ghosts of his past; and finally, in the arms of the lovely but reckless Charlene. How the Hula Girl Sings is a suspenseful exploration of a country bright with the far-off stars of forgiveness, but still dark with the still-looming shadow of the death penalty.
Synopsis
In this gritty, sexy story, ex-con Luce LeMay must fight for his life and his integrity in twisted small-town USA.
Synopsis
Fiction. A young ex-con in a small Illinois town. A lonely giant with a haunted past. A beautiful girl with a troubled heart. Strange and darkly magical, HOW THE HULA GIRL
Synopsis
Paperback reissue of the second novel from the author of the indie-hit Hairstyles of the Damned
About the Author
Joe Meno (born 1974) is a novelist, writer of short fiction, playwright, and music journalist based in Chicago. After attending Columbia College Chicago, Meno spent time working as a flower delivery truck driver and art therapy teacher at a juvenile detention center. His first novel Tender as Hellfire was published when he was only 24 and received strong reviews from sources like Library Journal. His short fiction has appeared in literary magazines like Tri-Quarterly, Ninth Letter, and Other Voices. Meno's work is known for the use of natural language and realistic dialogue, as well as frequent forays into absurdity. He currently teaches fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago. He is a frequent contributor to Punk Planet magazine, where his comic strip Iceberg Town is featured.