Modelland by Tyra Banks - A terrifying young adult narcissistic fever dream

[Randall Fragg]

The 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back podcast (a bad book podcast from Mike Nelson of MST3K fame) just covered this book. I couldn't bring myself to read more than a couple of chapters, but the podcast was funny.

Agreed. I highly recommend giving it a listen if you want the annotated version of this datura-trip.
Modelland is a fascinatingly bad book in just how grotesque and bizarre it is, and the disturbing stuff that is just...exists in it's weird little universe. Like Hunchy, the hunchback murderer who wants to cut out and devour the pancreas of a specific 15-year old girl.

 

[Fromtheblackdepths]

If anyone gives a hoot, the name of Shiraz's place is Canne Del Abra. I am not joking.

 

[Fromtheblackdepths]

"The girl stood behind the counter. Her name tag said Dylan. Dylan was shaped like a bottle of Bou-Big-Tique cola and had a heart-shaped face."
See, this description is why I think she's not fat.

 

[Furina]

The book is terrible, but there's a nugget of an idea in there, a society ruled over by a magical class of beautiful ones, that I think could make a decent YA dystopia novel if it was written by someone with talent and imagination.

 

[AmarettoPie]

I think this is going to be the first book I buy exclusively to study. I've been reading here and listening to the 372 podcast and everything I hear just fascinates me. The world itself is whimsical and bizarre as fuck, which is seriously my jam. But the characters, the names, and everything else is so, so, SO damn cringe! I love it!

Though I will say that the podcast is kinda irritating me. They keep reading descriptions that are very easy to picture and saying that they can't visualize it at all. Are they not even trying or paying attention or what?

 

[Fromtheblackdepths]

Though I will say that the podcast is kinda irritating me. They keep reading descriptions that are very easy to picture and saying that they can't visualize it at all. Are they not even trying or paying attention or what?

Answer:

But the characters, the names, and everything else is so, so, SO damn cringe! I love it!

 

[AmarettoPie]

Answer:

So...autism, then? They get so hyper-focused on the cringe that they literally become incapable of thought?

No, really, I'm tapping out at episode four and waiting for KrimsonRogue to post his review. These guys just frustrating at this point.

 

[Lame Entropy]

I want to call this crap on principle but I genuinely want to know what happens.

 

[Rezza]

So do I. I know its crap but I really want to know how this book end with all this insanity, and yet I don't want to read it myself

 

[Fromtheblackdepths]

It's a real guilty pleasure of mine. It's like a druggy kid version of something China Melville would pop out.

 

[Uzumaki]

So do I. I know its crap but I really want to know how this book end with all this insanity, and yet I don't want to read it myself

It hasn't even really gotten weird yet. The thing about Modelland is that it is never satisfied with the crazy it has. It always has to find newer, bigger crazy.

It's a real guilty pleasure of mine. It's like a druggy kid version of something China Melville would pop out.

I think this might rise to the level of libel depending on where your jurisdiction.

 

[BigTubboWithLittleChina]

Krimsonrogue takes about 3 hours to really take this shit apart, but he does it so well that I forgive him.

Too Stupid to Hate | A Book Review of Modelland by Tyra Banks

I've read plenty of crazy stories before, but Modelland might be the most insane novel I've read that still had a coherent narrative.(Cruel World, Happy Mind...

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