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Satan Loves You
Satan hates his job. Managing Hell is the worst job ever invented and after several millennia of listening to the constant whining of damned souls, Satan is totally burned out. But there are no holidays in Hell, and now, in the face of a power grab by the officious and smarmy Heavenly Host, Satan's got to reach deep and find a way to save his home from corporate takeover. Featuring hat-wearing chihuahuas, hyper-violent nuns with poor impulse control, and metaphysical wrestling matches, Satan Loves You is the book for everyone who hates boring books. Do you love romance? Do you adore fantasy epics about anorexic elves who sing? Is your idea of a perfect evening curling up with a cozy mystery and a nice cup of tea? Then go away! Satan Loves You is a high-octane injection of literary adrenaline that annihilates romance, kills elves, and makes hot tea explode into a massive fireball that will melt your face!
298 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2011
57 people are currently reading
9277 people want to read
About the author
Grady Hendrix
66 books34.7k followersGrady Hendrix is the author of the novels Horrorstör, about a haunted IKEA, and My Best Friend's Exorcism, which is like Beaches meets The Exorcist, only it's set in the Eighties. He's also the author of We Sold Our Souls, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, and the upcoming (July 13!) Final Girl Support Group!
He's also the jerk behind the Stoker award-winning Paperbacks from Hell, a history of the 70's and 80's horror paperback boom, which contains more information about Nazi leprechauns, killer babies, and evil cats than you probably need.
And he's the screenwriter behind Mohawk, which is probably the only horror movie about the War of 1812 and Satanic Panic.
You can listen to free, amazing, and did I mention free podcasts of his fiction on Pseudopod. He also does a podcast called Super Scary Haunted Homeschool.
If you're not already sick of him, you can learn all his secrets at his website.
He's also the jerk behind the Stoker award-winning Paperbacks from Hell, a history of the 70's and 80's horror paperback boom, which contains more information about Nazi leprechauns, killer babies, and evil cats than you probably need.
And he's the screenwriter behind Mohawk, which is probably the only horror movie about the War of 1812 and Satanic Panic.
You can listen to free, amazing, and did I mention free podcasts of his fiction on Pseudopod. He also does a podcast called Super Scary Haunted Homeschool.
If you're not already sick of him, you can learn all his secrets at his website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
May 1, 2011
I wrote this book but still I am always surprised by just how awesome it is. I have used it to convince a rampaging bull not to attack, to help a bear enter early hibernation, to hypnotize an enormous bee and to cure a child with a high fever.
August 23, 2011
I read so much of the sample out loud to my family that they kicked me out of the house. My mother later called to apologize, ask for the sample for her own kindle, and offered to bring me a tomato sandwich (probably unrelated to everything else, but I'm never certain.).
I'm dropping everything else to read this right now.
Finished, and I think I'll let Mark Twain write my review for me:
"But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?"
I'm dropping everything else to read this right now.
Finished, and I think I'll let Mark Twain write my review for me:
"But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?"
January 13, 2023
3.5 stars. This book was a helluva good time!! Hilarious, it really felt like Hendrix had fun with this one!
September 16, 2025
Hilarious! I do not often laugh out loud at books, not at most movies or TV shows for that matter. A smirking huff is usually the most that I will audibly emit. In this context, I must reveal that I laughed out loud at multiple points while reading this book, in a variety of settings and company, starting with the opening pages. If memory serves, it was a throw-away line where an angel is telling Satan to back to hell and "enjoy your ham, and your eggs…” or something to that effect that first did me in. It was ridiculous but it tickled me. Many other points in the book did the same, as the author absolutely eviscerates hipsters, Monopoly, professional wrestling, Charo, Quiznos, airport massage centers, and many other worthy targets in a delightful way.
It goes without saying that if you might be offended by thoroughly sacrilegious portrayals of the holy host, heaven, and theology in general, you should avoid a book titled “Satan Loves You”. The rest of you are free to enjoy this very special treat.
This is a self-published novel by Grady Hendrix, his first full-length novel as far as I know, and given his earned success with his recent works it deserves broader exposure. I will be sharing my copy with any acquaintances who might be interested.
It goes without saying that if you might be offended by thoroughly sacrilegious portrayals of the holy host, heaven, and theology in general, you should avoid a book titled “Satan Loves You”. The rest of you are free to enjoy this very special treat.
This is a self-published novel by Grady Hendrix, his first full-length novel as far as I know, and given his earned success with his recent works it deserves broader exposure. I will be sharing my copy with any acquaintances who might be interested.
September 28, 2013
Disclosure: Somehow I got a free copy of this book from somewhere and I decided what the heck, I’ll review it in thanks. Smile – Satan loves you!
My Synopsis: Satan is having a rough millennium or so – it’s been a good 2000 years since he last came up with a new torture, everything is falling apart, his operating budget is on a shoestring, Heaven is constantly on his back about one thing or another, Death messed up and Satan fired him in frustration and now the dead are staying alive and backing up on Earth, and to make matters worse, the Ultimate Death Match is coming up and none of his regular fighters are willing to fight, or available. To make matters worse, there is a pregnant, virgin nun that he has to kill to clean up the mess he made at the Charlotte airport when he let his mind wander and evil randomly assaulted the place. What is a stressed-out devil to do? Will the plotting of the angels to take over Hell leave Satan out of a job?
My Review: I have to tell you, I haven’t laughed this much in ages. I don’t know anything about the guy who wrote this book, but let me tell you, he must be one twisted individual – and I mean that in the best possible way. Among the celebrity cameos that tickled my fancy were Pope Benedict XVI, Alexander the Great, Emperor Nero (who is Satan’s assistant), and Charo – you remember? Cootchie, cootchie? Yeah, her – leading a “Hava Nagileh” sing-along across the River Archeron no less! This has to be one of the funniest things I’ve read this year so far – and maybe even in the past couple of years. Not only that, but it is well-written, well-edited, and populated with amusing, eccentric and just all-around fun characters. If you want a good laugh, you HAVE to buy this book – HIGHLY recommended!
My Synopsis: Satan is having a rough millennium or so – it’s been a good 2000 years since he last came up with a new torture, everything is falling apart, his operating budget is on a shoestring, Heaven is constantly on his back about one thing or another, Death messed up and Satan fired him in frustration and now the dead are staying alive and backing up on Earth, and to make matters worse, the Ultimate Death Match is coming up and none of his regular fighters are willing to fight, or available. To make matters worse, there is a pregnant, virgin nun that he has to kill to clean up the mess he made at the Charlotte airport when he let his mind wander and evil randomly assaulted the place. What is a stressed-out devil to do? Will the plotting of the angels to take over Hell leave Satan out of a job?
My Review: I have to tell you, I haven’t laughed this much in ages. I don’t know anything about the guy who wrote this book, but let me tell you, he must be one twisted individual – and I mean that in the best possible way. Among the celebrity cameos that tickled my fancy were Pope Benedict XVI, Alexander the Great, Emperor Nero (who is Satan’s assistant), and Charo – you remember? Cootchie, cootchie? Yeah, her – leading a “Hava Nagileh” sing-along across the River Archeron no less! This has to be one of the funniest things I’ve read this year so far – and maybe even in the past couple of years. Not only that, but it is well-written, well-edited, and populated with amusing, eccentric and just all-around fun characters. If you want a good laugh, you HAVE to buy this book – HIGHLY recommended!
May 28, 2022
Have you ever wondered why Satan is so bad?
In "Satan Loves You" we hear his side of the story.
Hell is not all it is supposed to be, in fact it is breaking down and literally going to hell.
Enjoy!
In "Satan Loves You" we hear his side of the story.
Hell is not all it is supposed to be, in fact it is breaking down and literally going to hell.
Enjoy!
January 19, 2023
Sātanam Ellē neiet- naudas nav, gāzes trubas (izmanto grēcinieku cepināšanai) aizsērējušas, dēmonī streiko (slikti darba apstākļi, sociālo garantiju trūkums), kāds atkal ir apēdis žurkas, kurām būtu jāgrauž grēcinieku miesas (aizdomās tiek turēti goblini), sēru vairs nedod uz parāda, trīsgalvainis suns jāaizvieto ar trīsgalvainu trusi (tas mazāk ēd). Kā ķirsīts uz tortes - Nāvi bija jāatlaiž darba līguma pārkāpuma dēļ, bet tā vēl pusbēda - HR tās vietā atsūta Hipsteri(!!!). Vienvārdsakot - īsta Elle.
Hendrix parasti pievēršas šausmenēm, šo drīzāk varētu uzskatīt par satīru. Elles līdzība ar budžeta iestādi bija ekselenti attēlota.
Hendrix parasti pievēršas šausmenēm, šo drīzāk varētu uzskatīt par satīru. Elles līdzība ar budžeta iestādi bija ekselenti attēlota.
January 26, 2022
If you are into bizarre - then this is a book for you. I've long loved Grady Hendrix and his absurd horror novels and this one was a real treat - while not my favorite of his - it had the most fun imagining of hell that I've ever read or seen. Satan has been struggling for eons - there simply isn't enough money to keep hell running at the standard it was used to. The demons are dispirited, it's becoming rundown, and Satan has had enough. He fired Death in a fit of rage, is trying to find a fighter for the upcoming Ultimate Death Match versus Heaven, is being sued by a woman claiming he assaulted her, and then gets word that the angels up above need him to kill a nun. Simply put Satan snaps. Intricately detailed with hilarious asides, this reads like a B-movie and is so much good fun. I could have cared less about the plot and just read about how hell operates. Definitely a uniquely weird read.
December 13, 2020
Hats off to Marc for the recommendation. Just what I needed to cleanse my palate.
That cover is all kinds of bad, but this book is all kinds of hilarious fun. An overabundance of celebrities and characters packed into 300 pages. I swear I haven't had so much laughter pains from a book in ages.
My favorite celebrity spotlight goes to Nancy Grace. Grady Hendrix channeled Nancy Grace to the T. I could see her hard look and hear her nasally voice every time she had a scene.
Disclaimer: I did not create these photos. I only possess the immaturity to repost them.
This book has everything. It has songing and dancing.
Hipsters and lawsuits.
And of course demons and angels. There are a couple of demons that I loved. Oh and Death! How could I forget him? He was hilarious! Between the angels and demons I'm going to go Team Demon all the way!
February 14, 2021
There is no way to accurately describe this book, it’s the kind of book that you just need to experience for yourself! The best description I can come up with is a cross between Palahniuk’s Damned/Doomed and Wong’s John Dies at the End and a dash of Supernatural and it makes for one hell of a killer combination. I had no idea what a wild and crazy ride I was in for when I started this book, and was it ever wild and crazy. It was also both hilarious and horrifying, it had me laughing one second and cringing the next. This is truly a wonderfully weird book that every horror fan with a sense of humour needs to read and I couldn’t have loved it more!
April 26, 2018
I liked this book. It was better than okay. At the end was a personal message from Hendrix stating that he had fun writing it but has since then written better books. I'd likely agree. I was a bigger fan of one of his later books but this one was definitely worth the read and had its funny parts. Looking forward to reading his new one.
January 23, 2018
Grady Hendrix is fast becoming a new favourite author. His comedy horror style is superb and feels so cinematic that I hope films are made of his books.
February 28, 2020
TW: Sexual Assault Mentioned
Edgy in all the wrong ways, this "dark comedy" feels outdated and amateurish, awkward and uncomfortable more than anything close to funny, engaging, or compelling. It's a far cry from Grady Hendrix's penomenal later works, filled with typos and grammatical errors, casual racism, slurs, unsettling questions of consent, victim-blaming, bad women's anatomy (apparently you can tell if a woman's hymen is intact, thereby proving she is a virgin, through an ultrasound), and an entire plotline centered around a false rape accusation trial that is so tone-deaf and poorly executed both in the face of both another characters struggle with a celestial-rape-induced pregnancy and the current social climate that it completely misses the point (it seemed) Hendrix was trying to make, if there was even one to begin with. While I recognize that the novel was published in 2012 and likely written sometime before, most of these issues aren't new. Rather than address issues of gender discrimination and sexual assault in a head-on and articulate way like Hendrix's later novels, "Satan Loves You" seems to revel in mocking anything even remotely controversial to a tired degree, beating topical and thematic horses long after they've died, decomposed, and fossilized. Although there is a certain freedom in "no topic is too taboo", irreverent comedy, it often goes a step too far in this book, crossing the threshold from mildly unfunny to wildly unsettling. And beyond the subject matter itself, the uneven writing styles, slow pacing, repetitive prose, typos, and grammatical errors make this book feel like it was written by two authors, one of whom was a fifteen-year-old creative writing student out to stick it to their Catholic mom.
In short, it is a poorly written, poorly constructed novel that did nothing but disappoint, which sucks. I had high hopes, and consider Hendrix one of my favorite authors. I won't be cancelling my pre-order for his newest book, though, and am glad that he seems to have entirely moved past this style of writing in recent years. 1/5.
Edgy in all the wrong ways, this "dark comedy" feels outdated and amateurish, awkward and uncomfortable more than anything close to funny, engaging, or compelling. It's a far cry from Grady Hendrix's penomenal later works, filled with typos and grammatical errors, casual racism, slurs, unsettling questions of consent, victim-blaming, bad women's anatomy (apparently you can tell if a woman's hymen is intact, thereby proving she is a virgin, through an ultrasound), and an entire plotline centered around a false rape accusation trial that is so tone-deaf and poorly executed both in the face of both another characters struggle with a celestial-rape-induced pregnancy and the current social climate that it completely misses the point (it seemed) Hendrix was trying to make, if there was even one to begin with. While I recognize that the novel was published in 2012 and likely written sometime before, most of these issues aren't new. Rather than address issues of gender discrimination and sexual assault in a head-on and articulate way like Hendrix's later novels, "Satan Loves You" seems to revel in mocking anything even remotely controversial to a tired degree, beating topical and thematic horses long after they've died, decomposed, and fossilized. Although there is a certain freedom in "no topic is too taboo", irreverent comedy, it often goes a step too far in this book, crossing the threshold from mildly unfunny to wildly unsettling. And beyond the subject matter itself, the uneven writing styles, slow pacing, repetitive prose, typos, and grammatical errors make this book feel like it was written by two authors, one of whom was a fifteen-year-old creative writing student out to stick it to their Catholic mom.
In short, it is a poorly written, poorly constructed novel that did nothing but disappoint, which sucks. I had high hopes, and consider Hendrix one of my favorite authors. I won't be cancelling my pre-order for his newest book, though, and am glad that he seems to have entirely moved past this style of writing in recent years. 1/5.
April 24, 2015
You will probably enjoy this if you appreciate absurd humor, pop-culture references and/or have a strong distaste for hipsters.
July 6, 2021
Blasphemous.
Outrageous.
Hilarious.
These words are still not adequate to describe what was written in this book. The devil is facing mid-life crisis. And hell is on the verge of corporate take over from heaven. Angels are conspiring against the Prince of lies. Real estate is the name of the game. And we are thrown into a crazy outlandish plot that is nonsensical, satiric, and crazy ( times 10). I was laughing my head off the entire time I was reading this book. And at times horrified.
Meet Satan of the 21st century who is going through a very hard time. The hell needs an upgrade and he doesn't have money to do it. Money 💰 is a major issue and in the 21st century, he has more admissions than ever without the infrastructure to support the new surge in population. Moreover, there is a scandal brewing on Earth where he has supposedly molested a girl ( quite graphically, I might add). On a totally different note, he is going to be a father ( congrats?). All in all, he is swamped with work and the world is against him. Did I forget something? Ah...yes...Angels want to take over hell. It's a prime spot, they say. So, we see the devil in all his mundane glory. The underdog against the trials.
This is not a book for everyone. Many pop culture and religious references are insulted. And outrageously so. But, the brunt of the insult is taken by the hipsters. I don't know what the author has against the hippie culture. But they are thoroughly thrashed in the book.
This book is not recommended for everyone. Think twice before you read this one. The author has no aim to preserve your sanity. And he has no sense of censorship. So, read this at your own risk. Perils wait you ahead comrades if you are planning to read this one.
Outrageous.
Hilarious.
These words are still not adequate to describe what was written in this book. The devil is facing mid-life crisis. And hell is on the verge of corporate take over from heaven. Angels are conspiring against the Prince of lies. Real estate is the name of the game. And we are thrown into a crazy outlandish plot that is nonsensical, satiric, and crazy ( times 10). I was laughing my head off the entire time I was reading this book. And at times horrified.
Meet Satan of the 21st century who is going through a very hard time. The hell needs an upgrade and he doesn't have money to do it. Money 💰 is a major issue and in the 21st century, he has more admissions than ever without the infrastructure to support the new surge in population. Moreover, there is a scandal brewing on Earth where he has supposedly molested a girl ( quite graphically, I might add). On a totally different note, he is going to be a father ( congrats?). All in all, he is swamped with work and the world is against him. Did I forget something? Ah...yes...Angels want to take over hell. It's a prime spot, they say. So, we see the devil in all his mundane glory. The underdog against the trials.
This is not a book for everyone. Many pop culture and religious references are insulted. And outrageously so. But, the brunt of the insult is taken by the hipsters. I don't know what the author has against the hippie culture. But they are thoroughly thrashed in the book.
This book is not recommended for everyone. Think twice before you read this one. The author has no aim to preserve your sanity. And he has no sense of censorship. So, read this at your own risk. Perils wait you ahead comrades if you are planning to read this one.
January 12, 2023
“They got me from all sides. The legal settlement, the Death Match, everything.”
“Satan Loves You” by Grady Hendrix gets 4 out of 5 stars.
This is as Grady Hendrix as it gets with a Heaven vs. Hell story. The idea of the holy and unholy kingdoms functioning as corporations is genius and sad within itself. Each detail was thought out including the treatment of their “clients” and how each place works internally as well as among the living.
This is story is majority through Satan. He’s broke, being sued and on the brink of losing his realm to Heaven. Hell is falling apart (literally) and he has no means to fix it. He has to prepare for battle and fight not only Heaven but people trying to sue him for their fall into cults/satanism (that he has nothing to do with other than the use of his name). With the help of a nun and his assistant, Satan has a slim chance of keeping what’s his until things start to come into focus.
Overall, there’s were some areas that dragged out and were slow. It is a ridiculous and comedic telling of Heaven vs. Hell. Watch out for those hipsters!
Please visit my GoodReads or Instagram profile (Ashesandlore) for more reviews. Thank you!
“Satan Loves You” by Grady Hendrix gets 4 out of 5 stars.
This is as Grady Hendrix as it gets with a Heaven vs. Hell story. The idea of the holy and unholy kingdoms functioning as corporations is genius and sad within itself. Each detail was thought out including the treatment of their “clients” and how each place works internally as well as among the living.
This is story is majority through Satan. He’s broke, being sued and on the brink of losing his realm to Heaven. Hell is falling apart (literally) and he has no means to fix it. He has to prepare for battle and fight not only Heaven but people trying to sue him for their fall into cults/satanism (that he has nothing to do with other than the use of his name). With the help of a nun and his assistant, Satan has a slim chance of keeping what’s his until things start to come into focus.
Overall, there’s were some areas that dragged out and were slow. It is a ridiculous and comedic telling of Heaven vs. Hell. Watch out for those hipsters!
Please visit my GoodReads or Instagram profile (Ashesandlore) for more reviews. Thank you!
November 9, 2011
3.5-4 stars. I'd put this one in the Bizarro category. Basically, Satan is the harried manager/CEO of hell. He's burnt out (pun intended), beset by minions who are either on strike or uninspired and he's try to keep things running on a shoe string budget. He is so frazzled he even fires Death which wreaks all sorts of havoc on Earth. Also, since Death was to be Hell's champion in their upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship with Heaven, Satan's kind of screwed as he can't find a replacement. This book had a decent number of laugh out loud moments. And the author's take on the evilness of Hipsters was worth the read alone. A bargain on kindle for .99 cents. All in all a fun, quick read.
October 8, 2022
The beginning was funny and interesting. This is a satire and parody of good and evil, heaven and hell, religion, beliefs etc. I was really enjoying myself until about the midway point where it started to just feel long. I think this would have worked so much better as a novella rather than pushing it to be a full length novel. The second part of the plot was to me boring and jarring. Angels are just overall overrated whether it’s in movies or books 🤭
Overall nice parody but way too long for what it is.
Overall nice parody but way too long for what it is.
August 13, 2019
This sympathetic devil story was possibly the best book I've read this year. I picked this up because the shameless self promotion of the author was as hilarious as it was charming. Turns out, that's how I viewed the entire book: hilarious and charming. You just really feel for Satan. It's impossible not to. Not sure what that says about us but there it is.
Definitely the best take on a relatable Satan I have ever read or seen. Simply an awesome book that you will not regret reading.
Definitely the best take on a relatable Satan I have ever read or seen. Simply an awesome book that you will not regret reading.
September 3, 2018
This is not the author’s best book. I’ve read two others where he admirably walks the tightrope between horror and satire. Not many people can do that. This one tips over entirely to satire, and also, Neil Gaiman’s done the dysfunctional Lucifer better. 3 stars + one extra because I share many pet peeves with the author.
September 3, 2020
Satan is going through some very bad times. The dude hasn't invented a new torture for a millennia and the smarmy heavenly host is trying to takeover hell.
Full of hilarity and bizarreness, it is hard not to feel sympathy for Satan. Even though it's my second read I enjoyed it just as much.
If you are not religiously sensitive or a hipster you must give it a try.
Full of hilarity and bizarreness, it is hard not to feel sympathy for Satan. Even though it's my second read I enjoyed it just as much.
If you are not religiously sensitive or a hipster you must give it a try.
April 25, 2019
A hilarious look at how heaven and hell really work. By the end of it you feel so sorry for Satan as his work is never done. I love Hendrix writing style and you never know what your going to get with each book as they are completely different from each other, but equally as entertaining.
July 31, 2020
What I love about Hendrix is his ability to take something so terrifying and serious and make it laugh out loud hilarious and also thought provoking.
I don’t really want to talk about the book too much because it will spoil the laughs, but I will give a warning....hipsters....beware😈😉
I don’t really want to talk about the book too much because it will spoil the laughs, but I will give a warning....hipsters....beware😈😉
February 9, 2018
TFW the angels invade hell and are defeated by the insurmountable annoyingness of hipsters. This was crazy funny.
December 31, 2021
5🌟 Well done! *chef’s kiss*
March 2, 2024
Quiero empezar diciendo que el título y la portada pueden llegar a engañar, pero no, no es un romance ni nada de eso.
En segundo lugar, he de aclarar que no tomen muy en serio mis cinco estrellas. Estoy siendo totalmente subjetiva en esta reseña. La pasé re bien leyendo el libro y para mí eso merece este puntaje, pero más bien tendría que tener unas cuatro estrellas.
Este libro lo tenía en pendiente desde hace tiempo, diría que desde que conozco a Hendrix y leí un libro suyo (este es el tercero que leo de él). Confesando que me llamó la atención más bien por el título que por la trama, siempre lo postergaba porque veía y leía reseñas muy variadas. La verdad que no quería que el libro me decepcione, tenía muchas expectativas puestas en él, porque, como siempre, las malas reseñas suenan más en mi, así que me negaba a leerlo. Hasta que me acordé de este libro en San Valentin, y dije "¿por qué no?", y qué buena decisión.
Grady Hendrix escribió este libro nada más para sacarse las ganas, porque estaba aburrido y dijo "si no lo hago ahora, ¿cuándo?" y me encanta (creo, ni idea si pasó eso pero en sus páginas se nota lo bien que la pasó escribiendo). Es absurdo pero lógico en partes iguales, no se le escapan los detalles. Si bien sí hay algunos pequeños momentos en los que me preguntaba por qué agregaba de más, creo que le da su toque y, al final, ata todos los nudos sueltos. En otro momento (o, más bien, en otros libros), este punto me sacaría las ganas de seguir el libro y me daría pereza, pero me gustó que le dé trasfondo a los personajes, sean los principales o secundarios (o los que no vuelven a aparecer más), y aclara muchas cosas para establecer bien las bases de su historia.
Si me conocen saben que una de mis historias favoritas (o, más bien llamados tropes favoritos) son las que se muestran a los "malos" teniendo una vida normal (dependiendo a qué se le llama vida normal), especialmente cuando se trata de Satanás o todo lo relacionado a la religión cristiana. Este libro, como pueden ver/leer, lo hace, se burla e ironiza, no solo a esos personajes religiosos, también agrega a personas reales y famosas de nuestra época o anterior (no voy a mencionarlos porque, si lo llegan a leer, quiero que se rían tanto como yo cuando los menciona), o hasta a la misma población estadounidense.
Satanás es un pobre ser cansado de lo que le pasa, a quien en toda la historia no lo dejan en paz un segundo, y llega un punto que hasta empatizas con él y te da lástima. Y aún con todo ese drama, las risas no faltan.
Como mencioné antes, el libro es absurdo. Pone a todos esos personajes en situaciones o conversaciones muy random, en las que, en lo personal, hasta me hicieron tirar la cabeza hacia atrás para reírme a carcajadas. Capaz soy yo que necesitaba un buen libro cómico y bizarro para olvidarme un poco de mi y perderme, pero en casi todas las punchlines de los chistes me hicieron reír, por más tontas que hayan sido. Hasta diría que, por ahora, es el libro más gracioso que he leído de Hendrix y que realmente merece estar catalogado como comedia.
Ahora bien, el único problema que le puedo llegar a ver, es que es muy estadounidense, tiene prácticamente la bandera pintada en todas las páginas. Es sutil en algunas cosas, pero es bastante obvio. No sé, en lo personal eso me chirría un poco los dientes.
En fin. Creo que no tengo nada más para decir.
El libro fue un viaje bastante bonito y fue como ver una película cómica, una que realmente necesitaba para reírme un rato. La pasé mal por momentos, cuando el drama y la desesperación de nuestro protagonista (Satanás) estaba en su punto máximo, pero luego de que todas las piezas comenzaran a acomodarse, yo estaba saltando en mi cama y chillando contenta. Y esa última página, esas últimas palabras... Qué bonito, realmente. Me tocó hasta el alma. No voy a negar que algunas lágrimas se me escaparon de la felicidad, y hasta me dejó con ganas de continuar el viaje aún sabiendo que ese final fue suficiente.
Por cierto, sí me quedó una duda bastante... grande sobre algo, pero no voy a decirla porque es un spoiler y quiero que se rían también(?).
POR CIERTO.
Edito para agregar una cosa que me había olvidado de agregar totalmente, y es que Grady toma cosas de La Divina Comedia. No sólo hay un par de guiños a la obra magna de Alighieri, sino que también toma la idea de los círculos del infierno. Si bien la obra del italiano no es totalmente canon, me encanta que se respete tanto y se refiera a ella; es un bonito detalle y, para mi que me gusta tanto Dante y su obra, le suma un montón de puntos.
En segundo lugar, he de aclarar que no tomen muy en serio mis cinco estrellas. Estoy siendo totalmente subjetiva en esta reseña. La pasé re bien leyendo el libro y para mí eso merece este puntaje, pero más bien tendría que tener unas cuatro estrellas.
Este libro lo tenía en pendiente desde hace tiempo, diría que desde que conozco a Hendrix y leí un libro suyo (este es el tercero que leo de él). Confesando que me llamó la atención más bien por el título que por la trama, siempre lo postergaba porque veía y leía reseñas muy variadas. La verdad que no quería que el libro me decepcione, tenía muchas expectativas puestas en él, porque, como siempre, las malas reseñas suenan más en mi, así que me negaba a leerlo. Hasta que me acordé de este libro en San Valentin, y dije "¿por qué no?", y qué buena decisión.
Grady Hendrix escribió este libro nada más para sacarse las ganas, porque estaba aburrido y dijo "si no lo hago ahora, ¿cuándo?" y me encanta (creo, ni idea si pasó eso pero en sus páginas se nota lo bien que la pasó escribiendo). Es absurdo pero lógico en partes iguales, no se le escapan los detalles. Si bien sí hay algunos pequeños momentos en los que me preguntaba por qué agregaba de más, creo que le da su toque y, al final, ata todos los nudos sueltos. En otro momento (o, más bien, en otros libros), este punto me sacaría las ganas de seguir el libro y me daría pereza, pero me gustó que le dé trasfondo a los personajes, sean los principales o secundarios (o los que no vuelven a aparecer más), y aclara muchas cosas para establecer bien las bases de su historia.
Si me conocen saben que una de mis historias favoritas (o, más bien llamados tropes favoritos) son las que se muestran a los "malos" teniendo una vida normal (dependiendo a qué se le llama vida normal), especialmente cuando se trata de Satanás o todo lo relacionado a la religión cristiana. Este libro, como pueden ver/leer, lo hace, se burla e ironiza, no solo a esos personajes religiosos, también agrega a personas reales y famosas de nuestra época o anterior (no voy a mencionarlos porque, si lo llegan a leer, quiero que se rían tanto como yo cuando los menciona), o hasta a la misma población estadounidense.
Satanás es un pobre ser cansado de lo que le pasa, a quien en toda la historia no lo dejan en paz un segundo, y llega un punto que hasta empatizas con él y te da lástima. Y aún con todo ese drama, las risas no faltan.
Como mencioné antes, el libro es absurdo. Pone a todos esos personajes en situaciones o conversaciones muy random, en las que, en lo personal, hasta me hicieron tirar la cabeza hacia atrás para reírme a carcajadas. Capaz soy yo que necesitaba un buen libro cómico y bizarro para olvidarme un poco de mi y perderme, pero en casi todas las punchlines de los chistes me hicieron reír, por más tontas que hayan sido. Hasta diría que, por ahora, es el libro más gracioso que he leído de Hendrix y que realmente merece estar catalogado como comedia.
Ahora bien, el único problema que le puedo llegar a ver, es que es muy estadounidense, tiene prácticamente la bandera pintada en todas las páginas. Es sutil en algunas cosas, pero es bastante obvio. No sé, en lo personal eso me chirría un poco los dientes.
En fin. Creo que no tengo nada más para decir.
El libro fue un viaje bastante bonito y fue como ver una película cómica, una que realmente necesitaba para reírme un rato. La pasé mal por momentos, cuando el drama y la desesperación de nuestro protagonista (Satanás) estaba en su punto máximo, pero luego de que todas las piezas comenzaran a acomodarse, yo estaba saltando en mi cama y chillando contenta. Y esa última página, esas últimas palabras... Qué bonito, realmente. Me tocó hasta el alma. No voy a negar que algunas lágrimas se me escaparon de la felicidad, y hasta me dejó con ganas de continuar el viaje aún sabiendo que ese final fue suficiente.
Por cierto, sí me quedó una duda bastante... grande sobre algo, pero no voy a decirla porque es un spoiler y quiero que se rían también(?).
POR CIERTO.
Edito para agregar una cosa que me había olvidado de agregar totalmente, y es que Grady toma cosas de La Divina Comedia. No sólo hay un par de guiños a la obra magna de Alighieri, sino que también toma la idea de los círculos del infierno. Si bien la obra del italiano no es totalmente canon, me encanta que se respete tanto y se refiera a ella; es un bonito detalle y, para mi que me gusta tanto Dante y su obra, le suma un montón de puntos.
June 18, 2011
(Originally published at Red Adept Reviews)
Overall: 4 1/2 Stars
Plot/Storyline: 4 1/2 Stars
This was an easy book to enjoy, with a few caveats. On the positive side, the story was funny, clever, and irreverent. I'd compare it a little to Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens. Perhaps Christopher Moore in terms of humor as social commentary and a vehicle to skewer sacred cows. Still, I can't say the book quite matches either of these comparisons, as Mr. Hendricks seems to take it a step or two beyond.
The author seems to be willing to offend, oh, everyone if the result is a brilliant line. Nuns, hipsters, conspiracy theorists, media personalities, celebrities, charitable institutions, are just some of the targets. I don't know what Quizno's Sandwich Shop did to him or his people, but it can't have been good.
I will mention the two issues I had with the book. One was that, in the midst of this legitimately funny and clever book, on multiple occasions, really bad things happen to kids. No one is going to confuse me with the teacher from Romper Room, but even I have to say this was a buzz kill. Well, at least one of the kids, to paraphrase Monty Python, got better. Still, I really would have loved this to be toned down as it will probably be off-putting to some readers, even thick-skinned ones, and the funny gets lost.
The other issue was Satan gets sued and shows up at the trial. Much of the book is absurd, delightfully absurd, kiss reality bye-bye, and yet this was a bridge too far. Nancy Grace - yes, she's a character, and those scenes are admittedly brilliant if you've ever watched her for even five minutes - just accepts this, as does Oprah, as does the judge and the jury, and presumably most people. I enjoyed the trial, as I liked most aspects, but throw me some explanation, even an absurd one. In a book that acknowledges atheists, how? I also acknowledge there are going to be some readers who are going to be able to just go with it and are giving me the old side-eye for this paragraph.
What I'm left with though is the simple fact that I couldn't stop laughing. Every issue I had with plot and characterization is no match for how much fun I had. This is clearly not the book for everyone though.
Characters: 4 1/2 Stars
Satan, it turns out, is the beleaguered manager of hell, and he gets a lot less respect than one might expect. He can't seem to get the demons to do his will, the circles of hell aint what they used to be, and the flames need repair. Funny stuff. Later on, as he explains the whole Fallen Angel thing to a corpse, we sorta get a hint of the whole powerful, majestic, bad-ass version, which may or may not make an appearance toward the end. I liked that too, but consistent characterization, not so much. I supposed a millennia or several dealing with this stuff might break your spirit - and I think that's meant to be the point. Still, I have to say that sticking to some core traits might have been nice.
Satan's assistant was Nero. Yeah, THAT Nero. He also served as Satan's attorney and his credentials involved multiple seasons of Law and Order and some Grisham novels. I understand this based on my credentials as talent scout based on watching American Idol.
Then, we have a nun who means well, but you don't want her to pray for you. A former wrestler who is now a judge. St. Jude. Michael. All your more famous angels and demons. Charo. While Dante never appears, his spirit is definitely felt.
All the characters with any significant "screen time" have clever, zippy dialogue. I'd give you a favorite line or two, but there are too many great ones!
Writing Style: 5 Stars
While I don't agree with all of his choices, I can't deny this was pretty masterful in nearly every way. Great lines, funny and cogent rants - the author is way cooler than I will ever be. He should totally quit his day job, unless his day job is writing, because that would be the opposite of the point I'm trying to make. I'll read this author again!
(What to do with the Amazon stars when you've rated something a 4.5? Since it's my birthday today, I'm feeling generous and rounding up.)
************************************
From the author, Grady Hendrix:
1. How did you come up with the idea for the story?
I've had some lousy jobs before - telemarketing cheap jewelry, selling cleaning chemicals to industrial kitchens, going through the garbage of hotels to estimate how many recyclables they were throwing away - and I think that's something everyone has in common. We all spend so much time working in jobs we don't love that it sometimes feels like our lives are going to disappear in an endless round of reports, and quarterly evaluations and bathroom breaks. Then I realized: how much worse must this be if your office is actually in Hell? And how much worse must it be if you're Satan and there will be no promotions, no retirement and no way to transfer to another company? And whenever things are really bad, that's also, simultaneously, when things are really funny.
While reading, I noticed that you went some places a lot of authors wouldn't go. Did you consider pulling your punches? Or did you and was this the, scary to contemplate, tame version?
I think with comedy that second-guessing yourself is the kiss of death. That's how you wind up with "Home Improvement." And I also think that the beauty of ebook self-publishing is that people can stop worrying about what the neighbors think of them and just let it all hang out: the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm currently co-writing a YA series for Little, Brown called The Magnolia League, so SATAN LOVES YOU is like being on vacation where I don't have to worry about what
my agent, my editor and the marketing department are going to think about what I write. There's nothing at stake here except my self-respect, and I once worked as a street performer so I don't have much self-respect anyways. That said, I did take out a long section about being trapped in an infinite Chuck E. Cheese's. Life's bad enough without having to contemplate things like that. It was just too depressing.
Favorite movie or book featuring Satan, other than your own?
I'm a big fan of the Satan you find in Jack Chick's religious tracts. The one who wears a little red suit and spends all his time trying to think up ways to screw people over the second they make the slightest misstep, and then greets them in Hell with a hearty "Haw, haw!"
What's your favorite circle of hell and why?
Personally, I love the first circle because it's just so blatantly unfair. It's reserved for dead people who aren't getting into Heaven because they never got baptized. It's not a bad place, really, but it's just sort of like Discount Heaven, like a nice hotel that has scratchy towels, no channels on TV, and cheap shampoo that never suds up. I imagine it's absolutely crammed with Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and pretty much everyone that a 14th Century Italian would think is going to burn in Hell eternally. Which means that it's probably party central and has really great restaurants.
If Satan Loves You becomes a movie, who would you like to play the title character?
I like that Gollum guy they got for Lord of the Rings. He had really good timing.
6. Anything else you want to say?
Just that I firmly believe in giving people what they pay for. SATAN LOVES YOU is 99 cents, and I truly believe that it's worth every penny.
Overall: 4 1/2 Stars
Plot/Storyline: 4 1/2 Stars
This was an easy book to enjoy, with a few caveats. On the positive side, the story was funny, clever, and irreverent. I'd compare it a little to Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens. Perhaps Christopher Moore in terms of humor as social commentary and a vehicle to skewer sacred cows. Still, I can't say the book quite matches either of these comparisons, as Mr. Hendricks seems to take it a step or two beyond.
The author seems to be willing to offend, oh, everyone if the result is a brilliant line. Nuns, hipsters, conspiracy theorists, media personalities, celebrities, charitable institutions, are just some of the targets. I don't know what Quizno's Sandwich Shop did to him or his people, but it can't have been good.
I will mention the two issues I had with the book. One was that, in the midst of this legitimately funny and clever book, on multiple occasions, really bad things happen to kids. No one is going to confuse me with the teacher from Romper Room, but even I have to say this was a buzz kill. Well, at least one of the kids, to paraphrase Monty Python, got better. Still, I really would have loved this to be toned down as it will probably be off-putting to some readers, even thick-skinned ones, and the funny gets lost.
The other issue was Satan gets sued and shows up at the trial. Much of the book is absurd, delightfully absurd, kiss reality bye-bye, and yet this was a bridge too far. Nancy Grace - yes, she's a character, and those scenes are admittedly brilliant if you've ever watched her for even five minutes - just accepts this, as does Oprah, as does the judge and the jury, and presumably most people. I enjoyed the trial, as I liked most aspects, but throw me some explanation, even an absurd one. In a book that acknowledges atheists, how? I also acknowledge there are going to be some readers who are going to be able to just go with it and are giving me the old side-eye for this paragraph.
What I'm left with though is the simple fact that I couldn't stop laughing. Every issue I had with plot and characterization is no match for how much fun I had. This is clearly not the book for everyone though.
Characters: 4 1/2 Stars
Satan, it turns out, is the beleaguered manager of hell, and he gets a lot less respect than one might expect. He can't seem to get the demons to do his will, the circles of hell aint what they used to be, and the flames need repair. Funny stuff. Later on, as he explains the whole Fallen Angel thing to a corpse, we sorta get a hint of the whole powerful, majestic, bad-ass version, which may or may not make an appearance toward the end. I liked that too, but consistent characterization, not so much. I supposed a millennia or several dealing with this stuff might break your spirit - and I think that's meant to be the point. Still, I have to say that sticking to some core traits might have been nice.
Satan's assistant was Nero. Yeah, THAT Nero. He also served as Satan's attorney and his credentials involved multiple seasons of Law and Order and some Grisham novels. I understand this based on my credentials as talent scout based on watching American Idol.
Then, we have a nun who means well, but you don't want her to pray for you. A former wrestler who is now a judge. St. Jude. Michael. All your more famous angels and demons. Charo. While Dante never appears, his spirit is definitely felt.
All the characters with any significant "screen time" have clever, zippy dialogue. I'd give you a favorite line or two, but there are too many great ones!
Writing Style: 5 Stars
While I don't agree with all of his choices, I can't deny this was pretty masterful in nearly every way. Great lines, funny and cogent rants - the author is way cooler than I will ever be. He should totally quit his day job, unless his day job is writing, because that would be the opposite of the point I'm trying to make. I'll read this author again!
(What to do with the Amazon stars when you've rated something a 4.5? Since it's my birthday today, I'm feeling generous and rounding up.)
************************************
From the author, Grady Hendrix:
1. How did you come up with the idea for the story?
I've had some lousy jobs before - telemarketing cheap jewelry, selling cleaning chemicals to industrial kitchens, going through the garbage of hotels to estimate how many recyclables they were throwing away - and I think that's something everyone has in common. We all spend so much time working in jobs we don't love that it sometimes feels like our lives are going to disappear in an endless round of reports, and quarterly evaluations and bathroom breaks. Then I realized: how much worse must this be if your office is actually in Hell? And how much worse must it be if you're Satan and there will be no promotions, no retirement and no way to transfer to another company? And whenever things are really bad, that's also, simultaneously, when things are really funny.
While reading, I noticed that you went some places a lot of authors wouldn't go. Did you consider pulling your punches? Or did you and was this the, scary to contemplate, tame version?
I think with comedy that second-guessing yourself is the kiss of death. That's how you wind up with "Home Improvement." And I also think that the beauty of ebook self-publishing is that people can stop worrying about what the neighbors think of them and just let it all hang out: the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm currently co-writing a YA series for Little, Brown called The Magnolia League, so SATAN LOVES YOU is like being on vacation where I don't have to worry about what
my agent, my editor and the marketing department are going to think about what I write. There's nothing at stake here except my self-respect, and I once worked as a street performer so I don't have much self-respect anyways. That said, I did take out a long section about being trapped in an infinite Chuck E. Cheese's. Life's bad enough without having to contemplate things like that. It was just too depressing.
Favorite movie or book featuring Satan, other than your own?
I'm a big fan of the Satan you find in Jack Chick's religious tracts. The one who wears a little red suit and spends all his time trying to think up ways to screw people over the second they make the slightest misstep, and then greets them in Hell with a hearty "Haw, haw!"
What's your favorite circle of hell and why?
Personally, I love the first circle because it's just so blatantly unfair. It's reserved for dead people who aren't getting into Heaven because they never got baptized. It's not a bad place, really, but it's just sort of like Discount Heaven, like a nice hotel that has scratchy towels, no channels on TV, and cheap shampoo that never suds up. I imagine it's absolutely crammed with Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and pretty much everyone that a 14th Century Italian would think is going to burn in Hell eternally. Which means that it's probably party central and has really great restaurants.
If Satan Loves You becomes a movie, who would you like to play the title character?
I like that Gollum guy they got for Lord of the Rings. He had really good timing.
6. Anything else you want to say?
Just that I firmly believe in giving people what they pay for. SATAN LOVES YOU is 99 cents, and I truly believe that it's worth every penny.
February 21, 2023
This was so much fun and absolutely hilarious
November 29, 2024
Classic Grady Hendrix. Funny, but too cringe for my taste, so not my favorite of his.
September 5, 2022
3,5⭐ - it was good
So comic, loved it!
Plot wasn't that interesting,
defenitely didn't feel horror,
but it was so random and fun 🤭
So comic, loved it!
Plot wasn't that interesting,
defenitely didn't feel horror,
but it was so random and fun 🤭
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews