What do you think?
Rate this book
Hideous Exuberance
The predecessor / doppelgänger / kindred spirit of “Catastrophically Consequential”. Incongruous, inappropriate, preposterous; trashy, explicit, poetic, phantasmagorical. Blasphemous, impressionistic, inflammatory; outrageous, unstructured, inane. A highbrow-lowbrow, comic-fantasy-nightmare. A flamboyant, surrealistic, experimental reaction to the random nature of existence. It's the book your parents raised you not to write.
Please refer to the Blog Posting on the Stephen C. Bird Author Profile Page for Quotes from Goodreads Reviews for "Hideous Exuberance".
Please refer to the Blog Posting on the Stephen C. Bird Author Profile Page for Quotes from Goodreads Reviews for "Hideous Exuberance".
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
44 people are currently reading
7637 people want to read
About the author
Stephen C. Bird
5 books379 followersStephen C. Bird is a fiction writer and visual artist. He has written the following books: "Hideous Exuberance" (2009, 2013); "Catastrophically Consequential" (2012); "Any Resemblance to a Coincidence is Accidental" (2015); "To Be to Is to Was" (2018); and "From G to PG to R to X" (2022). He was born in Toronto and grew up in Erie County, New York. Mr. Bird has lived in New York City for most of his adult life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 25, 2013
The writing in this is often hard to read. The names are often too long and used repeatedly, and it makes for some very long sentences where I forget the beginning before I even reach the end.
The stories aren't told in first person, but some of them are written in dialects, which can get tedious since it's not confined to dialog.
For all the parody and satire, the bits of A Clockwork Orange, the class warfare and confining religions and sexual repression... I'm just not sure Hideous Exuberance accomplishes much of anything. There are some places where I felt things could have gotten interesting, but instead, BOOM! Excrement and ass cheeks.
I received a copy of this book for free to review.
The stories aren't told in first person, but some of them are written in dialects, which can get tedious since it's not confined to dialog.
For all the parody and satire, the bits of A Clockwork Orange, the class warfare and confining religions and sexual repression... I'm just not sure Hideous Exuberance accomplishes much of anything. There are some places where I felt things could have gotten interesting, but instead, BOOM! Excrement and ass cheeks.
I received a copy of this book for free to review.
July 26, 2013
500 Word Synopsis:
Chapter 1: At Szczmawgwhorets, academy for sorcerers-in-training, the Unholy Trinity (Higher Parterre, Whoremoania Gangster and Traan Mrs. Beasley) join forces with former nemesis Malfaux to thumb their noses at Head–Neckro-Misère Kallous Humblewhore--While submitting to Quasibzjhborg (AKA “He Who Would Not Be Loved”) of the Not-So-Krystal-Lite-Side. Subplot: Higher and Whoremoania are aggressively courted by Madame Saline, who sends them X-rated, sadomasochistic missives. Chapter 2: On the Green Tea Ice Cream Planet in the mountaintop kingdom of Buzzantium, wealthy inhabitants of Sweet Pumpkin Castle are harassed by dragon-like “Decrapitors” while a class struggle ensues between the Buzzantiites and the combined forces of the Lower Dwellers and Lula Bell Hassenpfeffer’s Amazonian army in the The Valley of Disillusionment. Chapter 3: Gondolphus Clownhouse, an effeminate, overweight, tormented professor and Kryspy Kreem night manager, stuffs his face with krullers and dreams about teenage boys. Conversely, he aims to be spiritual via frequent prayer to his goddess, Maya Hiyuh Powuh. Chapter 4: Dzjheemi Sparks, an isolated, sexually confused suburban misfit with an active fantasy life encounters his alter ego, “Zauberfeuer”, during a subterranean “Anti-Alice-in-Wonderland” type journey. Dzjheemi and his mentally unstable brother Filbert discuss their “Paw” and his visits to the “procterologist” with their mother, Evil Matilda. Chapter 5: Ginger Bocey, a dim-witted bad-girl teenager flirts with self-destruction via adventures with degenerate priest-pervert Father Elizabeth “Devil Horns” Branigan. Ginger’s rebellious behavior is enabled by her brandy-guzzling mother, Francine Kafka. Subplot: The ritual murder of universally despised field hockey coach Boris Astromapolov, by a maniacally suicidal group of high school girls à la “The Bacchae” (Euripides). Chapter 6: Francine Kafka, mother of Ginger Bocey, is also the mother of Rusty, a shy, socially maladjusted, would be gay boy and 7th grade spelling bee champion. Rusty writes a controversial essay concerning “men who have sex with men” and is punished for this by Francine, his teacher Madame Pentacostya Koontwych and his insensitive classmates. Chapter 7: Bobby Chushingura, the male doppelgänger of Ginger Bocey, murders his girlfriend Alison Sh*tbox. Despite all of this, he remains at large and his high school classmates live in fear of his lurking, anti-social presence. He survives for years afterward unapprehended, embarking on a downward spiral and eventually succumbing to a tsunami. Chapter 8: Alison Sh*tbox, Bobby’s victim, finds herself in a “Watchtower-Oral Roberts University Campus” type of Paradise, where she rages against the injustice of her senseless demise. Chapter 9: The dysfunctional family drama of Volodya Gufo (President of Amurycka Profunda), his mother Pomposya, his wife Natasha, their daughter Bombastika, and their estranged porn-actress daughter, Hot Pepper Blue. Natasha metamorphoses, werewolf-style, into the “Komodo Beast”, then punishing her innocent or not-so-innocent victims. Chapters 10 and 11: Gothra Schvulkopf is a merciless multi-millionaire entrepreneur of good living who stops at nothing to get what she wants. Gothra is assisted by her resentfully faithful servants, the Pumpkin Trolls, in her quest for commercial domination of the Blue Green Planet and the Galaxy. Chapter 12: A Ginsberg-esque absurdist poem-chant-oration comprised of ridiculous and fantastical names.
Chapter 1: At Szczmawgwhorets, academy for sorcerers-in-training, the Unholy Trinity (Higher Parterre, Whoremoania Gangster and Traan Mrs. Beasley) join forces with former nemesis Malfaux to thumb their noses at Head–Neckro-Misère Kallous Humblewhore--While submitting to Quasibzjhborg (AKA “He Who Would Not Be Loved”) of the Not-So-Krystal-Lite-Side. Subplot: Higher and Whoremoania are aggressively courted by Madame Saline, who sends them X-rated, sadomasochistic missives. Chapter 2: On the Green Tea Ice Cream Planet in the mountaintop kingdom of Buzzantium, wealthy inhabitants of Sweet Pumpkin Castle are harassed by dragon-like “Decrapitors” while a class struggle ensues between the Buzzantiites and the combined forces of the Lower Dwellers and Lula Bell Hassenpfeffer’s Amazonian army in the The Valley of Disillusionment. Chapter 3: Gondolphus Clownhouse, an effeminate, overweight, tormented professor and Kryspy Kreem night manager, stuffs his face with krullers and dreams about teenage boys. Conversely, he aims to be spiritual via frequent prayer to his goddess, Maya Hiyuh Powuh. Chapter 4: Dzjheemi Sparks, an isolated, sexually confused suburban misfit with an active fantasy life encounters his alter ego, “Zauberfeuer”, during a subterranean “Anti-Alice-in-Wonderland” type journey. Dzjheemi and his mentally unstable brother Filbert discuss their “Paw” and his visits to the “procterologist” with their mother, Evil Matilda. Chapter 5: Ginger Bocey, a dim-witted bad-girl teenager flirts with self-destruction via adventures with degenerate priest-pervert Father Elizabeth “Devil Horns” Branigan. Ginger’s rebellious behavior is enabled by her brandy-guzzling mother, Francine Kafka. Subplot: The ritual murder of universally despised field hockey coach Boris Astromapolov, by a maniacally suicidal group of high school girls à la “The Bacchae” (Euripides). Chapter 6: Francine Kafka, mother of Ginger Bocey, is also the mother of Rusty, a shy, socially maladjusted, would be gay boy and 7th grade spelling bee champion. Rusty writes a controversial essay concerning “men who have sex with men” and is punished for this by Francine, his teacher Madame Pentacostya Koontwych and his insensitive classmates. Chapter 7: Bobby Chushingura, the male doppelgänger of Ginger Bocey, murders his girlfriend Alison Sh*tbox. Despite all of this, he remains at large and his high school classmates live in fear of his lurking, anti-social presence. He survives for years afterward unapprehended, embarking on a downward spiral and eventually succumbing to a tsunami. Chapter 8: Alison Sh*tbox, Bobby’s victim, finds herself in a “Watchtower-Oral Roberts University Campus” type of Paradise, where she rages against the injustice of her senseless demise. Chapter 9: The dysfunctional family drama of Volodya Gufo (President of Amurycka Profunda), his mother Pomposya, his wife Natasha, their daughter Bombastika, and their estranged porn-actress daughter, Hot Pepper Blue. Natasha metamorphoses, werewolf-style, into the “Komodo Beast”, then punishing her innocent or not-so-innocent victims. Chapters 10 and 11: Gothra Schvulkopf is a merciless multi-millionaire entrepreneur of good living who stops at nothing to get what she wants. Gothra is assisted by her resentfully faithful servants, the Pumpkin Trolls, in her quest for commercial domination of the Blue Green Planet and the Galaxy. Chapter 12: A Ginsberg-esque absurdist poem-chant-oration comprised of ridiculous and fantastical names.
March 4, 2013
This book was supplied to me free, for the purposes of reviewing
At times challenging to read, not particularly because of the content, but rather the manner in which is was presented. Cause and effect are divorced in this book, as is a progressive story line, character development is out to lunch, sense and sensibility is neither, up may be up; on the other hand it may be yellow.
The author appears to have had a fun time developing his stories in the "blender" fashion. This is when you throw all the characters, the plot line, your sanity, the english language, and common sense into a blender and hit MAX on the dial. Whatever comes out, comes out.
It is a delightful trip without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Recommended for a time when life just seems to be too regulated and ordered. This book will certainly shake that perspective up, or yellow; like I said earlier
At times challenging to read, not particularly because of the content, but rather the manner in which is was presented. Cause and effect are divorced in this book, as is a progressive story line, character development is out to lunch, sense and sensibility is neither, up may be up; on the other hand it may be yellow.
The author appears to have had a fun time developing his stories in the "blender" fashion. This is when you throw all the characters, the plot line, your sanity, the english language, and common sense into a blender and hit MAX on the dial. Whatever comes out, comes out.
It is a delightful trip without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Recommended for a time when life just seems to be too regulated and ordered. This book will certainly shake that perspective up, or yellow; like I said earlier
abandoned
January 13, 2024Hideous indeed.
Couldn't make it through the first story/chapter. Skipped around & tried a few others. They were less word-salad-y. Overall it might be better as an audio because your ears may be better able to stand the assault than your eyes. Still it mostly felt like I was being punk'd.
(I received this as a free Kindle giveaway through Goodreads.)
Couldn't make it through the first story/chapter. Skipped around & tried a few others. They were less word-salad-y. Overall it might be better as an audio because your ears may be better able to stand the assault than your eyes. Still it mostly felt like I was being punk'd.
(I received this as a free Kindle giveaway through Goodreads.)
November 1, 2025
500 Word Synopsis:
“Hideous Exuberance” does not have a linear plot. Many characters and references intermingle, and are interwoven, throughout the book. Chapter 1: Ginger Bocey, a dim-witted rebel bad-girl teenager flirts with self-destruction via adventures with degenerate Father Elizabeth “Devil Horns” Branigan, a priest-pervert of unknown denomination. Subplot: the murder of Boris A., the universally despised field hockey coach, by a maniacal group of high school girls à la Euripides’ “The Bacchae”. Chapter 2: Francine Kafka, Ginger’s abusive mother, is also the mother of Rusty, a shy, socially maladjusted, would be gay boy and 7th grade spelling bee champion. Chapter 3: Dzjheemi Sparks, an isolated, sexually confused suburban misfit with an active fantasy life encounters his alter ego, “Zauberfeuer” during a subterranean “anti-Alice-in-Wonderland”-type journey. Subplot: the story of Robert Violence, a record-producer who uses and murders the homeless to get ahead. Dzjheemi, his mentally unstable brother Filbert and their “Maw” Matilda, discuss “Paw” and his visits to the “procterologist”. Chapter 4: Gondolphus Clownhouse, an effeminate, overweight, sexually tormented professor, pays for the services of teenage boys. Conversely, Gondolphus aims to be spiritual and frequently prays to his goddess, Maya Hiyuh Powuh. Chapter 5 takes place on the Green Tea Ice Cream Planet in the mountaintop kingdom of Buzzantium, where wealthy inhabitants of Sweet Pumpkin Castle are harassed by dragon-like “Decrapitors”. A class struggle ensues between the Buzzantiites and the Lower Dwellers, the latter joining forces with Lula Bell Hassenpfeffer’s Amazonian-style army. The Buzzantiites also live in fear of the Blorks, monstrous ghouls from the land of Morewhore. Chapter 6: Bobby Chushingura, the male doppelgänger of Ginger Bocey, murders his girlfriend Alison S. Although he lives on for years afterward unapprehended, he embarks on a slow downward spiral and eventually dies in a tsunami. Chapter 7: Alison S., Bobby’s victim, now lives in a “Watchtower-Oral Roberts University campus”-type of Paradise, where she rages against the injustice of her senseless demise. Chapter 8: the adventures of Volodya Gufo, the president of Amurycka Profunda, his mother Pomposya, his wife Natasha, their daughter Bombastika, and their estranged porn-actress daughter, Hot Pepper Blue. Natasha converts, werewolf-style, into the “Komodo Beast” whenever an unlucky victim chooses to cross her. Chapters 9 and 10: Gothra Schvulkopf, a merciless multi-millionaire entrepreneur of good living who stops at nothing to get what she wants. Gothra is assisted by her resentfully faithful servants, the Pumpkin Trolls, in her quest for commercial domination of the Blue Green Planet. Chapter 11: the story of a savage, post-global warming, apocalyptic world. Chapter 12: the story of Cindy Cipro, a suicidal East Village trust fund girl. Chapter 13: an anonymous modern-day omnisexual Casanova facing the eventual consequences of his Faustian bargain. Chapter 14, “A Letter from June Cleaver to William S. Burroughs”. From the vantage point of her suburban kitchen, June knows that the grass is never greener on the other side, yet she still wants to go there. Chapter 15: a Ginsbergian absurdist poem–chant-oration comprised of ridiculous and fantastical names.
“Hideous Exuberance” does not have a linear plot. Many characters and references intermingle, and are interwoven, throughout the book. Chapter 1: Ginger Bocey, a dim-witted rebel bad-girl teenager flirts with self-destruction via adventures with degenerate Father Elizabeth “Devil Horns” Branigan, a priest-pervert of unknown denomination. Subplot: the murder of Boris A., the universally despised field hockey coach, by a maniacal group of high school girls à la Euripides’ “The Bacchae”. Chapter 2: Francine Kafka, Ginger’s abusive mother, is also the mother of Rusty, a shy, socially maladjusted, would be gay boy and 7th grade spelling bee champion. Chapter 3: Dzjheemi Sparks, an isolated, sexually confused suburban misfit with an active fantasy life encounters his alter ego, “Zauberfeuer” during a subterranean “anti-Alice-in-Wonderland”-type journey. Subplot: the story of Robert Violence, a record-producer who uses and murders the homeless to get ahead. Dzjheemi, his mentally unstable brother Filbert and their “Maw” Matilda, discuss “Paw” and his visits to the “procterologist”. Chapter 4: Gondolphus Clownhouse, an effeminate, overweight, sexually tormented professor, pays for the services of teenage boys. Conversely, Gondolphus aims to be spiritual and frequently prays to his goddess, Maya Hiyuh Powuh. Chapter 5 takes place on the Green Tea Ice Cream Planet in the mountaintop kingdom of Buzzantium, where wealthy inhabitants of Sweet Pumpkin Castle are harassed by dragon-like “Decrapitors”. A class struggle ensues between the Buzzantiites and the Lower Dwellers, the latter joining forces with Lula Bell Hassenpfeffer’s Amazonian-style army. The Buzzantiites also live in fear of the Blorks, monstrous ghouls from the land of Morewhore. Chapter 6: Bobby Chushingura, the male doppelgänger of Ginger Bocey, murders his girlfriend Alison S. Although he lives on for years afterward unapprehended, he embarks on a slow downward spiral and eventually dies in a tsunami. Chapter 7: Alison S., Bobby’s victim, now lives in a “Watchtower-Oral Roberts University campus”-type of Paradise, where she rages against the injustice of her senseless demise. Chapter 8: the adventures of Volodya Gufo, the president of Amurycka Profunda, his mother Pomposya, his wife Natasha, their daughter Bombastika, and their estranged porn-actress daughter, Hot Pepper Blue. Natasha converts, werewolf-style, into the “Komodo Beast” whenever an unlucky victim chooses to cross her. Chapters 9 and 10: Gothra Schvulkopf, a merciless multi-millionaire entrepreneur of good living who stops at nothing to get what she wants. Gothra is assisted by her resentfully faithful servants, the Pumpkin Trolls, in her quest for commercial domination of the Blue Green Planet. Chapter 11: the story of a savage, post-global warming, apocalyptic world. Chapter 12: the story of Cindy Cipro, a suicidal East Village trust fund girl. Chapter 13: an anonymous modern-day omnisexual Casanova facing the eventual consequences of his Faustian bargain. Chapter 14, “A Letter from June Cleaver to William S. Burroughs”. From the vantage point of her suburban kitchen, June knows that the grass is never greener on the other side, yet she still wants to go there. Chapter 15: a Ginsbergian absurdist poem–chant-oration comprised of ridiculous and fantastical names.
November 9, 2013
I received this book through a goodreads.com giveaway.
The first chapter of Hideous Exuberance completely blindsided me. I was expecting and experimental and unconventional satire. What I got was 34 pages of almost insufferable vulgarity and lowbrow humor. Mr. Bird creates grotesque caricatures of popular culture in order to highlight anti-intellectualism, egoism and other pitfalls of the modern human condition by exposing them in ways that utterly disgust the reader. The first chapter, I think, succeeds in disgusting the reader, but I got little more from it.
The good news is, the book gets MUCH better if you continue reading. For those who stopped reading after the first chapter or two, it's well worth the struggle to get to the good parts. Mr. Bird maintains the essence of his vulgar and exaggerated universe from the first chapter, but among the chaos, he manages to very subtly and thoughtfully scare you, make you laugh, and make you think in more familiar ways. There is a lot of valuable insight and wonderful sarcasm in this book and it turns out to be a very good read.
My only wish is that Mr. Bird would spend a little less having fun pushing the envelope with his over the top vulgarity and more time sharing his (obviously very intelligent) insights about the flaws he sees in society. The in-your-face bits are entertaining, but offer little more than comedy and slight discomfort. The really really good parts can be found in between, but don't easily jump out from among the vulgar distractions.
Overall a very interesting and quick read, a worthwhile couple of hours and a wonderful piece of work from Mr. Bird. I will read it again (as I'm sure I missed a lot of the good parts) and look forward to reading anything else Mr. Bird may publish in the future. I would NOT, however, recommend this book to the easily offended, and I do hope that in his next effort he will dial back the absurdity just a hair. Writing inaccessible and challenging books is what pushes literature to new realms, but when you have such clearly valuable insights as are shared in this book, it's worth spending more words actually sharing them. Great satire, but next time I hope for a little less discomfort and a little more subtlety, as he's obviously very good at it.
The first chapter of Hideous Exuberance completely blindsided me. I was expecting and experimental and unconventional satire. What I got was 34 pages of almost insufferable vulgarity and lowbrow humor. Mr. Bird creates grotesque caricatures of popular culture in order to highlight anti-intellectualism, egoism and other pitfalls of the modern human condition by exposing them in ways that utterly disgust the reader. The first chapter, I think, succeeds in disgusting the reader, but I got little more from it.
The good news is, the book gets MUCH better if you continue reading. For those who stopped reading after the first chapter or two, it's well worth the struggle to get to the good parts. Mr. Bird maintains the essence of his vulgar and exaggerated universe from the first chapter, but among the chaos, he manages to very subtly and thoughtfully scare you, make you laugh, and make you think in more familiar ways. There is a lot of valuable insight and wonderful sarcasm in this book and it turns out to be a very good read.
My only wish is that Mr. Bird would spend a little less having fun pushing the envelope with his over the top vulgarity and more time sharing his (obviously very intelligent) insights about the flaws he sees in society. The in-your-face bits are entertaining, but offer little more than comedy and slight discomfort. The really really good parts can be found in between, but don't easily jump out from among the vulgar distractions.
Overall a very interesting and quick read, a worthwhile couple of hours and a wonderful piece of work from Mr. Bird. I will read it again (as I'm sure I missed a lot of the good parts) and look forward to reading anything else Mr. Bird may publish in the future. I would NOT, however, recommend this book to the easily offended, and I do hope that in his next effort he will dial back the absurdity just a hair. Writing inaccessible and challenging books is what pushes literature to new realms, but when you have such clearly valuable insights as are shared in this book, it's worth spending more words actually sharing them. Great satire, but next time I hope for a little less discomfort and a little more subtlety, as he's obviously very good at it.
May 3, 2013
This is a new edition of Hideous Exuberance; as I understand it the main difference between the two editions is that the first chapter has been revised and expanded. The book is a confusing and exhilarating plunge into a funhouse/madhouse. Take Harry Potter, Finnegan's Wake, Thomas Pynchon, and Judy Blume, and run them through a Czech blender, and maybe you'll get an idea of what you're in for. Let's see, maybe also a pinch of Douglas Adams. And for you old-time loners, that wonderful experience when you discover you've dropped a coin in the wrong booth and are now in for some German shit-porn.
Bird uses lots of deliberate misspellings to create character, mood, and the sense for his readers that he's taking you into a world outside of your wildest imagination. A couple seeming rules through much of the book: Never use a "c" when a "ck" will do. Never use an "sh" or "sch" when an "szcz" will do. America is "Amurycka Profunda", Earth is the "Blue Green Planet", God is "Maya-hiyuh-powuh".
Each chapter concentrates on a certain character, and some characters interact with the others in a few chapters. Most of them have what you might call unhealthy obsessions or ambitions.
Bird seems to delight in the freedom that comes with the ability to create your own universe, in your own way, with just words. He fairly wallows in said freedom. The underside of this is that this book is very hard. To. Follow. I find myself fairly unable to put it down, or stop in the middle, and have very much of a clue of what I've been reading.
Happily, the follow-up to this book, Catastrophically Consequential, retains the strangeness, fun, and transgressive nature of Hideous Exuberance, but has stories that are much more rewarding in that they are more easily followed. One hope to see Bird continue to polish his strange visions and illuminate—gee, maybe that's not the word, but certainly entertain—us all. Well, some of us.
Bird uses lots of deliberate misspellings to create character, mood, and the sense for his readers that he's taking you into a world outside of your wildest imagination. A couple seeming rules through much of the book: Never use a "c" when a "ck" will do. Never use an "sh" or "sch" when an "szcz" will do. America is "Amurycka Profunda", Earth is the "Blue Green Planet", God is "Maya-hiyuh-powuh".
Each chapter concentrates on a certain character, and some characters interact with the others in a few chapters. Most of them have what you might call unhealthy obsessions or ambitions.
Bird seems to delight in the freedom that comes with the ability to create your own universe, in your own way, with just words. He fairly wallows in said freedom. The underside of this is that this book is very hard. To. Follow. I find myself fairly unable to put it down, or stop in the middle, and have very much of a clue of what I've been reading.
Happily, the follow-up to this book, Catastrophically Consequential, retains the strangeness, fun, and transgressive nature of Hideous Exuberance, but has stories that are much more rewarding in that they are more easily followed. One hope to see Bird continue to polish his strange visions and illuminate—gee, maybe that's not the word, but certainly entertain—us all. Well, some of us.
April 20, 2013
I received this book from Goodreads First-Reads and Mr. Bird. Thank you to both for providing me the opportunity to read it!
Firstly, I would have to warn those faint of heart this may not be the book for you. If you are looking for pg-13 I'd steer clear. Luckily, I don't mind.
I'd call Hideous Exuberance a collection of at times intersecting short stories, or continuations of previous short stories. There are times when you question the placement or just some things in general but no doubt this is intentional.
Mr. Bird deserves credit for at many times making me laugh out loud. Much of his humor is very sudden with little to no lead up and with just the right amount of shock value. The New York counties and other geographical quips were very accurate. I also enjoyed the opening, a hilarious parody which had me shaking my head the entire time.
The character's (and their names) are unique to say the least. Some of the characters, as well as their situations (though dramatized), seem to have a scary real life quality about them. The only real downside to such a strange set of names was at times I had to re-read a section just to make sure I was following along properly.
Overall, I enjoyed Hideous Exuberance and enough to make me curious about the "sequel prequel" Catastrophically Consequential. If you are looking for a new type of storytelling then I would suggest this book to you. Go in with an open mind, be ready for some crude text, but know you won't leave disappointed.
Firstly, I would have to warn those faint of heart this may not be the book for you. If you are looking for pg-13 I'd steer clear. Luckily, I don't mind.
I'd call Hideous Exuberance a collection of at times intersecting short stories, or continuations of previous short stories. There are times when you question the placement or just some things in general but no doubt this is intentional.
Mr. Bird deserves credit for at many times making me laugh out loud. Much of his humor is very sudden with little to no lead up and with just the right amount of shock value. The New York counties and other geographical quips were very accurate. I also enjoyed the opening, a hilarious parody which had me shaking my head the entire time.
The character's (and their names) are unique to say the least. Some of the characters, as well as their situations (though dramatized), seem to have a scary real life quality about them. The only real downside to such a strange set of names was at times I had to re-read a section just to make sure I was following along properly.
Overall, I enjoyed Hideous Exuberance and enough to make me curious about the "sequel prequel" Catastrophically Consequential. If you are looking for a new type of storytelling then I would suggest this book to you. Go in with an open mind, be ready for some crude text, but know you won't leave disappointed.
April 28, 2013
Well I did manage to ingurgitate over 60 pages of this before it started spilling out my ears in the form of gooey yellow-brownish fecal matter... but then what would you expêct from swallowing such non-sensicalistic penned-down vocabularaly?
I had to cease eye-balling these farted out wordlings before a frontal lobotamisation occured in my groins.
Had this been read in a mid-19th century smoke-filled café and recited by the beatnik du jour, perhaps I would have been able to absorb more of it as it would have been shared amongst the patrons and the wafting smoke of burnt oochy-coochy humorous tobakeestan would have made it somewhat palatable.
As it is I had to share it with my schizophrenic aliases so as not to be alone while munching down on the faux-mots and paroles-grossières, because, as is well known, one is never alone when one is a schizophrenic.
Let this be my jazz-hands induced finale!
I had to cease eye-balling these farted out wordlings before a frontal lobotamisation occured in my groins.
Had this been read in a mid-19th century smoke-filled café and recited by the beatnik du jour, perhaps I would have been able to absorb more of it as it would have been shared amongst the patrons and the wafting smoke of burnt oochy-coochy humorous tobakeestan would have made it somewhat palatable.
As it is I had to share it with my schizophrenic aliases so as not to be alone while munching down on the faux-mots and paroles-grossières, because, as is well known, one is never alone when one is a schizophrenic.
Let this be my jazz-hands induced finale!
August 3, 2013
I do appreciate the effort, the time, the attempt to dwell in satire of the author. The book itself however did not catch my reading eye in no way, shape or form. I did give 2 of the stories a go, but found it extremely hard to read in places, the over-repeated allusions to other fantasy works like Harry Potter, the Narnia series became unbearable at one point.
I understood what the author was trying to do with the change in spelling of certain words - too bad I am a linguistics student and it seemed like an all too feeble attempt to be 'cool'. Yes, I do realise, it was supposed to be satire, but satire must be intelligent and this book did not challenge me at all.
Perhaps I am too harsh, but I received this book through a giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion.
I understood what the author was trying to do with the change in spelling of certain words - too bad I am a linguistics student and it seemed like an all too feeble attempt to be 'cool'. Yes, I do realise, it was supposed to be satire, but satire must be intelligent and this book did not challenge me at all.
Perhaps I am too harsh, but I received this book through a giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 20, 2013
Supremely satirical hilarity cleverly combining irony and dry wit, this uniquely eccentric and quite peculiar book is truly exceptional!
After reading the astonishingly impressive ‘Catastrophically Consequential’ by Stephen C Bird, I was excited when presented with the opportunity of reading the prequel-sequel ‘Hideous Exuberance’. This collection of colorful stories that are cleverly inspired and totally genius had me glued to the pages for hours, as I lost myself within the insanity. The bizarre and individualistic characters add such vibrancy to the multi-linear plots and oddly, truth-drawing realism that is hidden within. Although extraordinarily unusual in the extreme, this refreshingly original book professes the author’s uniquely identifiable style perfectly – as to make it stand-out on the bookshelf as something a bit different.
Once again, I am stunned by this astonishingly incredible book which exceeded and surpassed all expectations by being totally brilliant! As outlandish as ‘the mad hatter’ and yet containing such truthful sincerity within as any great work of literature, this book is so bewildering and inconceivable that I praise the author highly for producing something so ambitious. Controversial and bold, I would recommend this book to all philanthropists, whose perspective on life may be altered and bibliophiles who seek something ‘out of the ordinary’. Fresh and funny I enjoyed reading this immensely, and like any good book took pleasure from the chaotic confusion and total baffling frivolity. You may think that it is quite nonsensical but it also strikes a chord within, ringing true to life.
Containing disturbing inner monologues, stream of consciousness dream sequences and psychedelic, surrealistic scenarios and characters within fantasy genre this truly is like nothing you will have encountered before. Anyone with an odd over-active imagination will be enchanted by Stephen C Bird’s work, which incorporates the atypical and strange in a delightful feast for the mind. This is something that is not labeled by any particular genre, nor does it follow a strict, rigid storyline hence it is more free-flowing by interweaving differing perspectives, creative imaginings and thought.
*I was sent a paperback copy of “Hideous Exuberance by Stephen C Bird” from the author himself, to read and review. I would like to thank him for this*
After reading the astonishingly impressive ‘Catastrophically Consequential’ by Stephen C Bird, I was excited when presented with the opportunity of reading the prequel-sequel ‘Hideous Exuberance’. This collection of colorful stories that are cleverly inspired and totally genius had me glued to the pages for hours, as I lost myself within the insanity. The bizarre and individualistic characters add such vibrancy to the multi-linear plots and oddly, truth-drawing realism that is hidden within. Although extraordinarily unusual in the extreme, this refreshingly original book professes the author’s uniquely identifiable style perfectly – as to make it stand-out on the bookshelf as something a bit different.
Once again, I am stunned by this astonishingly incredible book which exceeded and surpassed all expectations by being totally brilliant! As outlandish as ‘the mad hatter’ and yet containing such truthful sincerity within as any great work of literature, this book is so bewildering and inconceivable that I praise the author highly for producing something so ambitious. Controversial and bold, I would recommend this book to all philanthropists, whose perspective on life may be altered and bibliophiles who seek something ‘out of the ordinary’. Fresh and funny I enjoyed reading this immensely, and like any good book took pleasure from the chaotic confusion and total baffling frivolity. You may think that it is quite nonsensical but it also strikes a chord within, ringing true to life.
Containing disturbing inner monologues, stream of consciousness dream sequences and psychedelic, surrealistic scenarios and characters within fantasy genre this truly is like nothing you will have encountered before. Anyone with an odd over-active imagination will be enchanted by Stephen C Bird’s work, which incorporates the atypical and strange in a delightful feast for the mind. This is something that is not labeled by any particular genre, nor does it follow a strict, rigid storyline hence it is more free-flowing by interweaving differing perspectives, creative imaginings and thought.
*I was sent a paperback copy of “Hideous Exuberance by Stephen C Bird” from the author himself, to read and review. I would like to thank him for this*
March 6, 2013
Steve Bird is a major talent..how can people not see this? In a very real way...Bird must be as frustrated as John
Kennedy Toole must have been when agents passed on THe Confederacy of Dunces...yes, I am comparing Bird to Toole The . This book is hilarious!! God bless Steve for taking the time to write it. He is an original artist and a craftman –in a sea of facebook fanatics and texters, who should mostly, like me, be reading NOT writing.— he is a marvelous anachronism. 50 years ago bird would be famous.
Read the first 50 pages, cant you see that it is a brilliant satire on Harry Potter? Don't you get it??..don’t be thrown off by the presentation or language, delve in and take a ride with the genius that is Steve Bird. If nothing else you will learn wonderful little frazes... I am enviuos of Brids ablity to turn a Fraze
“Whoremoania soothed her barbecued buttocks in an aluminum washtub filled with chilled Vaseline”
“a House known for it’s delinquent , yet effeminate, population”
April 3, 2010
This is a very very weird, beautiful book. Very difficult to put into a category or a genre. Psychedelic and flamboyant and experimental. I knew Stephen Bird as a stand-up comedian in the East Village and even on stage his set was unpredictable and unusual (the first time I saw him he was playing the depressed sad comedian who is tired to listen audience's laughter.) The same is this book, great work on the language, great beauty of images, references and situations. English is not my first language, so it was not easy at all at the beginning, to enter in this proto-slang written mingling Saramago, Pynchon, Leary and Middle America's Vernacular, but when you're in, is a real trip into sacred intelligent zaniness. Bored to read the same old re-heated shit? Try this.
April 27, 2015
A vey fun, very well written satire.
I know steve Bird as Being an alternative (though obscure) comdian icon in the Village. NO one will tell you that he is not funny.
I am very careful with my (reading) time and like everyone, I want to read good stuff. Fact: THis book has pages the rival A tools Confedercy of Dunces. (sorry for the spelling I am dyslexic) The Charactors drawn; and the topics taken on (MYAHAYIAPOWA is a person in revovery.)and mind blowingly refreshing. When you finally chatch on to what celbs Bird is (relentlessly bashing) talking about; you really start to laugh. It is not, neccisraly easy reading and steve is sinical sob. Bot boy is it good. Stev Bird is a craftsman. THis book deserves an audience.
July 27, 2010
Reading "hideous Exuberance" is like getting really drunk and having the time of your life while remembering everything and having no headache the next day. There are many lucid moments throughout this wonder journey that leave you feeling like you just had a brain car wash.
I can't help but feel like Mr. Bird's next book will be called, "The expressionist's guide to hilarious depression"
I can't help but feel like Mr. Bird's next book will be called, "The expressionist's guide to hilarious depression"
April 11, 2011
May I rehash: it is indeed a flam-boyant portrait of hideous venal humanity, with love. And I have gratitude for its very existence.
December 26, 2025
Won a copy for Goodreads giveaway. Decided to give this book a review. Since they were nice enough to give me a free copy. This book wasn’t my cup of tea. That’s all I’m going to say. Because for one when a book keep me interested I’m all in this was not!!!!
December 18, 2025
This was an interesting read and I laughed at all the names they were funny. It put me in an extremely good mood. Thank you for that 🤣
May 7, 2013
** This review is based on a copy received via Goodreads, First Read giveaway. The Publisher, Author, and Goodreads.com in no way influenced this review, my opinions are mine alone. **
I really didn't know what to expect when I started this book, I understood that it was a fantastical, raunchy, and unconventional novel, but I was fully convinced that I could determine if there was a diamond in the rough. Unfortunately, after reading, and then re-reading the first ten pages of the novel, I decided it just wasn't my cup of tea and that I couldn't push through the bombardment of crazy that was coming my way.
As I did not read Hideous Exuberance in it's entirety, I cannot say that I would or would not recommend it, only that it was not something I could get into. I found that Stephen C. Bird spent so much time introducing his bizarrely named characters, as loosely, or not so loosely, based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, that I couldn't follow or determine any sort of story-line. I was trying to keep them all straight in my mind, until the words "rape fantasy" hit me upside the page. That was it for me, I just couldn't justify reading on and trying to discern any sort of story among these long and complicatedly named characters, with the idea that the concept of a "rape fantasy" was in the offing. This was a personal choice, the issue of rape is one that I personally and professionally find abhorrent, and I could not read another word.
Perhaps I missed out on the best book of the decade, but I highly doubt it. It just wasn't for me, and that's OK. I leave it to those who are attracted to this sort of odd humor, this kind of twisted stream of consciousness with a heavy handed and obviously deliberate naming scheme for the characters. It just didn't work for me at all.
Bottom Line: I can't recommend this book, but then I did not read it in full. I wish to use my reading time differently. I will however pass the novel on to someone who may be more likely to enjoy a novel like this. It is certainly a brave and bold attempt, and I can say I am impressed with what Stephen C. Bird has tried to accomplish. I also know my own mind to know that this novel was not something I was willing to invest in.
I really didn't know what to expect when I started this book, I understood that it was a fantastical, raunchy, and unconventional novel, but I was fully convinced that I could determine if there was a diamond in the rough. Unfortunately, after reading, and then re-reading the first ten pages of the novel, I decided it just wasn't my cup of tea and that I couldn't push through the bombardment of crazy that was coming my way.
As I did not read Hideous Exuberance in it's entirety, I cannot say that I would or would not recommend it, only that it was not something I could get into. I found that Stephen C. Bird spent so much time introducing his bizarrely named characters, as loosely, or not so loosely, based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, that I couldn't follow or determine any sort of story-line. I was trying to keep them all straight in my mind, until the words "rape fantasy" hit me upside the page. That was it for me, I just couldn't justify reading on and trying to discern any sort of story among these long and complicatedly named characters, with the idea that the concept of a "rape fantasy" was in the offing. This was a personal choice, the issue of rape is one that I personally and professionally find abhorrent, and I could not read another word.
Perhaps I missed out on the best book of the decade, but I highly doubt it. It just wasn't for me, and that's OK. I leave it to those who are attracted to this sort of odd humor, this kind of twisted stream of consciousness with a heavy handed and obviously deliberate naming scheme for the characters. It just didn't work for me at all.
Bottom Line: I can't recommend this book, but then I did not read it in full. I wish to use my reading time differently. I will however pass the novel on to someone who may be more likely to enjoy a novel like this. It is certainly a brave and bold attempt, and I can say I am impressed with what Stephen C. Bird has tried to accomplish. I also know my own mind to know that this novel was not something I was willing to invest in.
May 21, 2018
(Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this from Goodreads Giveaways. Nevertheless, that should not influence my views expressed here...)
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It is clearly inspired by and possibly similar to works from some authors I respect (Salmon Rushdie) or at least enjoy (Tom Robbins). In the first few pages I was chuckling aloud at some of the parodies of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc. But before long the non-stop attempts to be funny with Randumb Miss Spelt Werdz Making Ref-Frances to Pop Kultur were annoying me instead.
I get that some of the point one should perhaps understand from the absurdity of this book is, frankly, simply the absurdity of the culture it's parodying (farcing? is that a word?).
But what really got me in the end -- and when I say, "in the end," I actually mean, "when I stopped reading halfway through and decided not to finish it" -- is the lack of narrative. While I don't expect every story to follow the Hero's Journey and Official Story Arc™, I do desire to see someone in the story experience some sort of a change, something learned or realized or accepted or rejected. But halfway through the book each chapter/story was just more exposition of a crazy world with crazy people in it. Maybe they say or do crazy things, but really nothing was done at all.
Maybe I'm missing out by not reading to the end; maybe Bird wraps up everything with a pretty bow in the end and I just never got that far. But if the author's goal was to unsettle the reader, I got that in just a few pages. If the goal was to entertain, I was over that too quickly. Or if there was never a goal at all, I understood that all too clearly.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It is clearly inspired by and possibly similar to works from some authors I respect (Salmon Rushdie) or at least enjoy (Tom Robbins). In the first few pages I was chuckling aloud at some of the parodies of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc. But before long the non-stop attempts to be funny with Randumb Miss Spelt Werdz Making Ref-Frances to Pop Kultur were annoying me instead.
I get that some of the point one should perhaps understand from the absurdity of this book is, frankly, simply the absurdity of the culture it's parodying (farcing? is that a word?).
But what really got me in the end -- and when I say, "in the end," I actually mean, "when I stopped reading halfway through and decided not to finish it" -- is the lack of narrative. While I don't expect every story to follow the Hero's Journey and Official Story Arc™, I do desire to see someone in the story experience some sort of a change, something learned or realized or accepted or rejected. But halfway through the book each chapter/story was just more exposition of a crazy world with crazy people in it. Maybe they say or do crazy things, but really nothing was done at all.
Maybe I'm missing out by not reading to the end; maybe Bird wraps up everything with a pretty bow in the end and I just never got that far. But if the author's goal was to unsettle the reader, I got that in just a few pages. If the goal was to entertain, I was over that too quickly. Or if there was never a goal at all, I understood that all too clearly.
January 12, 2015
*won through GoodReads giveaway*
If Wassily Kandinsky and Francis Bacon had written a book...
Bird has an anomalous approach as an author that requires more than a few mental double-takes and pauses for reflection. He's obviously in the possession of an artfulness and arsenal of more-or-less latent brilliance. This is often evident throughout. There were a few stories that I was a bit disenthralled by, but I cannot say conclusively that this wasn't because I didn't pay the necessary attention.
My favorite analogy of all-time came early in the book: "his inauthenticitie was comparable to that of a slumming New England aristocrat passing for the prep school gardener."
I feel as if I'm bilking by giving this only three stars, and if the time and opportunity to reread the book presents itself, I may bump the rating up. Despite the ambivalent rating, I think this book was firing on all cylinders and accomplished exactly what it wanted to.
If Wassily Kandinsky and Francis Bacon had written a book...
Bird has an anomalous approach as an author that requires more than a few mental double-takes and pauses for reflection. He's obviously in the possession of an artfulness and arsenal of more-or-less latent brilliance. This is often evident throughout. There were a few stories that I was a bit disenthralled by, but I cannot say conclusively that this wasn't because I didn't pay the necessary attention.
My favorite analogy of all-time came early in the book: "his inauthenticitie was comparable to that of a slumming New England aristocrat passing for the prep school gardener."
I feel as if I'm bilking by giving this only three stars, and if the time and opportunity to reread the book presents itself, I may bump the rating up. Despite the ambivalent rating, I think this book was firing on all cylinders and accomplished exactly what it wanted to.
May 5, 2018
*I received this kindle book free in a goodreads giveaway*
I want to give this book a good review since they did give me a free kindle book of it but I just hated it. I don't know how to sugar coat this. I was tempted to give it 2 stars because of occasional bits of cleverness but I just couldn't. These "stories" don't have plots and just have repeated references to bodily waste and/or dirty sex. I can forgive a lot if a story is good but none of these stories are good. The names are difficult to pronounce and the constant spelling errors of so many words got on my nerves. Why make it difficult to impossible for your reader to follow your writing? I can't think of any redeeming qualities. I wish I could writing a nicer review but it wouldn't be an honest one. I only read the entire book because I got it free and wanted to write a review of the whole thing. I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could read something I didn't hate.
I want to give this book a good review since they did give me a free kindle book of it but I just hated it. I don't know how to sugar coat this. I was tempted to give it 2 stars because of occasional bits of cleverness but I just couldn't. These "stories" don't have plots and just have repeated references to bodily waste and/or dirty sex. I can forgive a lot if a story is good but none of these stories are good. The names are difficult to pronounce and the constant spelling errors of so many words got on my nerves. Why make it difficult to impossible for your reader to follow your writing? I can't think of any redeeming qualities. I wish I could writing a nicer review but it wouldn't be an honest one. I only read the entire book because I got it free and wanted to write a review of the whole thing. I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could read something I didn't hate.
August 14, 2013
I'm not sure what to think of the book.
You can tell the author put forth a lot of effort, but maybe a little bit too much effort. At times it felt like it was forced.
At times I found it difficult to keep reading because there's so much writing in what appears to be Ebonics. I already hate it when people speak like this to begin with because it's in my opinion just a poor excuse for a failure to grasp the basics of the English language, so I really had to pull myself through this book.
There are so many words that are unpronounceable and I'm not quite sure what the writer tried to achieve here. All in all this book is just not my cup of tea.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
You can tell the author put forth a lot of effort, but maybe a little bit too much effort. At times it felt like it was forced.
At times I found it difficult to keep reading because there's so much writing in what appears to be Ebonics. I already hate it when people speak like this to begin with because it's in my opinion just a poor excuse for a failure to grasp the basics of the English language, so I really had to pull myself through this book.
There are so many words that are unpronounceable and I'm not quite sure what the writer tried to achieve here. All in all this book is just not my cup of tea.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
August 16, 2013
A brilliantly clever read but I must admit at times I was rather perplexed. The stories are bright and very original with some great and not so great characters bordering on a very eclectic collection at times. The dream sequences left me baffled on many an occassion and inner monologues quite unsettling but for some reason the stories kept drawing me into them making giving up on the book an impossibilty.
All in all an extremely original and creative work but Iam afraid not one I will be visiting more than once
All in all an extremely original and creative work but Iam afraid not one I will be visiting more than once
September 8, 2013
okay i got this book from the goodreads giveaway
and honestly as soon as i saw the title i was like this is book is going to be interesting and man was i right, at the start i was like what the hell is this i had never read book with this kind of writing style before. It was a hilarious book and a real page turner. i just could not put it down. i loved the way it was all set out. all in all i found the book one of the best books i have read in a long time and i recommend it to anyone who wants to laugh. It was like nothing i have ever read before.
Mr bird you have talent.
and honestly as soon as i saw the title i was like this is book is going to be interesting and man was i right, at the start i was like what the hell is this i had never read book with this kind of writing style before. It was a hilarious book and a real page turner. i just could not put it down. i loved the way it was all set out. all in all i found the book one of the best books i have read in a long time and i recommend it to anyone who wants to laugh. It was like nothing i have ever read before.
Mr bird you have talent.
November 27, 2013
I recived Hidious Exuberance from goodreads first reads overall it was a good book not one i would have brought on sight.
At first i was verry confused untill i got to the part about Grifinwhore and Sliturine i realized that he first chapter was a harry potter parody and at times it was a bit uncomfortable to read there was lots of those moments and alot of talk about homosexuality and homophobia and it was done in a somewhat tasefull way then there were times when is was not so tastefull
Some part where good some where bad
Not the best book i have read but not the worst either
At first i was verry confused untill i got to the part about Grifinwhore and Sliturine i realized that he first chapter was a harry potter parody and at times it was a bit uncomfortable to read there was lots of those moments and alot of talk about homosexuality and homophobia and it was done in a somewhat tasefull way then there were times when is was not so tastefull
Some part where good some where bad
Not the best book i have read but not the worst either
February 22, 2013
I received a copy of this book from author it turned out like his other book.
No plot at some time and misspelled words as I am assuming is on purpose. can't really get in too it with character names I can't even say out loud correctly. The only part of story I enjoyed was Chris Chusinguru ( I think that is the way it was spelt)
Mr. Bird is in a world of his own that is far to strange for my mind. And I read bizarre things.
No plot at some time and misspelled words as I am assuming is on purpose. can't really get in too it with character names I can't even say out loud correctly. The only part of story I enjoyed was Chris Chusinguru ( I think that is the way it was spelt)
Mr. Bird is in a world of his own that is far to strange for my mind. And I read bizarre things.
February 24, 2013
Hideous Exuberance is a portal into the mind of Stephen C Bird. He possesses a fractious world view. His creations are filled with carnal cravings and self loathing for possessing them. He skewers the high and mighty and the beloved with equally withering, bellicose, lurid excreta that will send the genteel reader into shock. For those less genteel, Bird's wordplay and insights and acerbic humor will make the journey worthwhile.
December 12, 2013
Ok, iv only read the first 'story' and at first I thought 'what the hell am I reading' then I found myself in hysterics, this is definitely a writing style I hadn't come across before. The wording threw me off sometimes but I soon got used to it. The only way I can describe it is writing graffiti. It is no holds barred and the author has done what he likes not what convention would prefer him to do.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews