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Hug Chickenpenny: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child
"S. Craig Zahler is certain to become one of the great imaginers of our time." ― Clive Barker
Hug Chickenpenny is an anomalous child. Born from tragedy and unknown paternity, this asymmetrical and white-haired baby inspires both ire and pity at the orphanage, until the day that an elderly eccentric adopts him as a pet. The upbeat boy's spirit is challenged in his new home and as he is exposed to prejudiced members of society in various encounters. Will Hug and his astronautical dreams survive our cruel and judgmental world?
"A sharp look at family, deformity, community, and belonging. At once moving and merciless, this is a chronicle of a hapless but still altogether human life." — Brian Evenson, author of A Collapse of Horses
S. Craig Zahler is an award-winning screenwriter, director, novelist, cinematographer, and musician. He wrote and directed the films Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99, and is the author of several novels, including Wraiths of the Broken Land, A Congregation of Jackals, and Mean Business on North Ganson Street.
Hug Chickenpenny is an anomalous child. Born from tragedy and unknown paternity, this asymmetrical and white-haired baby inspires both ire and pity at the orphanage, until the day that an elderly eccentric adopts him as a pet. The upbeat boy's spirit is challenged in his new home and as he is exposed to prejudiced members of society in various encounters. Will Hug and his astronautical dreams survive our cruel and judgmental world?
"A sharp look at family, deformity, community, and belonging. At once moving and merciless, this is a chronicle of a hapless but still altogether human life." — Brian Evenson, author of A Collapse of Horses
S. Craig Zahler is an award-winning screenwriter, director, novelist, cinematographer, and musician. He wrote and directed the films Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99, and is the author of several novels, including Wraiths of the Broken Land, A Congregation of Jackals, and Mean Business on North Ganson Street.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2018
24 people are currently reading
2507 people want to read
About the author
S. Craig Zahler
27 books1,354 followers"S. Craig Zahler is certain to become one of the great imaginers of our time." ― Clive Barker
Novelist and cartoonist S. Craig Zahler is also the screenwriter, director, and musical co-composer for the movies, Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete. His second graphic novel Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos was released by Dark Horse Comics as an oversized hardback in December 2022. He wrote and illustrated this large-scale sci-fi work.
"What a fantastic read!" ― Patton Oswalt
"I had the best time reading this graphic novel. I never knew where it was going or how." ― Brian Michael Bendis
His debut graphic novel, Forbidden Surgeries of the Hideous Dr. Divinus and his crime book The Slanted Gutter came out in 2021.
Praise for his other books:
"Whether writing westerns, science fiction, or crime, Zahler (Corpus Chrome, Inc., 2013) always manages to bring something new to the genre. [We fell] completely under Zahler’s spell... A bravura literary performance.” —Booklist, Starred Review
"Zahler tells a gripping story." ― Kirkus Review
"Five-plus stars to Hug Chickenpenny. Complex, well-drawn characterizations, compelling imagery and a well-ordered story..." ― Publishers Daily Reviews
"Zahler’s mean streets are bizarrely mean. But Mean Business is often mordantly funny, too—and not to be missed." Booklist, starred review
“CORPUS CHROME, INC describes one of the weirder post-singularity futures. The characters are very much alive. I was entertained throughout.” —Larry Niven, Hugo & Nebula award winning author
"Zahler's a fabulous story teller..." Kurt Russell, star of Escape from New York, Tombstone, and Stargate
My dark western Wraiths of the Broken Land is also available in trade paperback, hardback and ebook editions. Below is some praise from Joe R. Lansdale, Booklist, Jack Ketchum, and Ed Lee:
"If you’re looking for something similar to what you’ve read before, this ain’t it. If you want something comforting and predictable, this damn sure ain’t it. But if you want something with storytelling guts and a weird point of view, an unforgettable voice, then you want what I want, and that is this." –Joe R. Lansdale, author of The Bottoms, Mucho Mojo, and Savage Season
"It would be utterly insufficient to say that WRAITHS is the most diversified and expertly written western I’ve ever read." –Edward Lee, author of The Bighead and Gast.
"[C]ompulsively readable…. Fans of Zahler’s A Congregation of Jackals (2010) will be satisfied; think Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. [C]lever mayhem ... leads to a riveting climax." –Booklist
"WRAITHS always rings true, whether it's visiting the depths of despair, the fury of violence, or the fragile ties that bind us together for good or ill. It's a Western with heart and intelligence, always vivid, with characters you will detest or care about or both, powerfully written." –Jack Ketchum, author of Off Season and The Girl Next Door
Novelist and cartoonist S. Craig Zahler is also the screenwriter, director, and musical co-composer for the movies, Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete. His second graphic novel Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos was released by Dark Horse Comics as an oversized hardback in December 2022. He wrote and illustrated this large-scale sci-fi work.
"What a fantastic read!" ― Patton Oswalt
"I had the best time reading this graphic novel. I never knew where it was going or how." ― Brian Michael Bendis
His debut graphic novel, Forbidden Surgeries of the Hideous Dr. Divinus and his crime book The Slanted Gutter came out in 2021.
Praise for his other books:
"Whether writing westerns, science fiction, or crime, Zahler (Corpus Chrome, Inc., 2013) always manages to bring something new to the genre. [We fell] completely under Zahler’s spell... A bravura literary performance.” —Booklist, Starred Review
"Zahler tells a gripping story." ― Kirkus Review
"Five-plus stars to Hug Chickenpenny. Complex, well-drawn characterizations, compelling imagery and a well-ordered story..." ― Publishers Daily Reviews
"Zahler’s mean streets are bizarrely mean. But Mean Business is often mordantly funny, too—and not to be missed." Booklist, starred review
“CORPUS CHROME, INC describes one of the weirder post-singularity futures. The characters are very much alive. I was entertained throughout.” —Larry Niven, Hugo & Nebula award winning author
"Zahler's a fabulous story teller..." Kurt Russell, star of Escape from New York, Tombstone, and Stargate
My dark western Wraiths of the Broken Land is also available in trade paperback, hardback and ebook editions. Below is some praise from Joe R. Lansdale, Booklist, Jack Ketchum, and Ed Lee:
"If you’re looking for something similar to what you’ve read before, this ain’t it. If you want something comforting and predictable, this damn sure ain’t it. But if you want something with storytelling guts and a weird point of view, an unforgettable voice, then you want what I want, and that is this." –Joe R. Lansdale, author of The Bottoms, Mucho Mojo, and Savage Season
"It would be utterly insufficient to say that WRAITHS is the most diversified and expertly written western I’ve ever read." –Edward Lee, author of The Bighead and Gast.
"[C]ompulsively readable…. Fans of Zahler’s A Congregation of Jackals (2010) will be satisfied; think Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. [C]lever mayhem ... leads to a riveting climax." –Booklist
"WRAITHS always rings true, whether it's visiting the depths of despair, the fury of violence, or the fragile ties that bind us together for good or ill. It's a Western with heart and intelligence, always vivid, with characters you will detest or care about or both, powerfully written." –Jack Ketchum, author of Off Season and The Girl Next Door
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
November 19, 2019
Hug Chickenpenny is one of the most surprising books that I have read this year.
When I opened the Night Worms July 2019 subscription package, I was rather indifferent to this one. The cover art is incredible but, I had no idea who the author was, and the title did not strike an immediate chord with me.
I am constantly months, sometimes years, behind everyone else when it comes to reading what has just been released. Sure, I scoop up new releases from authors that I love or releases that are “highly anticipated” but, they end up sitting for a while. They are forced to wait their turn. I picked up Hug Chickenpenny with the intentions of reading a novel that I had not already seen 5,000 reviews floating around for and I am SO glad that I did.
This story is about an orphan named Hug. Just as the title suggests, his appearance and entire anatomy as a human is rather anomalous. In fact, as I was reading brief descriptions of his appearance here and there throughout the story, it was hard to believe that a person could even survive such defects. As if looking wildly different from all your peers when you’re a child isn’t traumatic enough, this little guy is playing with the worst possible deck of cards from the moment of his birth.
Hug is placed in an orphanage immediately after his birth. He is subjected to a vile woman who eventually becomes the head mistress and at some point, falls under the supervision of a teratologist, Dr. Hannersby. What is Teratology? If you Google this area of expertise, you will find two definitions. For the purpose of this story we’re going with the second definition, this doctor studies weird organisms. Not only does this doctor study them, he collects them. Normally, I find it very distracting when younger children’s narratives are clearly well beyond what they should be just to appeal to an adult audience. While not entirely believable in this case, it somehow did not bother me that Hug’s vocabulary at such a young age was outstanding. He spent a portion of his young life with a man that seemed to enjoy using language that confuses everyone around him. When you read the chapters with Dr. Hannersby in them, you will absolutely need a dictionary.
Hug’s luck flip flops back and forth. His whole life isn’t miserable but to the reader, the universe always seems to find a way to give him the short end of the stick. This story was heart-warming. Not in a basket of puppies or long-lost love found sort of way. This child has every reason in the world to explore the diversity of every four-letter expletive known to man in moments of frustration yet, his catch phrase is “darn it”. It’s heart-warming in that sort of way.
While this is not the horror fiction that I love, this story was such a breath of fresh air. Zahler does an incredible job of weaving heavy topics into this story without making them feel overwhelming. It’s dark and it will pull your heart strings in both directions.
When I opened the Night Worms July 2019 subscription package, I was rather indifferent to this one. The cover art is incredible but, I had no idea who the author was, and the title did not strike an immediate chord with me.
I am constantly months, sometimes years, behind everyone else when it comes to reading what has just been released. Sure, I scoop up new releases from authors that I love or releases that are “highly anticipated” but, they end up sitting for a while. They are forced to wait their turn. I picked up Hug Chickenpenny with the intentions of reading a novel that I had not already seen 5,000 reviews floating around for and I am SO glad that I did.
This story is about an orphan named Hug. Just as the title suggests, his appearance and entire anatomy as a human is rather anomalous. In fact, as I was reading brief descriptions of his appearance here and there throughout the story, it was hard to believe that a person could even survive such defects. As if looking wildly different from all your peers when you’re a child isn’t traumatic enough, this little guy is playing with the worst possible deck of cards from the moment of his birth.
Hug is placed in an orphanage immediately after his birth. He is subjected to a vile woman who eventually becomes the head mistress and at some point, falls under the supervision of a teratologist, Dr. Hannersby. What is Teratology? If you Google this area of expertise, you will find two definitions. For the purpose of this story we’re going with the second definition, this doctor studies weird organisms. Not only does this doctor study them, he collects them. Normally, I find it very distracting when younger children’s narratives are clearly well beyond what they should be just to appeal to an adult audience. While not entirely believable in this case, it somehow did not bother me that Hug’s vocabulary at such a young age was outstanding. He spent a portion of his young life with a man that seemed to enjoy using language that confuses everyone around him. When you read the chapters with Dr. Hannersby in them, you will absolutely need a dictionary.
Hug’s luck flip flops back and forth. His whole life isn’t miserable but to the reader, the universe always seems to find a way to give him the short end of the stick. This story was heart-warming. Not in a basket of puppies or long-lost love found sort of way. This child has every reason in the world to explore the diversity of every four-letter expletive known to man in moments of frustration yet, his catch phrase is “darn it”. It’s heart-warming in that sort of way.
While this is not the horror fiction that I love, this story was such a breath of fresh air. Zahler does an incredible job of weaving heavy topics into this story without making them feel overwhelming. It’s dark and it will pull your heart strings in both directions.
September 7, 2017
HUG CHICKENPENNY is the most surprising book I’ve read in a long time. I was won over first by the intriguing title, and next by the titular character, who you can’t help but fall in love with despite—or because of—his ‘anomalies.’ His physical appearance is grotesque, but more anomalous, in the end, is the metaphorical size of his heart—and the ways in which he impacts everyone who has the honor of meeting him. Part coming-of-age story, part would-be-astronaut adventure, HUG is like a more bizarre and infinitely more thought-provoking version of LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE. I was shocked by the opening chapter, alternately entertained and shocked again throughout, then moved to tears by the end. If you like big words, strange medicine, and believe there’s a place for everyone in this world regardless of ‘deformity,’ enter this darkly comic story of redemption with caution. Watch what you eat and where you step (I hear the mushrooms and the mansion are deceptive); when you see the little boy with the red eye and a nubbin, you’ll know you’re headed in the right direction.
March 21, 2018
The whole time I was reading this book, I kept thinking, this is a great story (a beautiful story, even) that is, unfortunately, told by the wrong person. Zahler tries too hard to be or sound Dickensian; it doesn't work. He tries too hard to sound sophisticated; it doesn't work. He can't handle the complexity and nuance it would take to tell this story the way it deserves to be told.
It was okay. I enjoyed it. I wouldn't read it again, nor would I recommend it someone who is looking for a good read. It had too many pointless scenes, too much needless dialogue, WAY too many uses of "viridescent," "opalescent," and any form of the verb "to amble." One character is characterized by his supposed vast and advanced vocabulary, but even he is repetitive and comes off sounding like a teenager who uses a thesaurus when writing an essay, using words that just don't feel like they fit and are "advanced" only for the sake of being advanced. I asked myself several times, "Is this on purpose? Is this character meant to sound pompous and fake?" Based on the language use in the narrative itself (which one can see just from the title of the book) I decided that this was not the case: the character is supposed to be a genius and he fails at being presented that way.
Ultimately, even though I feel bad for the "anomalous child," he never felt real to me, due to the writer's over reliance on Hug's physical appearance and spending not nearly enough time on Hug's personality, thoughts, etc.
The final issue I had with the novel was Zahler's constant, yet inconsistent, use of titles for referring to all the characters. He refers to "the anomalous child," "the caretaker," "the mother," "the handsome man," etc. so often that the reader wonders if there is a purpose to it. But then he will randomly use their names and blow that whole theory away. I just didn't get it. It was jarring and kept me from being absorbed into the world of the novel.
It was okay. I enjoyed it. I wouldn't read it again, nor would I recommend it someone who is looking for a good read. It had too many pointless scenes, too much needless dialogue, WAY too many uses of "viridescent," "opalescent," and any form of the verb "to amble." One character is characterized by his supposed vast and advanced vocabulary, but even he is repetitive and comes off sounding like a teenager who uses a thesaurus when writing an essay, using words that just don't feel like they fit and are "advanced" only for the sake of being advanced. I asked myself several times, "Is this on purpose? Is this character meant to sound pompous and fake?" Based on the language use in the narrative itself (which one can see just from the title of the book) I decided that this was not the case: the character is supposed to be a genius and he fails at being presented that way.
Ultimately, even though I feel bad for the "anomalous child," he never felt real to me, due to the writer's over reliance on Hug's physical appearance and spending not nearly enough time on Hug's personality, thoughts, etc.
The final issue I had with the novel was Zahler's constant, yet inconsistent, use of titles for referring to all the characters. He refers to "the anomalous child," "the caretaker," "the mother," "the handsome man," etc. so often that the reader wonders if there is a purpose to it. But then he will randomly use their names and blow that whole theory away. I just didn't get it. It was jarring and kept me from being absorbed into the world of the novel.
April 28, 2018
I am devastated.
March 19, 2019
While Hug Chickenpenny: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child is not something I'd normally read and had me reaching for the dictionary more than once, it's one of those books that I know will stay with me for a long, long time. Zahler's work will do that. Like his damning westerns Wraiths of the Broken Land and A Congregation of Jackals (ironically enough, the western is another genre I've never read before those), Hug Chickenpenny is much more than literature. It's an experience.
You can read my entire review right here at Horror DNA.
You can read my entire review right here at Horror DNA.
October 1, 2018
Where to begin with this book? Hug Chickenpenny: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child is unlike anything that I've read before. It's a coming of age story, but with a fantasy bent that makes it completely unique. I can promise that whatever you think you're going to find in these pages you're, at most, only about half right. If you've seen Bone Tomahawk, you might have a general idea about the brilliant oddness that Zahler can create. Just go into this book with an open mind, and prepare yourself for an anomalous journey.
As a character, Hug Chickenpenny wins the award for the quickest I've ever grown attached to anyone. From the moment of Hug's unusual entry into the world, the reader is shown how much he has stacked against him. See, Hug isn't exactly a "normal" child. In the broadest sense of the word, he's quite different. Which of course then sets the stage for his rather rough, and equally intriguing, childhood. Hug's ability to see the good in people and situations, that I would be railing madly at, is really what endeared him to me. No matter how dark things became, Hug was always a ray of light and that is really the most beautiful part of this book.
In terms of plot, there's not a lot that I can say without spoiling things so I'll tread carefully. To say that Hug's story is interesting is actually somewhat of an understatement. Hug probably goes through more in the duration of this book than most of us do in a lifetime. Poor thing. I loved the characters that S. Craig Zahler brought into his path, and especially appreciated those who could see past Hug's outer "otherness". However the book started to lose me somewhere around the mid-point, when it strayed too far into the fantasy aspect of everything. I liken it to following a steady trail of breadcrumbs into a forest, only to find halfway through that it had been entirely eaten by birds. I was left wandering towards the ending, which then came rushing up too quickly. I almost felt a bit cheated overall. Especially because, in the vein of Lemony Snickett, so many sad things had happened so close together at the end. I lacked closure, and that wasn't something I enjoyed.
So, for a wholly unique plot and a character that I fell head over heels for, this book gets a solid three star rating. It's definitely outside of most of what I've read, and I adored it for that. I do warn you though, this isn't the happiest of stories. Make sure you have some tissues specifically for the ending, friends. You're going to need them.
As a character, Hug Chickenpenny wins the award for the quickest I've ever grown attached to anyone. From the moment of Hug's unusual entry into the world, the reader is shown how much he has stacked against him. See, Hug isn't exactly a "normal" child. In the broadest sense of the word, he's quite different. Which of course then sets the stage for his rather rough, and equally intriguing, childhood. Hug's ability to see the good in people and situations, that I would be railing madly at, is really what endeared him to me. No matter how dark things became, Hug was always a ray of light and that is really the most beautiful part of this book.
In terms of plot, there's not a lot that I can say without spoiling things so I'll tread carefully. To say that Hug's story is interesting is actually somewhat of an understatement. Hug probably goes through more in the duration of this book than most of us do in a lifetime. Poor thing. I loved the characters that S. Craig Zahler brought into his path, and especially appreciated those who could see past Hug's outer "otherness". However the book started to lose me somewhere around the mid-point, when it strayed too far into the fantasy aspect of everything. I liken it to following a steady trail of breadcrumbs into a forest, only to find halfway through that it had been entirely eaten by birds. I was left wandering towards the ending, which then came rushing up too quickly. I almost felt a bit cheated overall. Especially because, in the vein of Lemony Snickett, so many sad things had happened so close together at the end. I lacked closure, and that wasn't something I enjoyed.
So, for a wholly unique plot and a character that I fell head over heels for, this book gets a solid three star rating. It's definitely outside of most of what I've read, and I adored it for that. I do warn you though, this isn't the happiest of stories. Make sure you have some tissues specifically for the ending, friends. You're going to need them.
July 12, 2019
HUG CHICKENPENNY: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child, by S. Craig Zahler was unlike anything I'd ever read. A very different coming-of-age tale, and very emotional all throughout.
I instantly fell for this little boy who elicited horror, pity, and occasionally love, in all who saw him. It's near impossible to tell much more about the story without giving it away. Personally, I thought the tale was very original, and I read it in a single sitting. However, as interesting as it was, I felt the "sorrow" was more overwhelming than anything else, and it ended with my feeling "depressed" instead of the better emotions that were touched upon.
I instantly fell for this little boy who elicited horror, pity, and occasionally love, in all who saw him. It's near impossible to tell much more about the story without giving it away. Personally, I thought the tale was very original, and I read it in a single sitting. However, as interesting as it was, I felt the "sorrow" was more overwhelming than anything else, and it ended with my feeling "depressed" instead of the better emotions that were touched upon.
February 17, 2025
"Sometimes art is supposed to upset you"
"Why?"
"It might help you work through some of your own bad feelings or change how you look at yourself or something you're experiencing or somebody who know or once knew. And often, there're hidden messages in this kind of art that you don't see right away-so it can make you think, which is never a bad thing."
Whatever Zahler writes, I'll read.
"Why?"
"It might help you work through some of your own bad feelings or change how you look at yourself or something you're experiencing or somebody who know or once knew. And often, there're hidden messages in this kind of art that you don't see right away-so it can make you think, which is never a bad thing."
Whatever Zahler writes, I'll read.
July 7, 2021
Of all of Zahler's brutal and unrelenting work I've made my way through so far (2 books, 3 movies, and a podcast), I was not expecting his YA novel to be the most brutal and unrelenting 😭😭😭. This book kicked my ass.
Hug Chickenpenny for president
Hug Chickenpenny for president
April 9, 2024
Wow! Might be one of my new favorites? Zahler might be a better novelist than a screenwriter, crafting a macabre and beautiful world filled with no shortage of vivid characters, with heartbreaking moments and humor to spare. Tales about strange monster children are always gonna resonate with me and this is one of the very best. An otherworldly odyssey that I’d put in the same class as tales such as Pinocchio or Poor Things. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer, felt a little truncated in parts (the factory segment especially). At first I didn’t like the ending but the more I thought about it (and thought of a different way to interpret it) the more I like it. Been a while since I truly couldn’t put a book down the way I couldn’t with this one. I really hope Zahler gets the funding needed to make this into a movie someday!
December 19, 2020
Living an Anomalous Existence...
Hug Chickenpenny.
Written by S. Craig Zahler.
By Blake Patterson.
From Bone Tomahawk to last year’s Dragged Across Concrete, S. Craig Zahler has established himself as a gifted and daring artist. With his novel Hug Chickenpenny, Zahler displays a surprising amount of compassion for some of his interesting characters——particularly the title character. In Hug Chickenpenny, Zahler creates a gothic fantasy concerning the childhood of an anomalous child and his experiences at a flawed orphanage and with other adults who adopt him. From the selfish Dr. Hannersby to the caring Abigail Westinghouse, the intelligent and endearing Hug Chickenpenny experiences bliss and hardship. With these characterizations, Zahler develops a complex and imaginative examination of bigotry and innocence. Both themes influence each other frequently during the story. The imagery in Hug Chickenpenny is so vivid it can easily place the reader in this surreal world. Descriptions of the environment are never pretentious and unnecessary like in William Faulkner novel, and Zahler balances the imagery and dialogue so well. Hug Chickenpenny is an evenly structured tale with some of the fascinating characters and ideas in recent memory. In the literary world, Zahler proves he is the most provocative talent since Bret Easton Ellis. Both authors are stylistically different, but they display boldness and personality. For a novel with bleak and heartbreaking moments, Hug Chickenpenny also has heartwarming sequences when the character is around his loved ones. The emotional moments never feel arbitrary and remain genuine. Some people will complain about Zahler’s choice for the conclusion, but it is too moving to deny when considering the previous events. Despite the lack of mainstream attention, Hug Chickenpenny is Zahler’s finest achievement. A masterpiece of thematic and emotional power.
Hug Chickenpenny.
Written by S. Craig Zahler.
By Blake Patterson.
From Bone Tomahawk to last year’s Dragged Across Concrete, S. Craig Zahler has established himself as a gifted and daring artist. With his novel Hug Chickenpenny, Zahler displays a surprising amount of compassion for some of his interesting characters——particularly the title character. In Hug Chickenpenny, Zahler creates a gothic fantasy concerning the childhood of an anomalous child and his experiences at a flawed orphanage and with other adults who adopt him. From the selfish Dr. Hannersby to the caring Abigail Westinghouse, the intelligent and endearing Hug Chickenpenny experiences bliss and hardship. With these characterizations, Zahler develops a complex and imaginative examination of bigotry and innocence. Both themes influence each other frequently during the story. The imagery in Hug Chickenpenny is so vivid it can easily place the reader in this surreal world. Descriptions of the environment are never pretentious and unnecessary like in William Faulkner novel, and Zahler balances the imagery and dialogue so well. Hug Chickenpenny is an evenly structured tale with some of the fascinating characters and ideas in recent memory. In the literary world, Zahler proves he is the most provocative talent since Bret Easton Ellis. Both authors are stylistically different, but they display boldness and personality. For a novel with bleak and heartbreaking moments, Hug Chickenpenny also has heartwarming sequences when the character is around his loved ones. The emotional moments never feel arbitrary and remain genuine. Some people will complain about Zahler’s choice for the conclusion, but it is too moving to deny when considering the previous events. Despite the lack of mainstream attention, Hug Chickenpenny is Zahler’s finest achievement. A masterpiece of thematic and emotional power.
May 14, 2021
Rating : 2,5/5
I really enjoy Zahler's work as a screenwriter, in fact, I think that I love all three of his movies, but this is my first time reading one of his books and... It's not good.
My biggest question now is : will this suck as a movie when it comes out next year ? I'm sure that if he makes one of the adults in this the main character, it could end up being fine, but in book form, making Hug the main character just made every adult character completely uninteresting to me, for the very simple reason that I never felt like I knew any of them.
And sure, Hug's character was fun and brought a certain cuteness to this not so bleak story, but seeing the world through his eyes wasn't particularly interesting to me, an adult. I suspect that it was because not a whole lot happened.
Anyways, I cannot believe that I actually read a book this year.
I really enjoy Zahler's work as a screenwriter, in fact, I think that I love all three of his movies, but this is my first time reading one of his books and... It's not good.
My biggest question now is : will this suck as a movie when it comes out next year ? I'm sure that if he makes one of the adults in this the main character, it could end up being fine, but in book form, making Hug the main character just made every adult character completely uninteresting to me, for the very simple reason that I never felt like I knew any of them.
And sure, Hug's character was fun and brought a certain cuteness to this not so bleak story, but seeing the world through his eyes wasn't particularly interesting to me, an adult. I suspect that it was because not a whole lot happened.
Anyways, I cannot believe that I actually read a book this year.
September 1, 2021
Oh so hard to decide with this book. I went from liking to not liking back and forth. It redeemed itself at the end though. The first scene had me laughing out loud, which hardly ever happens with me and books, and looking forward to a good read. Then I had a hard time deciding if the book was hilarious or pretensious. As it got less funny I decided it was pretensious. Though I did appreciate the dark humour, I started liking it again when Hug returned to a caretaker from his earliest day. And bestill my heart, it had even hard-hearted me shed tears at the end. This is basically Lemony Snicket for adults. A dark farce of the Dickensian orphan novel, which in the end I think is better suited to a YA audience.
August 7, 2019
I recently received this book from the Night Worms monthly subscription package (you need to check them out if you haven't already), and this book looked so odd, with a title that sent me to the dictionary to find out what a couple of the words meant, that I moved it to the top of my TBR pile. Wow. So many feels with this book. Hug is such a great character that you can't help but fall in love with his spirit and resilience. At times the story channels the vibe of Series Of Unfortunate Events, and it has a strong Tim Burton feeling to it...man, it hooked me quick. Such a great surprise find.
February 11, 2018
Unlike any of his previous works, S. Craig Zahler tells the heartbreaking story of Hug Chickenpenny in the vein of classic Tim Burton. This is a pretty straightforward tale that comes to life through colorful dialogue. This novel further cements the fact that S. Craig Zahler is a master storyteller by venturing and excelling in different genres than he has established himself in.
I recommend this book if you enjoyed the following: Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, My Favorite Thing is Monsters, A Monster Calls, and any of S. Craig Zahler's works.
I recommend this book if you enjoyed the following: Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, My Favorite Thing is Monsters, A Monster Calls, and any of S. Craig Zahler's works.
January 5, 2019
Parts of this book read like the author spent hours with his thesaurus trying to make your head hurt... yet he insisted on using the word anomalous 9999 times in such a short book!!! Deformed kid who perseveres... good book... deformed kid who coughs out gems... went a little to far and ruined it for me.
February 6, 2018
At present, I will tell you that you will love the anomalous boy and his story. You will achieve the full range of the emotional experience, never knowing who to love or hate or laugh or scowl at. Unique and intriguing.
December 4, 2018
If Tim Burton and Mervyn Peake got together to update one of Dickens' orphan novels ... it would probably look something like this.
January 14, 2021
As far as I can recall, there are three books that have made me cry. Watership Down, Flowers for Algernon, and Hug Chickenpenny: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child. Kudos, sir.
December 9, 2023
This was almost exactly what I thought it would be: Zahler's pulpy, genre-fiction inspired take on an elephant man type of story. There are definitely surprises, horrors, heart, and an extra dose of imagination. Not for everyone, but for the right audience a rare treat.
P. S. Some seem to think Zahler was trying to be Dickensian here, but I just don't see it myself. While Zahler's style is a little different for each project, odd and off-kilter diction is a trademark and hardly an attempt to be Dickensian.
P. S. Some seem to think Zahler was trying to be Dickensian here, but I just don't see it myself. While Zahler's style is a little different for each project, odd and off-kilter diction is a trademark and hardly an attempt to be Dickensian.
October 8, 2021
From an author and screenwriter who makes incredibly effective genre pieces, Zahler fucking floored me with his ability to tackle the "orphaned boy with a tragic story" so masterfully that I was emotionally affected.
Hats off.
Hats off.
March 15, 2021
This book was given to me by a friend and I was instantly drawn by it's unique name. But the story is just as unique, and beautifully so, and did make me shed a few tears. It was truly a weirdly lovely story, and I plan to read more by this author in the future!
December 9, 2021
(This review is also available in video form: https://youtu.be/CeaQHC0raXw)
Zahler has described this as his most personal novel, and in reading it, that’s plain to see. It’s something of an oddity amongst Zahler’s other work; just as anomalous as the book’s title character within his body of work. Hug Chickenpenny chronicles the life of an orphaned boy who is unlike any other. His unique appearance and genetic structure lead to him being frequently ostracized and othered from the moment he’s born onward.
While it would be a stretch to call Hug Chickenpenny a kid-friendly book or a young-adult novel, it is certainly more accessible to younger readers than his other novels. Sure it gets a little dark, and maybe there’s some non-gruesome death here and there, but I don’t think Hug Chickenpenny would seem out of place in a school library. It wouldn’t get complaints from stuffy parents.
Gone is the trademark violence that bolsters all of Zahler’s other stories, with the possible exception of Corpus Chrome Inc I suppose, but in its place is a whole lot more heart. Zahler’s other projects might have moments of sweetness, such as the Blackie chapter I discussed in my review for A Congregation of Jackals, but Hug Chickenpenny is sweet all the way through, even when the hardships Hug is put through are harrowing and bleak. There’s a word that can describe Hug Chickenpenny that doesn’t apply to Zahler’s other stories, and that word is: “wholesome.”
I think this is an excellent book, but because it’s so different from the rest of Zahler’s oeuvre, there’s no guarantee that you’ll like this one if you’re a big fan of his other work. There’s sure to be some overlap, but this book is going for something decidedly different.
Now, that’s not to say that it doesn’t still feel like a Zahler novel. It does. It’s quite a departure in terms of the tone and subject matter, but Zahler’s prose is just as flavorful, his characters are just as well-drawn, the story is just as engrossing, and his dialogue is as sharp as ever. I’ve heard the book described as a Dickensian Elephant Man, and I think that’s a good way to put it, but you never lose sight of the fact that everything is through that unique Zahler lens.
The characters are what really make this piece work as well as it does. Not just the titular character, but everyone in his orbit as well. Every individual is memorable and distinctive whether they’re someone you love to be around or someone you hope to see get their comeuppance.
At one point, an adaptation of Hug Chickenpenny was going to be Zahler’s next film. That may have changed though, it’s been quite a while since it was announced. All the way back in 2017, Deadline announced that the Jim Henson company was involved with the film. Zahler has said that the lead character of Hug will be executed with puppetry, which I think is a great outside-the-box choice. I’m not sure if it would even be possible to execute a live-action version of Hug with a real child actor as the character is described in the book. Interestingly, the film adaptation of Hug Chickenpenny was announced before the book was even published.
I’m looking forward to the film; I hope it still happens. It could even be the first of Zahler’s books to make it all the way to the silver screen since other attempts at adaptation seem to have dead-ended or at least gone dark after being announced years ago. Hug Chickenpenny is a pretty quick read at only around 250 pages, and it’s paced like a film already for the most part, so a clean adaptation should be possible without having to cut too much material, whereas a story like The Slanted Gutter would need to have a lot of great material yanked out of it to fit into a feature-length runtime.
Hug Chickenpenny is perhaps the dark horse of Zahler’s body of work, but that’s far from a bad thing. Not all Zahler fans will resonate with this particular story, but I think it’s another excellent novel.
Zahler has described this as his most personal novel, and in reading it, that’s plain to see. It’s something of an oddity amongst Zahler’s other work; just as anomalous as the book’s title character within his body of work. Hug Chickenpenny chronicles the life of an orphaned boy who is unlike any other. His unique appearance and genetic structure lead to him being frequently ostracized and othered from the moment he’s born onward.
While it would be a stretch to call Hug Chickenpenny a kid-friendly book or a young-adult novel, it is certainly more accessible to younger readers than his other novels. Sure it gets a little dark, and maybe there’s some non-gruesome death here and there, but I don’t think Hug Chickenpenny would seem out of place in a school library. It wouldn’t get complaints from stuffy parents.
Gone is the trademark violence that bolsters all of Zahler’s other stories, with the possible exception of Corpus Chrome Inc I suppose, but in its place is a whole lot more heart. Zahler’s other projects might have moments of sweetness, such as the Blackie chapter I discussed in my review for A Congregation of Jackals, but Hug Chickenpenny is sweet all the way through, even when the hardships Hug is put through are harrowing and bleak. There’s a word that can describe Hug Chickenpenny that doesn’t apply to Zahler’s other stories, and that word is: “wholesome.”
I think this is an excellent book, but because it’s so different from the rest of Zahler’s oeuvre, there’s no guarantee that you’ll like this one if you’re a big fan of his other work. There’s sure to be some overlap, but this book is going for something decidedly different.
Now, that’s not to say that it doesn’t still feel like a Zahler novel. It does. It’s quite a departure in terms of the tone and subject matter, but Zahler’s prose is just as flavorful, his characters are just as well-drawn, the story is just as engrossing, and his dialogue is as sharp as ever. I’ve heard the book described as a Dickensian Elephant Man, and I think that’s a good way to put it, but you never lose sight of the fact that everything is through that unique Zahler lens.
The characters are what really make this piece work as well as it does. Not just the titular character, but everyone in his orbit as well. Every individual is memorable and distinctive whether they’re someone you love to be around or someone you hope to see get their comeuppance.
At one point, an adaptation of Hug Chickenpenny was going to be Zahler’s next film. That may have changed though, it’s been quite a while since it was announced. All the way back in 2017, Deadline announced that the Jim Henson company was involved with the film. Zahler has said that the lead character of Hug will be executed with puppetry, which I think is a great outside-the-box choice. I’m not sure if it would even be possible to execute a live-action version of Hug with a real child actor as the character is described in the book. Interestingly, the film adaptation of Hug Chickenpenny was announced before the book was even published.
I’m looking forward to the film; I hope it still happens. It could even be the first of Zahler’s books to make it all the way to the silver screen since other attempts at adaptation seem to have dead-ended or at least gone dark after being announced years ago. Hug Chickenpenny is a pretty quick read at only around 250 pages, and it’s paced like a film already for the most part, so a clean adaptation should be possible without having to cut too much material, whereas a story like The Slanted Gutter would need to have a lot of great material yanked out of it to fit into a feature-length runtime.
Hug Chickenpenny is perhaps the dark horse of Zahler’s body of work, but that’s far from a bad thing. Not all Zahler fans will resonate with this particular story, but I think it’s another excellent novel.
April 5, 2018
Hug Chickenpenny: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child by S. Craig Zahler is a wonderfully bizarre but heartbreaking tale filled to the brim with symbolism.
This is one that you should not read alone! Trust me. You're going to want to talk about it! I'm so glad that this was the book pick for my work book club. We had such an amazing conversation about it.
Phew, what a read this was! No matter how long I've tried to organize my thoughts... I just keep wanting to type out the same things; this is definitely a very unique tale! So my apologies, my thoughts below are quite choppy!
Full disclosure, I didn't actually read the synopsis before I started reading the book. Reading it now, I highly doubt I would have given this book a chance if I had. My coworker, April, had told me that it was pretty dark but really interesting. But other than that, I had no idea what I was getting myself into...
Hug is such an amazing character! I couldn't move forward with this review without shouting that out! He is a character that I know will stick with me for a long time to come. Hug was so unique and otherworldly. Right from the synopsis you can tell that he doesn't have an easy life. But no matter what was thrown his way, he remained hopeful and positive. Needless to say, he was a character that I really rooted for! And I just loved that he went around saying, "Don't be mean."
I don't want to dive into all of the symbolism and spoil things, but I will say that my favorite element was the amethyst. During our book club chat, I looked up what amethyst has symbolized throughout history, and each explanation totally fit into to the story! There were also elements added into the tale that seemed wildly inappropriate, but created wonderful talking points!
Saying that I "enjoyed" this book doesn't really fit. I started out very confused and from there, things got more and more peculiar as the events of Hug's life unfolded. Some of the situations he was forced into made me cringe or got my blood boiling. Other situations were very strange. But some were enjoyable and quite lovely!
Beware, the negatives:
My two main complaints are centered around repetition and flow. The writing was a bit repetitive at times, though it did seem to be done on purpose. It's just my usual reading irk! As for the organization of the storyline, it just felt so choppy, especially in the beginning as Hug grew up. I found it really difficult to gauge how much time had passed.
My favorite passage:
Floorboards slammed into her left hip and outstretched palms. For a moment, the dull thud of her arrival echoed throughout the library.
My final thoughts:
This was such a quick read! It's definitely one to read over a weekend because you won't want to put it down. While I didn't really enjoy it, per say, I do definitely appreciate the story and I can see myself re-reading it for sure!
This book reminded me of the bittersweetness of A Series Of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. So if you enjoy novels that are a bit strange and frustrating, you will love this one!
This is one that you should not read alone! Trust me. You're going to want to talk about it! I'm so glad that this was the book pick for my work book club. We had such an amazing conversation about it.
Phew, what a read this was! No matter how long I've tried to organize my thoughts... I just keep wanting to type out the same things; this is definitely a very unique tale! So my apologies, my thoughts below are quite choppy!
Full disclosure, I didn't actually read the synopsis before I started reading the book. Reading it now, I highly doubt I would have given this book a chance if I had. My coworker, April, had told me that it was pretty dark but really interesting. But other than that, I had no idea what I was getting myself into...
Hug is such an amazing character! I couldn't move forward with this review without shouting that out! He is a character that I know will stick with me for a long time to come. Hug was so unique and otherworldly. Right from the synopsis you can tell that he doesn't have an easy life. But no matter what was thrown his way, he remained hopeful and positive. Needless to say, he was a character that I really rooted for! And I just loved that he went around saying, "Don't be mean."
I don't want to dive into all of the symbolism and spoil things, but I will say that my favorite element was the amethyst. During our book club chat, I looked up what amethyst has symbolized throughout history, and each explanation totally fit into to the story! There were also elements added into the tale that seemed wildly inappropriate, but created wonderful talking points!
Saying that I "enjoyed" this book doesn't really fit. I started out very confused and from there, things got more and more peculiar as the events of Hug's life unfolded. Some of the situations he was forced into made me cringe or got my blood boiling. Other situations were very strange. But some were enjoyable and quite lovely!
Beware, the negatives:
My two main complaints are centered around repetition and flow. The writing was a bit repetitive at times, though it did seem to be done on purpose. It's just my usual reading irk! As for the organization of the storyline, it just felt so choppy, especially in the beginning as Hug grew up. I found it really difficult to gauge how much time had passed.
My favorite passage:
Floorboards slammed into her left hip and outstretched palms. For a moment, the dull thud of her arrival echoed throughout the library.
My final thoughts:
This was such a quick read! It's definitely one to read over a weekend because you won't want to put it down. While I didn't really enjoy it, per say, I do definitely appreciate the story and I can see myself re-reading it for sure!
This book reminded me of the bittersweetness of A Series Of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. So if you enjoy novels that are a bit strange and frustrating, you will love this one!
September 27, 2017
Zahler u nás zabodoval skvělou kriminálkou Špinavý kšefty na North Ganson Street (a samozřejmě, podobně brutálním filmovým westernem Bone Tomahawk), takže když mi nakladatelství Mystery Press nabídlo, jestli si nechci přečíst jeho román Hug Chickepenny, jestli by se nehodil pro vydání, samozřejmě jsem po tom hned hrábnul.
Ale nakonec to bylo trochu komplikovanější. Je to dobrá knížka? To ano. Je dobře napsaná? Rozhodně. Je tedy k vydání? No... nejsem si jist.
Hlavní potíž je v tématu. Není to ani hororový western ani hororová kriminálka. Je to... Sloní muž mixovaný s Oliverem Twistem, to celé zasazené do současnosti. Celé to začíná zrozením jmenovaného Huga, který je, slušně řečeno, monstrum. Co může být pokřivené, to je. Každá ruka, noha i oko jsou jiné a když křičí, praskají okenní tabulky. Jeho matka porod nepřežije a tak skončí mílý Hug v děcáku, kde stráví větší část svého života - s kratšími či delšími odskoky do různých rodin. Od šíleného vědce až po majitelky galerie. Mezitím pomalu vyrůstá v inteligentního, ale pořád obludného kluka, který má jediný sen - postavit si raketu a vypadnout z téhle zatracené planety. Do vesmíru, odkud určitě přišel.
A to je v podstatě téma knížky. Šeredné stvoření a lidé, které potkává a kteří se k němu chovají buď hezky nebo nenávistně. Štěstí, který brzo vystřídá smůla. Nemá to žádnou jinou zápletku a ani nějaké velké antagonisty. Je to takové Burtonovské emo, s bizarními postavami a občas zábavnou situací. Je to krátký příběh, který na vás může zapůsobit, ale přiznám se, že mě tohle téma moc nechytlo. Možná proto, že nemám moc rád knížky o rozených obětech. A mohlo zapůsobit i to, že je to absolutně odlišné od toho, co od Zahlera znám, že to na mě až do konce působilo spíš matoucím dojmem. Je to, asi jako kdybyste si od Kinga přečetli To... a jako druhou jeho knížku byste dostali Love Story, Pošli to dál, Hvězdy nám nepřály nebo Než jsem tě poznala. Nebo nějakou jinou, vyloženě citovou ždímačku. Asi byste byli trochu zmatení a příště byste si dali bacha. A pro čtenářky podobných věcí si myslím, že je to zase až moc temné a neromanticky napsané. To si člověk vážně nevybere.
Ale nakonec to bylo trochu komplikovanější. Je to dobrá knížka? To ano. Je dobře napsaná? Rozhodně. Je tedy k vydání? No... nejsem si jist.
Hlavní potíž je v tématu. Není to ani hororový western ani hororová kriminálka. Je to... Sloní muž mixovaný s Oliverem Twistem, to celé zasazené do současnosti. Celé to začíná zrozením jmenovaného Huga, který je, slušně řečeno, monstrum. Co může být pokřivené, to je. Každá ruka, noha i oko jsou jiné a když křičí, praskají okenní tabulky. Jeho matka porod nepřežije a tak skončí mílý Hug v děcáku, kde stráví větší část svého života - s kratšími či delšími odskoky do různých rodin. Od šíleného vědce až po majitelky galerie. Mezitím pomalu vyrůstá v inteligentního, ale pořád obludného kluka, který má jediný sen - postavit si raketu a vypadnout z téhle zatracené planety. Do vesmíru, odkud určitě přišel.
A to je v podstatě téma knížky. Šeredné stvoření a lidé, které potkává a kteří se k němu chovají buď hezky nebo nenávistně. Štěstí, který brzo vystřídá smůla. Nemá to žádnou jinou zápletku a ani nějaké velké antagonisty. Je to takové Burtonovské emo, s bizarními postavami a občas zábavnou situací. Je to krátký příběh, který na vás může zapůsobit, ale přiznám se, že mě tohle téma moc nechytlo. Možná proto, že nemám moc rád knížky o rozených obětech. A mohlo zapůsobit i to, že je to absolutně odlišné od toho, co od Zahlera znám, že to na mě až do konce působilo spíš matoucím dojmem. Je to, asi jako kdybyste si od Kinga přečetli To... a jako druhou jeho knížku byste dostali Love Story, Pošli to dál, Hvězdy nám nepřály nebo Než jsem tě poznala. Nebo nějakou jinou, vyloženě citovou ždímačku. Asi byste byli trochu zmatení a příště byste si dali bacha. A pro čtenářky podobných věcí si myslím, že je to zase až moc temné a neromanticky napsané. To si člověk vážně nevybere.
April 10, 2018
He did it again.
He is 5 books for 5 now which makes me even more excited to see what he's gonna do in film.
Anyway, this is 264 pages and I would say it could've been longer, more like 300.
Now, I never grew up with Snicket but I feel Chickenpenny encompasses that vibe but written in a way that at my age I could enjoy. Reading Snicket now is troublesome and cumbersome for me.
Beyond that things could've been fleshed out even more with characters and that world, I really enjoyed this.
The origin of how he came to be and the life that he led was an enjoyable read. I loved how a lot of stuff about Hug wasn't explained. It didn't need to explained, who cares about the whole amethyst stuff. Though, more time with the other characters would've been nice. With the time we had though, the lingered enough to have an impact.
Rex was a surprise. Which just proves how hopeless Hug has been throughout the entire book until that change. I enjoyed that and now as I write this, I would say if things were more fleshed out it may have taken out the 'umph' of these characters who merely lingered but lingered just enough.
Anyway, it was such a change of pace and narrative from what Zahler has written before that I was really curious how this book would go and I say he did it again.
He's done westerns, sci-fi, thrillers, and now a YA-eque book (I'm not sure where this would be categorized in a bookstore). Can't wait for his next work.
He is 5 books for 5 now which makes me even more excited to see what he's gonna do in film.
Anyway, this is 264 pages and I would say it could've been longer, more like 300.
Now, I never grew up with Snicket but I feel Chickenpenny encompasses that vibe but written in a way that at my age I could enjoy. Reading Snicket now is troublesome and cumbersome for me.
Beyond that things could've been fleshed out even more with characters and that world, I really enjoyed this.
The origin of how he came to be and the life that he led was an enjoyable read. I loved how a lot of stuff about Hug wasn't explained. It didn't need to explained, who cares about the whole amethyst stuff. Though, more time with the other characters would've been nice. With the time we had though, the lingered enough to have an impact.
Rex was a surprise. Which just proves how hopeless Hug has been throughout the entire book until that change. I enjoyed that and now as I write this, I would say if things were more fleshed out it may have taken out the 'umph' of these characters who merely lingered but lingered just enough.
Anyway, it was such a change of pace and narrative from what Zahler has written before that I was really curious how this book would go and I say he did it again.
He's done westerns, sci-fi, thrillers, and now a YA-eque book (I'm not sure where this would be categorized in a bookstore). Can't wait for his next work.
March 12, 2018
This story reminded me of the life of Joseph Merrick, also known as the "Elephant Man," on account of his physical deformity. The boy in this book was born disfigured, and was subsequently named Hug by one of the caretakers in the orphanage he was sent to -- because he would need all the love that he could get.
Following a literary trope of societal outcasts, Hug's life followed an pattern of peaks and troughs. At every turn when he had just about settled into some semblance of 'normal' life, the bottom would fall out all over again -- the poor boy just could not catch a break. However, the maturity and resiliency of this child is monumental, as most such handicapped individuals are, whether in real life or as make belief.
Despite all the hardships that Hug encountered, he was never bitter. As a reader, I saw things through the stoic spirit of Hug, too -- although I winced inwardly at some of the mishaps that befell him. Along with him, I rolled with the punches as much as he went with life's flow. I picked up the pieces as much as he started over. I forgave as he forgave. From start to finish, this was the inherent strength and quality of this book, which contains a smidgen of magical realism.
* Read for the '2018 Book Riot Read Harder' challenge task: A one-sitting book
Following a literary trope of societal outcasts, Hug's life followed an pattern of peaks and troughs. At every turn when he had just about settled into some semblance of 'normal' life, the bottom would fall out all over again -- the poor boy just could not catch a break. However, the maturity and resiliency of this child is monumental, as most such handicapped individuals are, whether in real life or as make belief.
Despite all the hardships that Hug encountered, he was never bitter. As a reader, I saw things through the stoic spirit of Hug, too -- although I winced inwardly at some of the mishaps that befell him. Along with him, I rolled with the punches as much as he went with life's flow. I picked up the pieces as much as he started over. I forgave as he forgave. From start to finish, this was the inherent strength and quality of this book, which contains a smidgen of magical realism.
* Read for the '2018 Book Riot Read Harder' challenge task: A one-sitting book
April 12, 2024
If you like the movie The Grand Budapest Hotel, you may like this book. But keep in mind that this is in regards to the writing (or narrating) style, NOT the content. Hug Chickenpenny is written in such an interesting style that the comparison to the Grand Budapest Hotel is the first thing that popped into my head, even though the stories told by each are nothing at all alike.
I had only picked this up at the library on my way out with a CJ Box book that I like for easy reading. I usually pick up a random book and have to say Hug is one of the best I've ever read from this "grab-and-go" option. In fact, this may be one of the best written books I have ever read. I knew nothing about it and did not know what to expect. As you first start reading you're not sure if this is a horror, thriller, mystery, and after having finished it I am still not sure what category this book fits in, maybe drama, maybe even fantasy.
Trying to avoid a spoiler let me just say this is a sad book. I don't like movies or books that make me sad - and despite this I still gave this a 4 star. You may want to give it a try. It is a quick and easy read.
I had only picked this up at the library on my way out with a CJ Box book that I like for easy reading. I usually pick up a random book and have to say Hug is one of the best I've ever read from this "grab-and-go" option. In fact, this may be one of the best written books I have ever read. I knew nothing about it and did not know what to expect. As you first start reading you're not sure if this is a horror, thriller, mystery, and after having finished it I am still not sure what category this book fits in, maybe drama, maybe even fantasy.
Trying to avoid a spoiler let me just say this is a sad book. I don't like movies or books that make me sad - and despite this I still gave this a 4 star. You may want to give it a try. It is a quick and easy read.
February 27, 2019
I was initially put off by the author's use cumbersome use of vocabulary. This later makes more sense as Hug's character is more understood and with the introduction of another character. Halfway through the book the I was emotionally invested and had a difficult time putting the book down.
The book makes an excellent point of how society views beauty and treats those that don't fall in line with the normal social definitions of beauty, physical appearances, and states of normality. The reader will finish with a new perspective and appreciation of folks that are different from themselves.
The ending was superb mix of emotions. Happiness and thankfulness for Hug finally getting what he desired most. Sadness for the manner in which he received it. Joy at being reunited with his parents and sorrow at their losses. I was thrilled when George was able to see him one last time and they were able to share a moment over the source of his name.
It has been a long time since a book had me so emotional and sobbing upon completion. Thank you Mr. Zahler. I will never be able to say "darn it" or "splendid" again without thinking of Hug.
The book makes an excellent point of how society views beauty and treats those that don't fall in line with the normal social definitions of beauty, physical appearances, and states of normality. The reader will finish with a new perspective and appreciation of folks that are different from themselves.
The ending was superb mix of emotions. Happiness and thankfulness for Hug finally getting what he desired most. Sadness for the manner in which he received it. Joy at being reunited with his parents and sorrow at their losses. I was thrilled when George was able to see him one last time and they were able to share a moment over the source of his name.
It has been a long time since a book had me so emotional and sobbing upon completion. Thank you Mr. Zahler. I will never be able to say "darn it" or "splendid" again without thinking of Hug.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2018
I loved this book so much. I’ll be honest, I have not been reading nearly as much as I have been in the past, and despite me wanting to, I really haven’t. When I first read about this book, I was instantly intrigued by it, and I instantly wanted to read it, and I’m really glad I did. I prefer books that are constantly interesting and engaging, or at the very least, I prefer them while I am trying to get back into reading, and this book remained interesting the entire time I was reading it. Not to mention I loved learning new words while reading it, and since I live to write, it was amazing to learn all of these new and interesting words.
I hope someone finds this helpful, but I really enjoyed reading it, and I hope other people do too!
To whoever is reading this, have an amazing fantastic day to the best of your abilities! :)
I hope someone finds this helpful, but I really enjoyed reading it, and I hope other people do too!
To whoever is reading this, have an amazing fantastic day to the best of your abilities! :)
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