Review: The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block

Title: The Hanged Man
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub. Date: September 30, 1994
Length: 144 Pages
Summary (from goodreads):
After the death of her father, Laurel is haunted by a legacy of family secrets, hidden shame, and shattered glass. Immersing herself in the heady rhythms of a city that is like something wild, caged, and pacing, Laurel tries to lose herself. But when she runs away from the past, she discovers a passion so powerful, it brings her roundabout and face-to-face with the demons she wants to avoid.

In a stunning departure from her enormously popular Weetzie Bat books, Francesca Lia Block weaves a darkly exhilarating tale of shattered passions and family secrets.

 
My Thoughts:  I first found Francesca Lia Block and her novels through goodreads, of course; the first book I read being How to (Un)cage a Girl, which is a beautiful collect of poetry that inspired me to find and read more of Block's work. Fortunately, all the books I've read so far have been absolutely wonderful and I was very happy when I found a copy of The Hanged Man.

Something I've noticed about Block's novels as I've read more of them is that they all seem to deal with similar topics, eating disorder and abuse among them. Her books also contain mythology and mythological beings, such as angels and fairies. I love how she can incorporate all these things together and come  up with a beautiful story. There's something about the way she references all this that makes them real to me. It gives her novels a dream like, fairy tale feel that makes me want to believe. 

The Hanged Man is one of my favorites by Block, and maybe one of the favorites of all time. It is a perfect example of what Francesca Lia Block does best: write poetic, poignant stories that come to life within the pages before you. She captures you not only with her words but with her story itself, with the magic it contains and the mystery that surrounds it.