Suicide Girls in the Afterlife

If you're a fan of Andre Duza, then you'll love this book. Well written, quirky and horrid.

I love a story that makes me feel as though I just dropped some GOOD acid. Honestly, I can think of no greater complement to pay a writer. This kinda fiction is a joy to discover. I look forward to reading more by Ramalli.

This is a very entertaining addition to the Bizarro genre. Pogue dies running through the electric forest in the rain and wakes to find herself being escorted to a strange hotel. The hotel contains everyone who has died because both Heaven and Hell are under renovation. There is even a Purgatory level. Once at the hotel, Pogue hooks up with a teen who has committed suicide and a few other misfits. They run into a Goth Emo version of Lucifer, who they convince to take them to Jesus. This is a hilarious story, with interesting characters and some great observations, such as the "white nothing" Pogue sees behind her after she dies and the eventual truth about where they really are. The ending is also very well done, and makes you think about who is really in control of your life. The writing style is top notch. The sentences flow smoothly into one another and the brief chapters make for a great page turner. It took me about an hour to blow through this story, and I will definitely read it again. The usage of fire plugs is also noteworthy.

Gina Ranalli is the high priestess of Bizarro and this is her contribution to the Bizarro Starter Kit (orange). The tale begins with the main character, Pogue, being shuttled to what she believes is heaven by a strange but kindly older gentleman. Upon arrival, she finds that both Hell and Heaven are undergoing major renovations so a hotel has been setup to cater to the recently departed souls. The souls of earth's rich people occupy the uppermost floor (akin to heaven) while the suicides and ner-do-wells occupy the bottommost. Pogue meets another young lady upon her arrival, and a young man who lives in the elevator shaft. Together, they travel the various floors of the hotel and meet Jesus and Lucy-fer. What makes this novella really interesting is the contrast between social classes Pogue witnesses after reaching the afterlife. Where the rich may not have been "godly" on earth, they still retain their status in the upper strata of Heaven after death. The suicides and scoundrels are left to while away their remaining existence in the hotel's picture of hell. Another slightly less obvious contrast can be made between "Suicide Girls..." and Sartre's play "No Exit". The conversations in "No Exit" follow three people trying to decide why they're at the hotel, while Ranalli's characters (knowing where they are) take you on the actual tour. I felt the effect of the whole was rather tainted by the remaining few paragraphs of the story, but I don't believe it should preclude the adventurous reader from delving into this bizarro novella with both arms fully extended.

If you like weird fiction, get this book. Let me explain. First, the idea of the the afterlife limbo taking place in a hotel is great. Maybe it's because I love hotels/motels but still, it's very interesting and leads to a good story. Okay, now the good things about the novella. The characterizations are excellent. Katina the goth girl was funny. And the devil? Hilarious! But not in a dumb way either. The author has a very keen sense of humor. The dialogue is very sharp. The plot itself is at various times creepy, funny, surreal, and blasphemous. Makes for a good combination. Now for the negative. I guess my complaint is that it's too short. I can't help but get the feeling that there was some stuff that was cut out or that it was originally intended to be a longer work. The whole pervert guy in Chapter 10 seemed out of place.. but only because it was in such a short work. I would LOVE to have an extended version of this story. So, in conclusion, this is a worthwhile book that would please anyone who likes sharp wit and surrealism dealing with religion and the afterlife. Simply put this is a very entertaining bizarro novella. The author Gina Ranalli is talented and it shows so despite my small criticism, I recommend this work wholeheartedly.