God Hates Us All - Hank Moody - Book Review

I've never really been a huge fan of spending my hours in front of the so called idiot box. But when I sat down to watch the pilot of Californication and saw the very first scene of a nun doing her own rendition of Madonna's Like a Prayer, I knew that this was one T.V series that I probably couldn't afford to not watch.

And for all of us that love our drinks strong, our women pretty, our rock n roll heavy and our writers eloquent, over the past four seasons of Californication, the mind of Hank Moody has become not just an incredibly fascinating stage of unconventional romance, comedy and tragedy, but also an almost cathartic refuge in a world where the voices on television prattle the cliche at best and mundane at worst.

In fact, for those us who recognize and understand the sublime behind the seemingly endless stream of whiskey, weed and women that Hank Moody seems to willingly drown in, the underlying story of a man battling his inner and outer demons in a world where everyone is a victim of fate, makes his character all the more endearing.

So it's no surprise that when I found out that Showtime had decided to actually release Hank's fictional Gatsby "God Hates Us All" as a real life novel, that I rushed to get my hands on it faster than an eight year old girl who just heard about the new Justin Beiber Barbie.

And I must say that the $10.20 spent on the book was worth every cent. It might not be as profound as something Gorge Orwell might have written, nor as eloquent as an Oscar Wilde, but "God Hates Us All" is a literary masterpiece in its own right.

Set years before Hank's move to the City of Angels, the novel chronicles Hank's early years as a college dropout turned accidental drug dealer in search of love, lust and whatever else he can get in a city that is apathetic and unforgiving. The story is fast paced, but fluid as it moves from stories of Hank being stabbed by a borderline-psychopath girlfriend after refusing to let her blow him, to tragic misadventures in Hank's pursuit of love and a rock star's girlfriend. And while I don't want to ruin the read for you by shedding light on any more anecdotes, I will say that while the book is full of sex, drugs and rock n roll, it also has a deep and striking message that reveals itself in the books abrupt but poignant ending. All in all, it's a great read for anyone looking for a book they can pick up during breakfast and put down during dinner and be left with a significant amount of life's wisdom. And needless to say it's a must read for any Californication and Hank Moody fan.

Get your own copy of God Hates Us All from Amazon.com: