Guest Joe_G Report post Posted August 11, 2003 Spoilers . . . . . . . . I was in the library looking for something to read while I recovered from dental surgery and spotted this book. Palahnuik is the author of Fight Club (I've seen the movie, but haven't read the book), as well as Choke and Invisible Monsters. This was the first book of his I've read. It's not very long (none of his books are, I believe) and I polished it off in a little over a day. I found the concept of a culling song and that being the actual cause of SIDS fascinating, and God only knows what I would do if I knew one. The book was very well written and it was great when all the puzzle pieces fell together, but the whole book was a little too dark anbd cynical for my tastes (especially with the images of the shattered baby at the end). And that Oyster, man I wanted to punch him in the face. Anyone else read this or any or Palahnuik's other books? It seems they're all pretty thematically similar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin MacPhisto 0 Report post Posted August 11, 2003 I haven't read this, but I have read Fight Club and Survivor. You're dead-on noting that his books seem to be thematically similar. Having only read two I can't really judge the whole body of work...but that similarity is one of the reasons I haven't really delved any deeper into his catalogue. Of course, many authors deal in similar themes throughout their careers. Palanhiuk just seems to be more overt about it. I've at least read snippets from Invisible Monsters, and it sorta qualifies my assumption that all his narrators have very similar voices. I think he's decent, clever writer, but I'd like to see him try a few things different once in a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteakGrowsOnUecker 0 Report post Posted August 13, 2003 If you like Chuck Palahniuk you should read Choke. It's about a medschool dropout that takes a job as an indentured Irish servant that is a sex addict. Typical Palahniuk fun... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted August 13, 2003 Choke is probably my favorite of his books. I've read them all, excluding Lullaby, and they do seem to be thematically similar. They feel almost like pieces of a bigger picture. Them all being fairly short enhances that feeling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted August 13, 2003 I agree...this book is great and yes...I think all thematically leading some where... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteakGrowsOnUecker 0 Report post Posted August 13, 2003 Palahniuk also just came out with an autobiorgraphy called "Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon". It's pretty much about Palahniuk's travels through portland. He takes you into the darkside of portland. Strange stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted August 13, 2003 I want that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted August 27, 2003 I only skimmed through the thread because of the big ol' SPOILERS warning on the first post, and I just bought Lullaby last night and am only a little of the way through so far. But I wanted to contrbute to the thread (too many comix conversations dominate this thread, so if I can find something to talk about, I do) So far I dig the book. I've read Fight Club, Choke, Survivor and Invisible Monsters, and thought that they were all good reads, so I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Lullaby. The main raeson I was even at the bookstore was because I'd wanted to get Diary, which only came out yesterday, but I kind of forgot that it would only be in hardcover, and they're too big of a pain in the ass to read on the subway ... so Lullaby will have to do for now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted September 2, 2003 I finished reading Lullaby the other day ... not nearly as good as his other work, in my opinion. So far, I liked either Fight Club or Invisible Monsters best (too close to choose one favorite) and then probably Survivor, then Choke, with Lullaby a distant last place. If you liked Lullaby, I'd DEFINITELY recommend checking out his other works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
