Chuck Palahniuk

[retromayhem]

Does anyone read books by Chuck Palahniuk? He's written titles such as Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, Lullaby, Diary, Ghost, and more. Does anyone else find is writing awesome

[phat32]

Does anyone read books by Chuck Palahniuk? He's written titles such as Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, Lullaby, Diary, Ghost, and more. Does anyone else find is writing awesome

I haven't (yet), but I have friends whose tastes I trust recommend these books to me.

I count Fight Club among my favorite films. How did the film measure up to the novel? And vice-versa, in your opinion? If you (I) like the film, will you (I) like the novel?

[SnowflakeGirl]

Yes, I think if you like the film you will love the book, Phat. I think the movie was surprisingly faithful in tone, despite some minor differences.

I agree with you, retromayhem, Chuck Palahniuk rocks! In fact, my screen name is derived from the "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake" speech in Fight Club.

I have read most of his books and have never been disappointed by one, though my favorites are Fight Club, Survivor, and Invisible Monsters.

Oh but Choke is a fun read too, and Lullaby, but those other three are the books I found resonate with me the most. Many people disliked Haunted, but I loved it. I do place it lower in ranking than the others, but it was a blast to read (though it's the short stories within the main story that I love the most).

I haven't read Diary yet, nor any of his non-fiction, other than a few articles/essays that are available online.

[candor]

I just read his non-fiction "Fugitives and Refugees," which is one of the best books about Portland ever! Seattle Times did an interesting profile on him ... I don't know if you have to register to read it or not.

[retromayhem]

I agree with Snowflake girl, Invisible Monsters, Survivor, and Fight Club are pretty much awesome and all his other novel, unlike most authors. Chuck's books are all spectacular

[SnowflakeGirl]

Candor, your post has me more intrigued about his non-fiction work. I might pick up Fugitives and Refugees sometime.

Like Retro, I believe Chucky P. consistently delivers the goods, which I acknowledge is difficult for anyone to manage. I haven't ever felt anything by him wasn't worth the time I spent reading it.

[geek the girl]

Oooh, a thread about books I haven't posted in! I keep meaning to post here but somehow never get around to it. Similarly, while I know that the works of Chuck Palahniuk are right up my alley (Fight Club is one of my Top 10 movies), I always end up opting for something else when I'm at the book store. Not much longer, though: as soon as things calm down with my course work, I'll make sure to pick up a few of his books. I find the premise of Haunted very intriguing, so I'll definitely include that one. Any ideas on what other Chuck P. novels I should pick up? I'm a tough cookie, so don't worry about whether I'll find any of his stuff overbearingly offensive.

Speaking of offensive: Is it true that people have fainted and/or thrown up while attending his readings, or is that just a persistent urban legend?

[retromayhem]

geek the girl

id say read invisible monsters and fight club. theyre great.

[SnowflakeGirl]

You know what, Geek La Glam, I actually wouldn't start with Haunted even though it's an interesting exercise, like a sort of gross-out version of the Decameron. I know you're not a shrinking flower for grotesquerie (being a Bret Easton Ellis fan like me), but even though I like Haunted, I'd go with one of his "classics" like either of the two Retro recommended above.

I always vacillate between Fight Club, Survivor, and Invisible Monsters being my favorite. I can never choose. But I rather have the inkling that the fashionista in you will glean mordant enjoyment from Invisible Monsters.

Speaking of offensive: Is it true that people have fainted and/or thrown up while attending his readings, or is that just a persistent urban legend?

I don't know about that. "Chucky P." (as his loyal fans like to call him) is a nice guy in reality who is absolutely wonderful to his fans. He's especially good about encouraging them to write and create in their own lives. Maybe someone had food poisoning that day?

[geek the girl]

Thanks for the input, everyone! I just came back from a long, leisurely stroll in my city's biggest bookstore for English language fiction - a semi-pornographic/religious (depending on whether you're a pagan or a Christian, I suppose ) experience, if there ever was one. I ended up buying two books by "Chucky P.": Invisible Monsters and - sorry, Snowy, I just couldn't help myself - Haunted. Can't wait to read them. The premises of both novels seem intriguing. Haunted is out in paperback now, by the way, for those of you who haven't read it yet. It has been described as "summer reading for people who like their lit doused in bodily fluids". Cute, ne c'est pas?

Here's a quote about Chucky P. (I love that nickname! It's like a twisted parallel universe cousin to Chuck E Cheese. Wouldn't you and your family want to stop by Chucky P. for a scrumptious meal? ) I came across on the jacket blurb of Haunted. Like I said earlier, I'm new to his literary universe, but it struck me as a great metaphor: "Reading a Palahniuk novel is like getting zipped inside a boxer's heavy bag while the author goes to work on you, pounding you until there is nothing left but a big bag of bones and blood and pain."

The fact that I picked up the book based on that quote doesn't bode well for my sanity, does it?