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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
 Posted - 01/06/2005 : 11:51:23
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i really liked CHOKE which i read a while back so i moved on to LULLABY, which, though well written, was a step down from CHOKE in my opinion.
on my plane ride out to London i read DIARY which i can confidently say i was disappointed in. it still had some great segments, and i like the way he writes.. but the plot too over the top. which is strange to say since all his writing is over the top (CHOKE is about a sex addict who fakes choking in restaurants to make money, and meanwhile, is the son of Jesus Christ because his mother was artifically inseminated with his sperm)
has anyone read any of his other novels that they can recommend? i suppose i could read FIGHT CLUB, but i'm more interested in the other ones
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 11:57:01
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Read Fight Club!
 I still believe in the excellent joy of the Frank |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5157 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 12:11:35
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i think SURVIVOR is his best work, but they all fall into this totally formulaic style - i find whichever one you read first you like the best and the rest seem just too similar
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 13:33:47
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what do you mean his formulaic style?
i think he's definitely got his own voice
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5157 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 13:51:05
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yeah but each of his books has the exact same style, form, pattern and set up - he's had one original idea that was quite shocking and good, and has parlayed about 7 books out of it
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
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Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 13:52:29
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Invisible Monsters I found a little meh, that DeLilloish repetitive rhythmic style he uses got really tired by then. Fight Club I think is one of the few movies better than the book, in the second half of the latter they start killing people and the fun melts away. (BTW, Running Dog seems to have been a major source for that one) I think Survivor is his best, along with Choke.
--
Democracy is the unwiped ass of a devilish con game. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 13:58:28
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SURVIVOR it is
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 14:03:03
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i've only read 3. i don't think saying his books have the same style is a criticism really.. he's got his own recognizable writing style which i think is a good thing.
DIARY had a similar twist ending as FIGHT CLUB.. but i don't think LULLABY, CHOKE and DIARY share that much in common. but like i said, those are the only 3 i've read
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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whoreatthedoor
> Teenager of the Year <
Spain
2873 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 14:20:12
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I've booked 3 novels on my library, but I can't remember the names. I'll tell you.
Read Fight Club!
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
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n/a
deleted
4894 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 14:36:59
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I've not read any. Should I?
Frank Black ate my hamster |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 14:47:30
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i can recommend CHOKE
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 14:52:50
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I've read Lullaby, Diary, Fight Club, and Survivor, and was most entertained by Survivor. Chuck is the new big thing at my highschool; you can't walk into any library or classroom without finding someone reading one of his books. Not bad for a fad I guess, reading. Beats out coke, which was the last popular pastime. I second Brian's vote for Survivor, and I also second the vote of repetion in style from each of his books. I agree that it isn't a bad thing, but I now have a tendency to mix characters and plots from books when trying to remember them. I hear that Mr. Palahniuk is a good guy though. A friend of mine sent him a letter, and was recieved with an autographer copy of Fight Club, a letter written by Chuck, and a bunch of other odds and ends.
I will never say the word procrastinate again, I'll never see myself in the mirror with my eyes closed. |
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n/a
deleted
4894 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 14:53:10
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OK, I trust you floop, I shall
Frank Black ate my hamster |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5157 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 15:43:45
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chuckie has a new book out "stranger than fiction" where its all short little non-fiction stuff he's written - there is a piece in there that he read at the university of pittsburgh when i was living in p-burgh. when he read it aloud people starting puking and passing out in the auditorium (i wasn't there, i had class) - it was about a boy masturbating in a swimming pool with the jet blowing up his ass and i'll let you either read the story or make up your own ending - it is gross, but i wouldn't have puked or passed out
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
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Edited by - Broken Face on 01/06/2005 15:56:55 |
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n/a
deleted
4894 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 15:47:08
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Now I want to know the end of the story!
Frank Black ate my hamster |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 17:26:46
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What Brian is talking about is Guts. You can read it here: http://www.seizureandy.com/stuff/guts.html
As Brian said, pretty gross. I actually have never read it in entirety. I doubt that the link is work appropriate (no pictures or anything, just really graphic description).
I will never say the word procrastinate again, I'll never see myself in the mirror with my eyes closed. |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 17:36:23
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As always, I have been no help, Sir Rock is informed and Brian is helpful.
Oh and Tre is Tre.
I still believe in the excellent joy of the Frank |
Edited by - kathryn on 01/06/2005 17:36:40 |
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whoreatthedoor
> Teenager of the Year <
Spain
2873 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 01:23:26
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I must say this guy deserves some credit even if you don't like his books, because it isn't easy at all in the Palahniuk style to keep reader's attention alive for 200 pages or so.
Three cheers for Chuck!
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
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offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 02:43:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Newo
Invisible Monsters I found a little meh
I've had Invisible Monsters in the "to read" stack next to my bed for ages now.
Now it seems I should rather chuck it and go for Choke?
Ugh
wilhelm |
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Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 03:59:07
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Invisible Monsters still hinges on a twist or two, like the others, and it has a few dry laughs, but I found Choke much more enjoyable. If you´ve ever read Breakfast of Champions, the Vonnegut one about the writer on his way crosscountry to give a speech, en route to which he gets mugged, has his feet coated in plastic chemical waste and such, Choke I found quite similar in that he´s just as sadistic to a sometimes selfimportant main character.
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Democracy is the unwiped ass of a devilish con game. |
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n/a
deleted
4894 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 10:32:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
What Brian is talking about is Guts. You can read it here: http://www.seizureandy.com/stuff/guts.html
As Brian said, pretty gross. I actually have never read it in entirety. I doubt that the link is work appropriate (no pictures or anything, just really graphic description).
I will never say the word procrastinate again, I'll never see myself in the mirror with my eyes closed.
I'm a student, I don't work and all material is appropriate for showing in my study. So I read it, and I don't think it warrants the puking and the fainting (although, I knew a boy at school called Phillip, very uptight type, in biology we were learning about the female reproductive system. He was doing very well till they got the the word 'Ovum' whereby he went stiff as a board and passed out like a felled tree, poor kid, takes all sorts I suppose) ((although thinking about it I may be desensitised, I used to work nights in an old peoples home to make ends meet, and the sort of thing they describe minus the masturbating (((although not always))) was not an uncommon sight, I always tried to be too busy to don the gloves and be helpfull there, although it meant I had to deal with more stomas than was probably needed)) but the story was OK, he ruined it a bit though which I can't obviously discuss because not everyone has read it and my complaint is near the end of the story.
So, yeah.
Frank Black ate my hamster |
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soundofataris
= Cult of Ray =
USA
715 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 10:43:32
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Every single one of his books has as the main character an expert in some field, be it art, medicine, cleaning, bomb making, whatever, and he then spends the whole damn novel having that character share with use, the reader, some very interesting, but ultimately useless trivia from that field. Sadly, if you have read one of Chuck's novels, you've read them all. The last three novels, choke, diary, and lullibye were all pretty big disappointments for me, and as a result I've gone from being a fan to a hater real fast.
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I go to bakeries all day long
There's a lack of sweetness in my life
People in love are stupid and gross. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 11:06:34
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wow, all this chuck hating.
i think of Chuck as a cross between Don Delillo and Brett Easton Ellis. and i don't think he ranks higher than either of those writers, but i think he's undeniably talented.
i don't think there's anything in his books that "useless" trivia .. in some he does it better than others, but everything in his books ties into the overall ideas somehow. from what i've seen.
in DIARY, even though as a whole the book was disappointing i liked the way he presented ideas about art, and what is art, through the art student characters.. and in LULLABY, there's a lot of intersting environmental "trivia' about how we've fucked up our agriculture (through that one character), but it ties into the whole theme of sort of information-as-a-virus (kind of reminded me of Burroughs)..
i think he's a smarter writer than you're giving him credit, is all i'm saying.
here i am defending him and i'm a new fan. maybe i'll be a hater after i read SURVIVOR.
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5157 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 11:45:23
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quote:
Originally posted by soundofataris
Every single one of his books has as the main character an expert in some field, be it art, medicine, cleaning, bomb making, whatever, and he then spends the whole damn novel having that character share with use, the reader, some very interesting, but ultimately useless trivia from that field. Sadly, if you have read one of Chuck's novels, you've read them all. The last three novels, choke, diary, and lullibye were all pretty big disappointments for me, and as a result I've gone from being a fan to a hater real fast.
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I go to bakeries all day long
There's a lack of sweetness in my life
People in love are stupid and gross.
i couldn't have said it better myself
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 12:07:38
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i could have
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2005 : 14:47:33
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| i've only read lullaby and survivor, i enjoyed lullaby enough to read survivor (which i liked better). after reading this topic i think i'll bump a couple authors ahead of him in my "to read" list. |
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soundofataris
= Cult of Ray =
USA
715 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2005 : 14:35:57
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My friend just sent me as a late christmas gift a DVD, Postcards from the Future: The Chuck Palahniuk Documentary. I will watch it soon. Maybe it will reshape my opinions. I'll post about it later.
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I go to bakeries all day long
There's a lack of sweetness in my life
People in love are stupid and gross. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2005 : 14:38:16
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cool, i'll look for that .
i usually hate seeing what writers are like though. it kind of kills the mystique of the books for me. sometimes.
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
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offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2005 : 04:04:03
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I'm done with Invisible Monsters. A few good laughs, a few twists in the plot and some dinner table discussion on felching. With most of you guys being so positive about Palhniuk I think I'll try another novel of his later on. On the strength of Invisible Monsters I wouldn't call him a great writer though.
wilhelm |
Edited by - offerw on 04/02/2005 04:06:05 |
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Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2005 : 06:43:06
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I just read a piece of his in a bookstore about after Fight Club came out many people approached him their stories of working in restaurants and tainting the food, one fellow told him he´d waitered at a fivestar hotel in California and was proud that Margaret Thatcher had eaten his semen on five different occasions.
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "it´s not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
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Hatchetman
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
234 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2005 : 07:26:38
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I thought Survivor was the best of his novels too. It was hard for me not to imagine the characters in it looking like Ed Norton and Helena Bonham Carter as they did in Fight Club.With the right casting, Survivor would make a great film too.
Ade
As the air conditioner hummed.... |
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Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2005 : 01:58:33
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There was talk of the fellows who made Trainspotting adapting Survivor but after Sept. 11 no-one wanted to touch films involving plane hijacking.
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "it´s not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
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Chuck Palahniuk
