Scan barcode
elsandal's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
pineappleposer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I needed something quick to read while I waited for some new books to be delivered, and this turned out to be perfect for exactly that.
Palahnuik is definitely an acquired taste and if you can’t appreciate the slow (or fast, depending on how you look at it) decline of a narrator’s psyche then he’s definitely never going to be the author for you.
As someone who knows his writing style and what to expect, this was the perfect fast-paced story I needed for just a little something between bigger reads.
There were a few times I didn’t really know what direction he was going in or what he was going for and I especially started to feel like we were beating some concepts to death towards the end (which is why I docked a star), but then the last chapter or two just really pulled me back in and blew me away. It’s a dark, fucked up, weird, and wild ride.
Didn’t go into this expecting a horror, but I definitely came out feeling like I’d fully experienced one. Which (for me as an avid horror fan) was a pleasant surprise.
I enjoyed it, but definitely peep the trigger warnings. I was even shocked by the amount of TW I was checking off for this review, but again, when I reflect on Palahnuik works, it’s kinda always over the top like that. I tend to feel he pushes the extreme to dramatically convey an overall point, but I can understand why not everyone would have the stomach or patience for that kind of approach. So, read at your own risk!
Palahnuik is definitely an acquired taste and if you can’t appreciate the slow (or fast, depending on how you look at it) decline of a narrator’s psyche then he’s definitely never going to be the author for you.
As someone who knows his writing style and what to expect, this was the perfect fast-paced story I needed for just a little something between bigger reads.
There were a few times I didn’t really know what direction he was going in or what he was going for and I especially started to feel like we were beating some concepts to death towards the end (which is why I docked a star), but then the last chapter or two just really pulled me back in and blew me away. It’s a dark, fucked up, weird, and wild ride.
Didn’t go into this expecting a horror, but I definitely came out feeling like I’d fully experienced one. Which (for me as an avid horror fan) was a pleasant surprise.
I enjoyed it, but definitely peep the trigger warnings. I was even shocked by the amount of TW I was checking off for this review, but again, when I reflect on Palahnuik works, it’s kinda always over the top like that. I tend to feel he pushes the extreme to dramatically convey an overall point, but I can understand why not everyone would have the stomach or patience for that kind of approach. So, read at your own risk!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Body horror, Child death, Death, Grief, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Self harm
booksofautumn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Child death, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship
finleigh's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual assault
anger566's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Child death, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Animal death
sadie26w's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and Child death
kristenm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"There's worse things you can do to your loved ones than kill them."
It really took me to the end of this book to fully make my opinion on it. The end of this book rounds out so nicely and explains everything in a way that made me just go, "Ah that's it. That's IT!" Unlike other Palahniuk books I've read where the book really falls at the end, this one only gets stronger. Which is to say, I found the first few chapters pretty weak.
I'd warn, this book is full of Chuck-isms that lead people to call him repetitive and boring. Yes, this book covers themes such as consumerism, mass media marketing, broken families, women in power, toxic masculinity, etc etc etc. For some these themes are played out in his work, but I really enjoy the different narratives that all point out how broken our society really is. This book was written in 2003 and nothing has changed. We're all still buying sour cream and onion dip because a Superbowl Ad told us too.
I usually adore Chuck's women... however, Helen fell short for me. I had trouble visualizing her appearance and even more so, had trouble connecting with her. I didn't really understand her motivations for the first half of the book, and her realty scheme didn't entirely make sense to me. Mona fell equally short for me, which was disappointing because I think if I had connected with these characters better I'd have adored this book.
Lastly, as with any of his works there's some questionable content so... CW: gore, incest, necrophilia, sexual assault & violence against children. (I didn't find the gore in this book as bad as other works, but the end is very vivid and graphic in detail.) Additionally, there is very explicit content regarding necrophilia that is uncomfortable and really did make me feel a bit ill.
Constructive destruction.
It really took me to the end of this book to fully make my opinion on it. The end of this book rounds out so nicely and explains everything in a way that made me just go, "Ah that's it. That's IT!" Unlike other Palahniuk books I've read where the book really falls at the end, this one only gets stronger. Which is to say, I found the first few chapters pretty weak.
I'd warn, this book is full of Chuck-isms that lead people to call him repetitive and boring. Yes, this book covers themes such as consumerism, mass media marketing, broken families, women in power, toxic masculinity, etc etc etc. For some these themes are played out in his work, but I really enjoy the different narratives that all point out how broken our society really is. This book was written in 2003 and nothing has changed. We're all still buying sour cream and onion dip because a Superbowl Ad told us too.
I usually adore Chuck's women... however, Helen fell short for me. I had trouble visualizing her appearance and even more so, had trouble connecting with her. I didn't really understand her motivations for the first half of the book, and her realty scheme didn't entirely make sense to me. Mona fell equally short for me, which was disappointing because I think if I had connected with these characters better I'd have adored this book.
Lastly, as with any of his works there's some questionable content so... CW: gore, incest, necrophilia, sexual assault & violence against children. (I didn't find the gore in this book as bad as other works, but the end is very vivid and graphic in detail.) Additionally, there is very explicit content regarding necrophilia that is uncomfortable and really did make me feel a bit ill.
Constructive destruction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Self harm, Incest, Gore, and Sexual assault
Very explicit content about necrophilia.
More...