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leneliest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Self harm, Suicide, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Death of parent
abbruzzese's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The only difference between a suicide and a martyrdom really is the amount of press coverage.
The joke is, we all have the same punchline.
Even getting munched on by zombies beats the idea that I'm only flesh and blood, skin and bone. Demon or angel or evil spirit, I just need something to show itself. Ghoulie or ghosty or long-legged beastie, I just want my hand held.
i read a review of this book that basically said all of chuck palahniuk's characters are cookie cutter versions of each other. the only other palahniuk book i've read is choke (invisible monsters is next), but it holds true between the two. there's a cynical, emotionless, full of spite, hateful, gross man with tragic childhood trauma. he has zero ethics or morals; he moonlights doing something incredibly fucked up. lots of talk of death, depression, suicide, a big 'fuck you' to god and religion on the whole, and one-dimensional female characters, until something big happens in his life that blows it to bits and he descends into borderline insanity before spitting satirical life-can-be-beautiful crap on the last few pages. both books (and palahniuk's other work, too, i suspect) seem to follow the same formula, from the way the plot progresses to the characters' speech and thought patterns.
that being said, i liked this book. not enough that i'd read it again, or recommend it to people, but enough that i don't wish i hadn't read it. there were some good critiques on modern american society and the corporatization of religion. were there parts that made me feel gross? sure. were there things i wish i had never read? yeah. is palahniuk's writing for everyone? no, absolutely not. if you don't like depressing shit or vile things or men who are just not good people, you will not like this book. i didn't read this because i wanted to like the character i was reading about, i read it because palahniuk is so fucked up that it's actually fun to read what he writes and know that it made it past editors, publishers, etc, etc. and no one clocked it as something that maybe could be kept off bookstore shelves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Gun violence, and Miscarriage
cwzw's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Satisfyingly droll, occasionally vicious, and surprisingly informative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
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