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fitzzula's review
4.0
I suppose with all short story collections there will be mixed feelings. While I enjoyed this overall, there was a point in this collection of short stories where I had serious second thoughts about it. It has some stories that definitely were weaker (or less appealing to me at any rate) than others, some with slurs and casual sexism that didn't seem to serve a purpose which I didn't connect with at all.
However there were also some brilliant stories in here - 'Inclinations' is fantastic as is 'Red Sultan's Big Boy', 'Phoenix' and I thoroughly enjoyed 'Fetch' and 'Why Aardvark Never Landed on the Moon'. The stories are all bleak, grotesque explorations of human nature and not for the squeamish! Surprisingly for Palahniuk, there were also some heartwarming moments and they were all thought provoking stories. Overall I think even the ones I didn't enjoy reading at the time ( Cannibal! ) were powerful. Definitely worth a read.
However there were also some brilliant stories in here - 'Inclinations' is fantastic as is 'Red Sultan's Big Boy', 'Phoenix' and I thoroughly enjoyed 'Fetch' and 'Why Aardvark Never Landed on the Moon'. The stories are all bleak, grotesque explorations of human nature and not for the squeamish! Surprisingly for Palahniuk, there were also some heartwarming moments and they were all thought provoking stories. Overall I think even the ones I didn't enjoy reading at the time ( Cannibal! ) were powerful. Definitely worth a read.
protoman21's review
4.0
As with most short story collections, there are some gems here and some stories that just fall flat. Unfortunately, the good ones tended to be towards the beginning of the book and so while this collection started with a bang, it kind of ended, not with a whimper, but a "Ok, I'm glad I'm done with that, time to move onto something else."
Palahniuk doesn't pull punches, he is raw and his characters think and talk about life and sex and beliefs in ways that are going to make people uncomfortable. They are supposed to make you feel uncomfortable, and if you don't like that, that's on you, not Palahniuk. His stories remind me of an even cruder Stephen King.
I think my favorite story of the bunch was "How Monkey Got Married..." because there was such desperation in it. The situation was mundane, but distorted in wonderful ways and the descriptions of Monkey's entire thought process was perfectly executed.
Palahniuk doesn't pull punches, he is raw and his characters think and talk about life and sex and beliefs in ways that are going to make people uncomfortable. They are supposed to make you feel uncomfortable, and if you don't like that, that's on you, not Palahniuk. His stories remind me of an even cruder Stephen King.
I think my favorite story of the bunch was "How Monkey Got Married..." because there was such desperation in it. The situation was mundane, but distorted in wonderful ways and the descriptions of Monkey's entire thought process was perfectly executed.
wintrovia's review
3.0
Like most short story collections, this one was a mixed bag. Palahniuk's trademark ability to use the most disgusting ideas imaginable in his work is here but only occasionally does it add up to a good story. Some of the stories were great or at least had some lovely writing in them but too many left me cold.
schultzyscroller's review
4.0
An eclectic read. The short stories catch and hold your attention while making you think, "what on earth am I reading?"
kurt0716's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
moonbeamjosephine's review
The gratuitous violence is just too much. His short stories are very misogynistic in ways that reflect more on the writer than the characters themselves. It gave me a lot of edge-lord vibes and I got the distinct feeling this man should be on a watchlist.
jzerkee's review
4.0
This is pretty great, exactly what you'd expect from Palahniuk. One story I couldn't finish, one I wished I hadn't finished, and a whole bunch that just stayed with me.
stobblin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In classic Palahniuk style, this book was weird!
A series of short stories, some were memorable and enjoyable while others were just weird enough that, not only did I not like them, but I aoso skimmed through them.
Thankfully, most of my most hated stories were also the shortest.
A series of short stories, some were memorable and enjoyable while others were just weird enough that, not only did I not like them, but I aoso skimmed through them.
Thankfully, most of my most hated stories were also the shortest.
kyrajanson's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
haleyature's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25