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stewreads's review against another edition
4.0
Palahniuk has become the kind of author that everyone loves to hate. Admittedly, I haven't read many of his newer books, but what I have read has been decent at best, awful at worst. So as I read his latest, a short story collection (like Haunted but without the narrative), I didn't have very high expectations.
The majority of the stories in here are good, some very good, actually. As with any short story collection, it's hit-and-miss, and there are some major misses ("Eleanor", "Tunnel of Love"). But overall, the good outweighs the bad, and a few stories ("Knock Knock", "Zombies") even feel like the old Palahniuk that most of us really miss. Speaking of the "old Palahniuk", what has really changed with his writing lately? Personally, I think that the main problem with his new stuff is that he relies too much on shock value. After the gross-out short story "Guts" became insanely popular, people started to expect more of these cringe-inducing horror stories, and sadly enough, Palahniuk caved and started writing them. In Make Something Up, we see a few of these ("Cannibal, "the Toad Prince"), but even if they are more shock than substance, they are still fun to read and often hilarious as well.
All in all, this is the only thing that Palahniuk has put out lately that I can really recommend, and I hope that soon I'll be able to say that about some more of his books. But for now, it seems that Chuck works better in 20 pages or less than he does in a novel.
The majority of the stories in here are good, some very good, actually. As with any short story collection, it's hit-and-miss, and there are some major misses ("Eleanor", "Tunnel of Love"). But overall, the good outweighs the bad, and a few stories ("Knock Knock", "Zombies") even feel like the old Palahniuk that most of us really miss. Speaking of the "old Palahniuk", what has really changed with his writing lately? Personally, I think that the main problem with his new stuff is that he relies too much on shock value. After the gross-out short story "Guts" became insanely popular, people started to expect more of these cringe-inducing horror stories, and sadly enough, Palahniuk caved and started writing them. In Make Something Up, we see a few of these ("Cannibal, "the Toad Prince"), but even if they are more shock than substance, they are still fun to read and often hilarious as well.
All in all, this is the only thing that Palahniuk has put out lately that I can really recommend, and I hope that soon I'll be able to say that about some more of his books. But for now, it seems that Chuck works better in 20 pages or less than he does in a novel.
jackflagg's review
4.0
A collection of sick, vulgar and skilfully written short and repulsive stories. Highly recommended! 🙈
erinbarton's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
i love palahniuk’s writing, i think he’s an amazing storyteller buuut i just don’t vibe as much with his short stories as his novels i think
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Rape, Cannibalism, Ableism, and Death
sickjan's review against another edition
4.0
The rating is for the following stories (the rest are a miss)
Zombies (5 stars)
Red sultans big boy (mr. Hands!)
Romance
Cold calling
Zombies (5 stars)
Red sultans big boy (mr. Hands!)
Romance
Cold calling
moolissabarney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
bogusplum's review against another edition
This book is just not for me. I like weird but this is more than I can handle.
kateormerod's review against another edition
3.0
Very creative but requires focus. I find his stories and one liners etc hit and miss, I think some of them could've been done better. Still generally enjoyable, lots of different perspectives from all kinds of likeable and unlikeable characters.
jessiraemorton's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I say this about every short story collection I read. Short story collections just seem kind of hit or miss for me, and every time I read one there are stories I love and stories I hate. Make Something Up is no different.
Of course, there are the par for the Palahniuk course gross out stories ("The Toad Prince"), but there were several stories that I felt had a bit more nuance to them. "Expedition" was wonderful. I love the idea of Tyler being sort of hereditary, and I thought some of the things Palahniuk wrote about absent fathers in that story were particularly insightful. "Romance" bears up to re-reading as does "How a Jew Saved Christmas", both of which I had read when they were previously published elsewhere. I believe "Zombies" and "Tunnel of Love" were also previously published, but I didn't find them quite as compelling on a second read.
Overall, I think that this collection is a must read for Palahniuk fans. There were more good stories than not so good (and of course, some people will just prefer different stories). It's a solid set of stories from one of my favorite authors to read for fun. It was entertaining, quick, and occasionally unexpected. I especially liked some of the self-referential bits within stories, because it really highlights the tongue-in-cheek nature of so much of Palahniuk's work.
Finally, I truly hope that compiling a set of stories that were already written and working on a sequel (Fight Club comic books) has given Chuck a bit of a rest. Over the past several years, he's really been cranking out novels, and I think a little time to breathe might do a world of good for the next one he writes.
Of course, there are the par for the Palahniuk course gross out stories ("The Toad Prince"), but there were several stories that I felt had a bit more nuance to them. "Expedition" was wonderful. I love the idea of Tyler being sort of hereditary, and I thought some of the things Palahniuk wrote about absent fathers in that story were particularly insightful. "Romance" bears up to re-reading as does "How a Jew Saved Christmas", both of which I had read when they were previously published elsewhere. I believe "Zombies" and "Tunnel of Love" were also previously published, but I didn't find them quite as compelling on a second read.
Overall, I think that this collection is a must read for Palahniuk fans. There were more good stories than not so good (and of course, some people will just prefer different stories). It's a solid set of stories from one of my favorite authors to read for fun. It was entertaining, quick, and occasionally unexpected. I especially liked some of the self-referential bits within stories, because it really highlights the tongue-in-cheek nature of so much of Palahniuk's work.
Finally, I truly hope that compiling a set of stories that were already written and working on a sequel (Fight Club comic books) has given Chuck a bit of a rest. Over the past several years, he's really been cranking out novels, and I think a little time to breathe might do a world of good for the next one he writes.