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tashmoustache_'s review
4.0
If you can make it past the self-indulgent Fight Club references (you wrote a great book once, we get it Chuck) then this is a hugely enjoyable book of short stories where each tale is more f***ed up than the last.
Netflix should be all over this as a mini-series.
Netflix should be all over this as a mini-series.
7anooch's review against another edition
2.0
There were great stories, and then there were stories that didn’t make sense.
leigh_reidelberger's review against another edition
4.0
Oh Chuck, you're so weird. I just love you.
Best Stories, in no particular order::
Inclination
How a Jew Saved Christmas
Mister Elegant
Why Aardvark Never Landed on the Moon
The Facts of Life
Cannibal
Torched
Initially, I wasn't sure how I felt about this collection. There were some moments that felt like Palahnuik was trying too hard to he weird and off putting. However, the more I read, the more I began to really get into his stories. I like to imagine they were all rolling around in a drawer somewhere, just baby ideas that had fully developed yet. But here we are, and those stories are now developed, now clearly covered with his DNA. Palahnuik once again proves what an ingenious writer he is. I would absolutely recommend this to a Palahnuik fan- it's like a sampler platter.
Best Stories, in no particular order::
Inclination
How a Jew Saved Christmas
Mister Elegant
Why Aardvark Never Landed on the Moon
The Facts of Life
Cannibal
Torched
Initially, I wasn't sure how I felt about this collection. There were some moments that felt like Palahnuik was trying too hard to he weird and off putting. However, the more I read, the more I began to really get into his stories. I like to imagine they were all rolling around in a drawer somewhere, just baby ideas that had fully developed yet. But here we are, and those stories are now developed, now clearly covered with his DNA. Palahnuik once again proves what an ingenious writer he is. I would absolutely recommend this to a Palahnuik fan- it's like a sampler platter.
whatismoareading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Chuck Palahnuik hit-or-miss experience in big-size portions!
earsore's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
tonitomato's review against another edition
1.0
sorry. i hated this book. a few good stories here and there. never the whole story is good tho. only parts of it. i was almost ALWAYS left confused and like ??? it might just be that im the dumbest person on earth or this book was written without anyone ever looking over it again. the stories dont make sense. u start out the story one way and then a completely seperate story starts out inside it with no relation except theyre supposed to have some. i was so confused. the. whole. time. i dont think ive ever written so many questions marks in a book (yes i annotated this one. bad choice though. )
seriously. i dont wanna be negative. the second to last story was alright, it was interesting and probably my favorite one. sadly i cannot ignore that the beginning of it made no sense and then suddenly ur in the middle of the story with no fucking logic going on
example (SPOILERS FROM HERE)
that last story i liked
1. 13 yo girl gets pregnant
2. parents are pro life and rich so they say if u have it and give it up for adoption, well buy u a porsche
3. she learns nothing so she gets pregnant 4 more tomes to get 5 porsches. (idk man??)
4. suddenly?? different character introduced. no relation to the first one?? at least not really mentioned except he said he heard about her story or smt
5. he gets 5 hamster and kills them all. for a reason i do not know
6. he asks his parents to buy him an elle magazine,,,,??
7. he kleans out vaseline containers?? multiple,?? IDK WHY
8. SUDDENLY A STORY ARC WHERE HE PRETENDS TO BE GAY TO WIN 20.000 (somehow) BY GOING TO A CONVERSION CAMP???
WHAY. DID. THAT. HAVE. TO. DO. WITH. THE. FIRST. PARTS.
apparently this is all tied to the first girl who got pregnant?? HOW? i dont kNOW
also this is just ONE story that went like this. 99% of the others confused me too. i. idk man. i dont believe im THAT stupid that i couldnt understand 99% of the stories in this book. i feel like parts of the pages of the book were like. ripped out. because everything is so inconsistent and makes no sense i feel like im missing something. seriously. hated reading this
ALSO if anyone is seeing this review and loved and understood this book. tell me. comment under this. PLEASE
seriously. i dont wanna be negative. the second to last story was alright, it was interesting and probably my favorite one. sadly i cannot ignore that the beginning of it made no sense and then suddenly ur in the middle of the story with no fucking logic going on
example (SPOILERS FROM HERE)
that last story i liked
1. 13 yo girl gets pregnant
2. parents are pro life and rich so they say if u have it and give it up for adoption, well buy u a porsche
3. she learns nothing so she gets pregnant 4 more tomes to get 5 porsches. (idk man??)
4. suddenly?? different character introduced. no relation to the first one?? at least not really mentioned except he said he heard about her story or smt
5. he gets 5 hamster and kills them all. for a reason i do not know
6. he asks his parents to buy him an elle magazine,,,,??
7. he kleans out vaseline containers?? multiple,?? IDK WHY
8. SUDDENLY A STORY ARC WHERE HE PRETENDS TO BE GAY TO WIN 20.000 (somehow) BY GOING TO A CONVERSION CAMP???
WHAY. DID. THAT. HAVE. TO. DO. WITH. THE. FIRST. PARTS.
apparently this is all tied to the first girl who got pregnant?? HOW? i dont kNOW
also this is just ONE story that went like this. 99% of the others confused me too. i. idk man. i dont believe im THAT stupid that i couldnt understand 99% of the stories in this book. i feel like parts of the pages of the book were like. ripped out. because everything is so inconsistent and makes no sense i feel like im missing something. seriously. hated reading this
ALSO if anyone is seeing this review and loved and understood this book. tell me. comment under this. PLEASE
lestaslettering's review against another edition
1.0
Nope. Just no. The fastest DNF award in 2020 goes to this one.
dessa's review against another edition
4.0
Plenty of mind-bending, plenty of gut-wrenching, plenty of sex and drugs and violence, only a couple of yawns.
ladydrini's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Another book read by Chuck P - this one was a group of short stories. Some were shocking, a couple were smart, a few I skimmed. I’m not really a short story girl because it’s hard for me to stay hooked, but there were a couple of memorable moments in this one.