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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Great first third, classic quotable Palhniuk, boring 2nd third that went on and on about the party crashing and boosting thing where I got nothing out from. Sudden surrealism turn for the final third.
Trigger warning:
Also, unnecessary pedophilic rape as a "symbolism for identity and self creation" bs.
I just couldn't recreate the magic Invisible Monster gave me.
Trigger warning:
Also, unnecessary pedophilic rape as a "symbolism for identity and self creation" bs.
I just couldn't recreate the magic Invisible Monster gave me.
I always know Chuck Palahniuk's books are going to be a bit strange-but for some reason I always look for logic in them. Next book, I will be remind myself-DO NOT LOOK FOR LOGIC. This obviously wasn't my favorite Palahniuk book, the style it was written was different but I guess I just didn't like it.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
listlessly uninteresting inducing somnambulism.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are a few things I wish I knew about this book before I started:
- It turns into a dystopian novel about midway through, and then there's a sci-fi element that I won't spoil, but holy shit is it confusing.
- There's so much commentary going on here: the AIDs epidemic and its lasting impact on the LGBT and BDSM communities, the crack epidemic and its lasting impact on the black community, the Reagan administration at large, sexual deviancy, generational trauma, societal implications of parenting practices, and driving as a means of escapism. Just generally an examination of major trends in the 80s
- I hate rape scenes in movies and books, but Chuck honestly writes it very tastefully and resolves it properly. He's not trying to traumatize you in the name of art, the event is so important to the character's backstory and he presents it with a genuine care for the character. Just wanted to give that heads up if that's a nonnegotiable for anyone.
- Leans into transgression heavily, especially with regards to human waste and sex. He's written gross shit before, but this was some of the hardest for me to stomach since Lullaby
If you enjoyed Tyler Durden's character and Project Mayhem in Fight Club, chances are that you'll enjoy Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey just as much. Chuck uses Rant to flesh out some of the interesting ideas he had while coming up with Tyler Durden. The oral biography format was so cool, and Chuck's a master at writing dialogue (you know which character is talking even if you don't check their names). Chuck used to be a mechanic, and that background helps him so much when writing the demolition derby aspect. I had a big issue with driving as a means of escapism earlier this year, and it actually spurred me to start going to therapy, so I have a lot of appreciation for how he wrote about driving culture. Some of his most straightforward and clear writing, and probably up there with Choke or Invisible Monsters. Just didn't wow me as much as those other two, but still a fantastic and dense read.
- It turns into a dystopian novel about midway through, and then there's a sci-fi element that I won't spoil, but holy shit is it confusing.
- There's so much commentary going on here: the AIDs epidemic and its lasting impact on the LGBT and BDSM communities, the crack epidemic and its lasting impact on the black community, the Reagan administration at large, sexual deviancy, generational trauma, societal implications of parenting practices, and driving as a means of escapism. Just generally an examination of major trends in the 80s
- I hate rape scenes in movies and books, but Chuck honestly writes it very tastefully and resolves it properly. He's not trying to traumatize you in the name of art, the event is so important to the character's backstory and he presents it with a genuine care for the character. Just wanted to give that heads up if that's a nonnegotiable for anyone.
- Leans into transgression heavily, especially with regards to human waste and sex. He's written gross shit before, but this was some of the hardest for me to stomach since Lullaby
If you enjoyed Tyler Durden's character and Project Mayhem in Fight Club, chances are that you'll enjoy Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey just as much. Chuck uses Rant to flesh out some of the interesting ideas he had while coming up with Tyler Durden. The oral biography format was so cool, and Chuck's a master at writing dialogue (you know which character is talking even if you don't check their names). Chuck used to be a mechanic, and that background helps him so much when writing the demolition derby aspect. I had a big issue with driving as a means of escapism earlier this year, and it actually spurred me to start going to therapy, so I have a lot of appreciation for how he wrote about driving culture. Some of his most straightforward and clear writing, and probably up there with Choke or Invisible Monsters. Just didn't wow me as much as those other two, but still a fantastic and dense read.