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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The author satirizes the human race through a series of short stories embedded ina framing device. The ending implies that if you made it that far, well, you're One of Us...One of Us...One of Us...
This isn't really a horror story cycle but a sublimely disgusting one. Seriously. EVERYTHING it is possible to trigger disgust on, Palahniuk hits. I didn't care for the book so much as find it extremely thorough without losing my attention.
Now, pair this with AND THEM THERE WERE NONE for a fun contrast...
This isn't really a horror story cycle but a sublimely disgusting one. Seriously. EVERYTHING it is possible to trigger disgust on, Palahniuk hits. I didn't care for the book so much as find it extremely thorough without losing my attention.
Now, pair this with AND THEM THERE WERE NONE for a fun contrast...
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very eerie and disturbing, but also so good. I couldn't put it down to save my life!
What happens when you put a bunch of sociopaths in a theatre together for 3 months? A lot of blood & gore.
A story woven through 23 vignettes, Haunted takes the reader through anger, sadness, homicide, & self-mutilation. I must have read some of the vignettes before, because several sounded very familiar. I know Guts was published on its own, but others also peaked my deja vu.
I enjoyed Mrs. Clark’s stories the most. There was so much realness to her reaction to the video she made with her husband. Her daughter’s story was heart breaking. Lady Baglady’s story was also riveting. Looking back, I think I liked all the stories, even the gratuitous ones.
There’s a lot of gore and violence.
The total breakdown of a society in isolation seeking fame: 2 weeks.
A story woven through 23 vignettes, Haunted takes the reader through anger, sadness, homicide, & self-mutilation. I must have read some of the vignettes before, because several sounded very familiar. I know Guts was published on its own, but others also peaked my deja vu.
I enjoyed Mrs. Clark’s stories the most. There was so much realness to her reaction to the video she made with her husband. Her daughter’s story was heart breaking. Lady Baglady’s story was also riveting. Looking back, I think I liked all the stories, even the gratuitous ones.
There’s a lot of gore and violence.
The total breakdown of a society in isolation seeking fame: 2 weeks.
So, in the epilogue the author writes that “Guts,” the first story in the book Haunted was “a book you wouldn’t want to keep next to your bed.” He talks about how, when he did a book tour and read “Guts” 73 people, from all over the world fainted as he read. As with the entirety of the book Haunted, I laughed at this. I, myself, kept this book on my nightstand through the entire time I read it.
I have a hard time finding where the horror aspect of this book is. It is quite disturbing. Seriously, I only mentioned two of the 20 + stories to anyone, because they really are weird. But, I grew up mildly obsessed with David Lynch and underground foreign films, and it seems that those really prepared me for a book such as this. I found this more humorous than horror.
I would never have chosen to read this book had I really understood more what it was about. When I picked this book up I wanted horror along the lines of Stephen King. Having said that, I think it is a very well written book. And, even for being as disturbing as it is (or maybe because it is so disturbing), it is very entertaining.
For those who prefer more linearly written books, this may take a while to get used to. It is basically divided into three “sections.” You have a section on what is going on in the moment. A second section where each character has a poem. And the third section is that characters story. The ONLY part that I am still somewhat confused about was the chapter where everyone “emigrated.” I don’t quite understand how that fit into the rest of the book.
Anyway, if you like things of a disturbing nature, I would definitely recommend this book.
I have a hard time finding where the horror aspect of this book is. It is quite disturbing. Seriously, I only mentioned two of the 20 + stories to anyone, because they really are weird. But, I grew up mildly obsessed with David Lynch and underground foreign films, and it seems that those really prepared me for a book such as this. I found this more humorous than horror.
I would never have chosen to read this book had I really understood more what it was about. When I picked this book up I wanted horror along the lines of Stephen King. Having said that, I think it is a very well written book. And, even for being as disturbing as it is (or maybe because it is so disturbing), it is very entertaining.
For those who prefer more linearly written books, this may take a while to get used to. It is basically divided into three “sections.” You have a section on what is going on in the moment. A second section where each character has a poem. And the third section is that characters story. The ONLY part that I am still somewhat confused about was the chapter where everyone “emigrated.” I don’t quite understand how that fit into the rest of the book.
Anyway, if you like things of a disturbing nature, I would definitely recommend this book.
Delightfully weird and gross. And the cover glows in the dark.
If you want to have a visceral reaction to a visceral story, look no further than the first in this book, "Guts." If I could bleach my brain to be rid of it, I think I would. That being said, I still somehow want to expose everyone else to the horror of it.
The rest of the book follows in that weird, taking-it-to-far kinda way that Palahniuk has. Awesome but incredibly fucked up.
***** 1 week later and I'm still having thoughts about this book; they come like weird acid flashbacks, out of nowhere thinking, 'What about those killer bowling balls?...' or replaying an entire story in my head.
The rest of the book follows in that weird, taking-it-to-far kinda way that Palahniuk has. Awesome but incredibly fucked up.
***** 1 week later and I'm still having thoughts about this book; they come like weird acid flashbacks, out of nowhere thinking, 'What about those killer bowling balls?...' or replaying an entire story in my head.