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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
I enjoyed it! Some parts were kind of slower to get through, but then again, it’s all short stories written by the characters in the book who are on a locked in writing retreat. Some are good, some are bad. Some are absolutely disgusting, some are sad. I think the whole thing is very clever! You can tell it was well thought out.
The myth that was going around at the time (I heard it summer 2007) which made me go out and get the book was that “Guts” had been read at readings by CP and people were passing out or puking, sometimes both. 3 people died. Just a wild story! A clever way to see what it was all about and “see if you were brave enough”. As gross as “Guts” is, I got through it haha!
The myth that was going around at the time (I heard it summer 2007) which made me go out and get the book was that “Guts” had been read at readings by CP and people were passing out or puking, sometimes both. 3 people died. Just a wild story! A clever way to see what it was all about and “see if you were brave enough”. As gross as “Guts” is, I got through it haha!
Hit or miss for me. Some stories are good, some not. I do like the bleak ending since none of the characters are good people. All in all, not bad, but it definitely has flaws.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I always love a book the most right after I've finished it, but I think it is a 5 star read! It has satire, it's disturbing, funny, and provocative.
dark
slow-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 plot was intriguing enough that it kept me engaged, but my GOD it dragged on and on and on. It was like it was written by a teenage boy trying to shock his readers. So poorly written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
I never read a Chuck Palahniuk book before but have been wanting to for a long time given his reputation and, of course, I highly enjoyed the Fight Club movie. So I picked this up thinking it would be right up my alley given my usual taste for strange stories, horror, etc. Unfortunately, I just thought this book was "ok" and had a tough time really getting into it. Some of the short stories themselves were entertaining for different reasons, but the overall narrative came across as super lame to me. It almost seems like it would have worked better as a collection of short stories without the overall storyline tying it together. I did not care at all about any of the characters and the storyline about being locked in the theater where everyone suddenly thought they'd get famous by starving and harming themselves and each other just didn't really cut it for me. Perhaps this was not the best choice for my first Palahniuk book.
dark
medium-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
slow-paced
This is the most Palahniuk book I've read. You can't really say you enjoy it, but it is a truly visceral read. First time a book has made me feel physically sick.
Definitely an incredible experience. I can see how this was a hard sell for most publishers. How do you even market this kind of book?
Definitely an incredible experience. I can see how this was a hard sell for most publishers. How do you even market this kind of book?
dark
slow-paced
dark
medium-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