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2.78 AVERAGE
2.78 AVERAGE
So I’m normally a fan of Chuck Palahniuk. I know his books are normally dark, interesting and thought provoking with an undoubtable sprinkle of shock factor. However even for me, this was too far out there with no reward or interesting payoff. The brothers are extremely unlikeable and whilst the younger brother almost has redeemable qualities, they get washed away a few pages later. Whilst some unlikeable characters have a certain charm that keeps you engaged, I wanted nothing more than something drastic to happen to make the characters somewhat sympathetic or just exit to story.
Also the graphic, weird sexual shock factors didn’t bring anything to the story apart from me thinking this is here to offend people or make them uncomfortable; or for me was option three, just feeling it was unneeded and a waste of pages. Personally, it only got 2 stars over a 1 as some of the lore and parts of the story did seem interesting and if they’d focused more on the family business I would have enjoyed it more. I only finished this book as I rarely, if ever DNF books as the optimist in me hopes things can get better. I was wrong.
Will this be one of the most disappointing Chuck Palahniuk books I’ve read? Maybe not forever, but for now.
Also the graphic, weird sexual shock factors didn’t bring anything to the story apart from me thinking this is here to offend people or make them uncomfortable; or for me was option three, just feeling it was unneeded and a waste of pages. Personally, it only got 2 stars over a 1 as some of the lore and parts of the story did seem interesting and if they’d focused more on the family business I would have enjoyed it more. I only finished this book as I rarely, if ever DNF books as the optimist in me hopes things can get better. I was wrong.
Will this be one of the most disappointing Chuck Palahniuk books I’ve read? Maybe not forever, but for now.
NOT FOREVER BUT FOR NOW by CHUCK PALAHNIUK
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Meet Otto and Cecil. Two brothers growing up privileged in the Welsh countryside. They enjoy watching nature shows, playing with their pet pony, impersonating their Grandfather...and killing the help. Murder is the family business after all. Downton Abbey, this is not.
True to form this Chuck Palahniuk book comes with a trigger warning. Like all of his books this one pushed the envelope. I wish it was more story and less of trying to be a shock value, almost to the point where I was losing interest. I wish I loved it like I love his other books.
challenging
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
It's probably unfair of me to rate this book. Because I couldn't finish it because it was practically unreadable. The narrator is british so I don't understand much of the slang and he's clearly at least a little slow which also makes it very difficult. But I still kept pushing on because I wanted it to be such a good book. Maybe it gets better and I could have gotten through all the hinting at all the gay sexual things the brother is doing with other people, from servicing pedophiles to dancing naked on a bar as a toddler. But when it got to the point where the brother basically rapes him (which he doesn't seem to understand is wrong) in front of their mother, who is passed out on heroin... I had to put it down.
OK so I managed to start it again on audio book. Just because I really expected it to get better. And for a little bit it made me sympathize with the character who's raping his brother. And then very quickly went right back down the drain. Made it to chapter 22 and officially moved the book off my shelf.
OK so I managed to start it again on audio book. Just because I really expected it to get better. And for a little bit it made me sympathize with the character who's raping his brother. And then very quickly went right back down the drain. Made it to chapter 22 and officially moved the book off my shelf.
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I think I may have felt differently if I had read the author’s note first. In any case, I spent much of my time reading trying to identify the underlying message in the madness. Was this my favourite of Palahniuk’s work, no; was it the worst, also no.
