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 This book was handed to me by a friend who I can only descibe as hopelessly urban-cool. Palahniuk's novel is catered to short attention spans, and its no surprise to me that his other novel was made into a movie. I think the author's hope is that if he throws enough edgy disjointed bursts into a book, the juxtaposition will make it clever. Is this where fiction is now? There was so little honesty in the writing, not one element I could identify with. At least with Douglas Coupland there is a sence of tapping into history (even if the nostalgia is dripping with sarcasm). Skip this one. Or just stay tuned for the music video.
The main character is interesting and dynamic as she is simultaneously lame, trite, conceited, vain, shallow, though shows some "moments of |intelligent| clarity" in her observations and her own self-awareness. In this we are easily open to consider our own short-comings better.
"The Road to Hell", anyone? Give in and you'll be treated to a supremely comic ride. Give up and you'll miss one of the best novels of the year. Your choice. |
I was a fan of both fight club and survivor (the latter more so) and was looking forward to this read. Howver I was greatly dissapointed. I was also unimpressed with Choke (I have yet to read his most recent). I just get the impression that Chuck is trying too hard. Maybe his time has passed.
If you are looking for a novel that slams you in your face with what the ideals of society place in our easily modified brains, read this novel. If you want to have a nice, breezy read in the summer afternoon, look elsewhere. Palahniuk does not sugar coat his views on modern society. The characters in this novel all have some form of self-inflicted wound as a result of the world's idealism.
This was my first Palahniuk book, suggested by a friend. After seeing Fight Club, I immediately noted the simular style of 'Time Leaping' which is also utitilized in this book, and is something that is used in other novels such as Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Though in this story, as in the story of Fight Club, Palahniuk takes this style to a new level (as well as the climax initiating storyline).This style is primatively redundant and can become annoying to read. We understand that this is the character's mentality and this actually does work in illustrating the levels of her sanity throughout different points of the story, giving the narrative some varied rhythm and that postmodern "conscious altering feeling." I also agree about the need for commas, even from an artstic stand point as I am a creatIve wrIter.
