Bret Easton Ellis
‘Maybe our generation has found its Don DeLillo’
Independent
‘There are more plot ideas in Chuck Palahniuk’s Lullaby than some writers manage in a whole book’
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'The-guy-who-wrote-Fight-Club's fifth novel starts off intriguingly, based on the premise that words - specifically, a children's poem - have the power to kill. The story quickly mutates into a road trip/crusade, in which the central character and narrator, Carl Streator, attempts to destroy every copy of the poem, at the same time seeking redemption for his own wrongdoings. Aiding him in this quest is his new 'family': Helen - a ruthless real-estate agent who accidentally killed her own son Patrick with the same deadly poem some years prior - Helen's secretary, Mona, and Mona's eco-warrior boyfriend, Oyster. Streator is another one of Palahniuk's great antiheroes, in as far as he succumbs to the temptation of using the 'lullaby' for his own purposes; that is, to kill anyone who pisses him off. Palahniuk's genius lies in his ability to make this seem both scarily natural and blackly hilarious.
As with all his novels, Palahniuk succeeds in creating well-rounded characters that are both despicable and heart-breakingly human, at the same time delivering an unflinching narrative and a series of stark but thought-provoking observations on American society and the world at large. Though his observations and predictions are invariably bleak, they are wrapped in warped notions of love, romance and hope for the future, giving Lullaby a unique, refreshing twist.
Occasionally, Palahniuk does seem to be labouring the point with regards to the idea that words and music have become a disease of the mind. It is also worth noting that Lullaby is one of Chuck's more far-fetched novels, as he delves into the worlds of witch-craft and occupation spells, but, with a healthy suspension of disbelief, the reader should reach the final page of this strange and beautiful novel completely convinced of Palahniuk's fortitude as a master story-teller.
Matt Pucci
As with all his novels, Palahniuk succeeds in creating well-rounded characters that are both despicable and heart-breakingly human, at the same time delivering an unflinching narrative and a series of stark but thought-provoking observations on American society and the world at large. Though his observations and predictions are invariably bleak, they are wrapped in warped notions of love, romance and hope for the future, giving Lullaby a unique, refreshing twist.
Occasionally, Palahniuk does seem to be labouring the point with regards to the idea that words and music have become a disease of the mind. It is also worth noting that Lullaby is one of Chuck's more far-fetched novels, as he delves into the worlds of witch-craft and occupation spells, but, with a healthy suspension of disbelief, the reader should reach the final page of this strange and beautiful novel completely convinced of Palahniuk's fortitude as a master story-teller.
Matt Pucci
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have read three of Chuck's books, and I started out with Lullaby. This is the book that made me want to read his other novels... and to finally get round to watching fightclub.
He's a truly excellent writer, though the style of Lullaby is certainly different to the other books. It's much more subtle than his previous novels, which is the beauty of it. He describes this poem, which when read aloud will kill people. The first instance is with cot death. It's an idea this simple that is chilling, especially for all those mothers out there. He describes the chaos that would rein if society ever found out about is, yet adds a dark humour to it.
I think Chuck is a fantastic writer with a great and refreshing style, he's certainly very gifted and probably sees and analyses much more than you and I ever think about.
It really is well worth the read, and if you've never read and of Chuck's work before then I would definitely pick the subtle chilling novel before moving on to the more complex plots. But they're all great, and you won't be disappointed.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"LULLABY" by Chuck Palahniuk
There are many rumours about Chuck Palahniuk. That he lives alone. That's he's secretly been married for eight years. That he lives on an abandoned farm in the middle of desolate American wasteland, hasn't got a television, and accesses the net maybe once every two weeks.
That his grandfather murdered his grandmother, and then stomped around the house with an axe looking for an 8 year old Chuck who was hiding under the bed. That his father was murdered in a driveway by a jilted lover only two years ago. That he has facial reconstructive surgery every three years. And that people call him "Sir" in restaurants when he asks for clean food.
Rumour knows nothing. Some of the things that people say about me, I don't even recognise the guy they're talking about.
But what I'm about to tell you is fact. "Lullaby" is Palahniuk's best book since his debut. Whereas previously his other novels have dealt with the personal apocalypse, this novel ups the ante in style. This time the whole fate of mankind could rest on the whims of anyone who can memorise a short poem.
The power to give and take life makes whomever has it a God. In "Lullaby" we can all play God.
With noble intentions to track down and eliminate every copy of this culling poem, Carl Streator instead learns that power corrupts. And the power to murder is absolute power. In Palahniuk's convincing first-person narrative, we learn only what Streator sees. A world of babbling fools, whom with the power to kill ever present in his mind, can soon be turned into a paradise.
It's no surprise that our narrator is faced with the temptation of becoming one of the biggest serial killers in human history and just can't help himself.
And so, in breathless, clipped prose and surreal plot developments, in urban paranoia and characters described solely by their computer passwords, Palahniuk gives us a nightmarish vision of a world that is possible, but just beyond the plausible. A world where things continue ceaselessly, often without reason, and yet its still a world we recognise, a world we despise, a world that if we had the power, maybe we would give into that temptation.
He's done it again. You'll love this.
There are many rumours about Chuck Palahniuk. That he lives alone. That's he's secretly been married for eight years. That he lives on an abandoned farm in the middle of desolate American wasteland, hasn't got a television, and accesses the net maybe once every two weeks.
That his grandfather murdered his grandmother, and then stomped around the house with an axe looking for an 8 year old Chuck who was hiding under the bed. That his father was murdered in a driveway by a jilted lover only two years ago. That he has facial reconstructive surgery every three years. And that people call him "Sir" in restaurants when he asks for clean food.
Rumour knows nothing. Some of the things that people say about me, I don't even recognise the guy they're talking about.
But what I'm about to tell you is fact. "Lullaby" is Palahniuk's best book since his debut. Whereas previously his other novels have dealt with the personal apocalypse, this novel ups the ante in style. This time the whole fate of mankind could rest on the whims of anyone who can memorise a short poem.
The power to give and take life makes whomever has it a God. In "Lullaby" we can all play God.
With noble intentions to track down and eliminate every copy of this culling poem, Carl Streator instead learns that power corrupts. And the power to murder is absolute power. In Palahniuk's convincing first-person narrative, we learn only what Streator sees. A world of babbling fools, whom with the power to kill ever present in his mind, can soon be turned into a paradise.
It's no surprise that our narrator is faced with the temptation of becoming one of the biggest serial killers in human history and just can't help himself.
And so, in breathless, clipped prose and surreal plot developments, in urban paranoia and characters described solely by their computer passwords, Palahniuk gives us a nightmarish vision of a world that is possible, but just beyond the plausible. A world where things continue ceaselessly, often without reason, and yet its still a world we recognise, a world we despise, a world that if we had the power, maybe we would give into that temptation.
He's done it again. You'll love this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
alright
the book came a bit later than others that i ordered the same day, but it wasn't too late. The cover was torn away, not making me happy as i intended to give a book to a friend as... Read more
Published 6 months ago by krekra
Good work Chuck
This was the fourth Palahniuk book that I have read this year since starting with the obligatory Fight Club and have enjoyed every single one. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Law
A bit bonkers ... but in a good way
The idea of being able to kill with nothing more than thoughts is an unlikely vehicle for such a funny story, but it really works. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by M. Hind
Not the best
Lullaby is really quite similar to a few of Palahniuk's books.
They all start off with a great idea and run with it completely, at no point does it stop or limit itself... Read more
They all start off with a great idea and run with it completely, at no point does it stop or limit itself... Read more
Published on 21 May 2010 by F. Wight
Interesting, fun and lively, with a dollop of schlocky macabre.
Carl, our narrator is a reporter pursuing a story about crib death. He finds in a number of cases that the parents had read a particular lullaby to their babies prior to their... Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2010 by Jason Mills
Like Harry Potter without his morning cup of tea
This book starts out very promising but the ideas Palahniuk works with are not developed enough to keep the story interesting. Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2009 by J. Stevens
Awesome!!
This book is written on so many levels that it keeps the reader's attention throughout.
This was my first novel by this author, it was recommended to me by a colleague at... Read more
This was my first novel by this author, it was recommended to me by a colleague at... Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2008 by C. Jenkins
Arresting
Lullaby was an absolutely fantastic read. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Fight Club, I decided to go through the rest of Palahniuck's books. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2007 by Emma J. Cottle
Pathetic
Chuck Palahniuk is the worst writer in the world, maybe even the universe. After reading Fight Club (completely over-rated due to the success of the movie), I thought I'd try out... Read more
Published on 16 May 2007 by J. Dicker
Great idea but would be better as a short story
The premise of 'Lullaby' is great. An journalist has discovered that children are dying having been read an Afican culling poem. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2006 by Sarah Durston
Popular Highlights
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Big Brother isnt watching. Hes singing and dancing. Hes pulling rabbits out of a hat. Big Brothers busy holding your attention every moment youre awake. Hes making sure youre always distracted. Hes making sure youre fully absorbed.
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Now people hear a commercial for sour cream potato chips and rush out to buy, but now they call this free will. At least the ancient Greeks were being honest.
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The best way to waste your life is by taking notes. The easiest way to avoid living is to just watch. Look for the details. Report. Dont participate. Let Big Brother do the singing and dancing for you. Be a reporter. Be a good witness. A grateful member of the audience.
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users
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