Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
not for the easily offended, 12 May 2005
I've been waiting for this book for 2 1/2 years and now it's finally here. Was it worth the wait? Yes and no. As with all short story collections the stories can be a bit hit and miss, but Chuck more than makes up for the misses when he hits.
Anyone expecting a huge pukefest having read or heard about 'Guts' may be disappointed but there are lots to enjoy here. Most of the stories don't have 'Guts' visceral impact but are still suitably twisted in Palahniuk's inevitable way.
The narrative that links the stories is a great satire on reality tv and desire for fame and would also have worked well as a stand alone novella.
Palahniuk is one of best writers around today and continues to challenge and provoke his readers with this latest addition to his catalogue.
BUY THIS BOOK (if you're not too squeamish).
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Churn your stomach, 31 May 2008
Chuck Palahniuk is most known as the author of Fight Club, the book that became the movie with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton; and overnight Palahniuk had a cult following. Erie, scary, and terrifying; if I had to use three words to describe this book, that would be it. Robert A. Heinlien the classic Science Fiction author once quipped "One man's theology is another man's belly laugh." Of this book I would state, "One man's perversion is another man's pleasure." This book will hit both, depending on who you are and your sensibilities.
This book is a collection of short stories, written by characters who are on a writer's retreat. They all responded to an ad to "give up three months of your life and create the masterpiece you have always said you would". Each of the 18 respondents had an idea of where they would be going - to a large country estate, a camp in the woods; yet the reality is they get locked into an old ornate theatre house. They have food, shelter, and facilities, yet all doors are locked, all windows bricked over and no way out.
From there the book becomes a cross between Fear Factor, Survivor and your most feared horror story. We see the depths to which people will descend to achieve fame and riches. Palahniuk, during the current book tour, was reading the first story called `Guts' and to date there have been 63 people who have passed out with many people being injured falling into book cases in book stores. This book will at times, turn your stomach, but will give you an understanding of the darkest side of human nature.
Readers beware! This book is like the fight club movie on super steroids.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fight Club on Steriods, 21 Mar 2008
Chuck Palahniuk is most known as the author of Fight Club, the book that became the movie with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton; and overnight Palahniuk had a cult following. Erie, scary, and terrifying; if I had to use three words to describe this book, that would be it. Robert A. Heinlien the classic Science Fiction author once quipped "One man's theology is another man's belly laugh." Of this book I would state, "One man's perversion is another man's pleasure." This book will hit both, depending on who you are and your sensibilities.
This book is a collection of short stories, written by characters who are on a writer's retreat. They all responded to an ad to "give up three months of your life and create the masterpiece you have always said you would". Each of the 18 respondents had an idea of where they would be going - to a large country estate, a camp in the woods; yet the reality is they get locked into an old ornate theatre house. They have food, shelter, and facilities, yet all doors are locked, all windows bricked over and no way out.
From there the book becomes a cross between Fear Factor, Survivor and your most feared horror story. We see the depths to which people will descend to achieve fame and riches. Palahniuk, during the current book tour, was reading the first story called `Guts' and to date there have been 63 people who have passed out with many people being injured falling into book cases in book stores. This book will at times, turn your stomach, but will give you an understanding of the darkest side of human nature.
Readers beware! This book is like the fight club movie on super steroids.
(First Printed in Imprint 2005-06-03 as 'Fight Club author gets Haunted')
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