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I didn’t like the Fight Club novel.  I felt it was inferior in every way to Fincher’s film and I just really disliked Chuck’s writing style.  However, I recognize that it is a bit unfair to dismiss his entire body of work based on one novel, so I am going to read one more when I finish the book I am currently reading, now.  I want recommendations from the many Chuck fans that I know populate these forums.  This is primarily due to the fact that this is first forum I have been on with Chuck fans that didn’t across as angsty teenagers looking for any reason to hate the world.  If people I respect think the guy is good, then I obviously missed something, somewhere.

So, where should I start?  Haunted is right out.  I know enough about that one to know that it would do nothing to change my mind.

I’m a pretty big fan of Choke.  I, like you Naked Eskimo, am not the biggest fan of his writing style.  Invisible Monsters and Survivor are pretty cool early novels of his. 

I put Palahniuk in the same category as someone like Irvine Welsh (who I love)—love him or hate him, no middle ground.

Try Survivor. It’s not bad for a Palahniuk novel.

Lullaby is my favorite from him and in my opinion should have been the next book of his adapted to film.

wow f13 read something :P

im a huge fan of his books, i cant say i read alot of fiction books so i’ve not got alot to compare too. my favorite book of his is Diary but i relate and like the artist character in the book and the stories very wickerman but i think Haunted is good due to the short story element to the book. recently i was talking to a friend about the book and it reminded me of all the wrong stories in the book and made me want to re read it. hmm it is a tough one to to suggest a book, just delve in and pick one, survivor is good too.

I’ve read Choke, Survivor and Lullaby and don’t feel the need to ever read another book from him.  Highly overrated writer.

I think a lot of us agree, NakedEskimo, we keep giving the guy a chance to stun us.

I like him well enough but I am never blown away when I finish one of his books. I think the last book of his I read was Diary, but it kind of sounds like dudes don’t like it whenever I’ve mentioned it to friends.  Perhaps the female protagonist is off-putting?

I thought it was decent, but I read it at the airport when I was stuck there for like 8 hours in SF.

By the way, I applaud everyone in the thread for reading fiction because all the market research I’ve seen lately points to men, primarily, not reading fiction and sticking to non-fiction. I like non-fiction too but why limit yourself?

I am reading Survivor (tks BigWilly!), when time allows. It is a very awkward read, but it is keeping my intrrest peaked.

alyssa - 25 July 2008 05:34 AM

I think a lot of us agree, NakedEskimo, we keep giving the guy a chance to stun us.

I like him well enough but I am never blown away when I finish one of his books. I think the last book of his I read was Diary, but it kind of sounds like dudes don’t like it whenever I’ve mentioned it to friends.  Perhaps the female protagonist is off-putting?

I thought it was decent, but I read it at the airport when I was stuck there for like 8 hours in SF.

By the way, I applaud everyone in the thread for reading fiction because all the market research I’ve seen lately points to men, primarily, not reading fiction and sticking to non-fiction. I like non-fiction too but why limit yourself?

Wow.

I was about to recommend Stranger than Fiction or Fugitives and Refugees (a collection of Palahniuk’s nonfiction writing [the Val Kilmer piece is kind of priceless] and a guide to Portland) if the Naked Eskimo didn’t like Palahniuk’s fiction, but now I feel like a marketing statistic.

I agree that Survivor is probably a good next step.

I do want to say whatever you do, don’t move on to his newest book, Snuff. I read it a few weeks ago and it actually made me like his writing less, since it was so over the top, far-fetched and felt a little slapped together.

Stefan Halley - 25 July 2008 12:58 AM

I’ve read Choke, Survivor and Lullaby and don’t feel the need to ever read another book from him.  Highly overrated writer.

Amen.

I liked Diary for the same reasons as specialneedsmonkey but I’m wondering like Alyssa if the female protagonist would be off putting to male readers. I don’t think so necessarily. Meh. So yeah Diary would be my suggestion.

I like Choke and Lullaby, Diary wasnt bad….you know…this brings an interesting point to light….I have a friend who loves Chuck P.‘s stuff and thinks it is the funniest stuff he has ever read….laugh out loud funny to him….for me, it is depressing more than anything else….I still like it, it’s just depressing for me….....

I’m going to go against the majority and say that Palahniuk was great in his earlier writings, but his later ones were definately lacking.

Choke, Invisible Monsters & Survivor are worth a read.

Also, if you can pick up the GUTS short story out of the Playboy issue it was in or read it out of Haunted, it will make you laugh and feel disgusted at the same time.

Survivor is probably where I’ll go next, then.  From the sounds of the detractors, it may do little to change my mind, but I like having a fair and balanced opinion if I am going to dislike something.  I will report back in 6 months when I finally finish it.  hahaha.  I read slow and seldom.

I have to agree with F13 that “Lullaby” was a damn good book, but stay far far away from “Haunted” for I AM a fan of Chuck and this book was painful to get through.

Leather Jacket Buddha - 25 July 2008 11:28 PM

I have to agree with F13 that “Lullaby” was a damn good book, but stay far far away from “Haunted” for I AM a fan of Chuck and this book was painful to get through.