Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84714 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-31
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Behind the scenes
This is not the standard Palahniuk book. This is a collection of short works that inspired many of his other books. All stories are true, and presented in that same style that Palahniuk is known for. It includes a brief introduction that outlines the purpose, and references how he feels as an author. It includes stories that obviously inspired his novels. For an example, there is a story about wrestling. The wrestler appreciates the pain involved, and the work, and lives for the experience. He will step onto the mat and become a violent beast, capable of breaking his opponent. But as soon as they are done, both contestants are best of friends, knowing exactly what the other has gone through. Fight Club any one?

Judging a Book by its Cover
Having read a few of Palahniuk's other books, I gave this one a shot, primarily because it looked and sounded interesting. How wrong I was! I couldn't help feel that this book was heavily directly more towards men, with it's endless descriptions of monster truck derby technicalities and wrestling etiquette, amongst other tedium. Palahniuk obviously fancied himself as a bit of a journalist when he wrote this one, aswell as deserving the title of 'very good list maker/ detail rememberer.' Maybe he should have considered whether the material would actually be interesting! The most boring book I have ever read, if i wanted to read 60 pages on the intricacies of building work required to construct a castle (yawn), I would have gone out and bought one especially! (if anyone is boring enough to have written one!)

Another brilliant read
I love Chuck Palahniuk's writing because he has an amazing way of drawing you into his storytelling - even with short stories. Highly recommended