Chuck Palahniuk

Hi there, i've been meaning to get into palanuik for ages but i have no idea what book to begin on. My brother bought 'survivor' and says it's really really disappointing. Was this a good choice?

I've only read Fight Club but it's excellent. Easy to read and very powerful. I think I read it in a day cause I just couldn't stop. It poses much to think about for mental illness as a form of rebellion.

Oh, actually I have also read a collection of essays, Non-Fiction, its reasonably good but the essays are hit or miss. Kind of interesting snippets of analysis on the oddities of contemporary culture.

Fight Club is probably his best book, but, saying that, I enjoyed Survivor too. Another Palahniuk book I thought was good was Choke - about a guy who goes around restaurants pretending to choke on food so that people will give him the Heimlich manoeuvre. After they’ve ‘saved his life’ they take him under their wing, feeling obligated to look after him for the rest of their lives.

I really like the skewered view of life that Palahniuk presents us with, however, after reading three or four of his books I’m tiring of his writing style. It’s almost always written in the first person and the voice never changes from piece to piece. I’d like to see him experiment more – to try something different. What was fresh and original with Fight Club is becoming a bit stale in my opinion.

Cool. Thanks for the advice guys

I agree with "choke". It is weird but at the same time fascinating. I have heard good things about "Survivor" and have been planning on reading "Invisible Monsters". Maybe you can read that one and tell me what you think~

I've been a huge Palahniuk fan for a while now, so I'm happy to help you!
I first read Fight Club, although it is not his best (in my opinion), it is a great first novel.
My personal favorite is Survivor. I love that book. It isn't as disturbing as his other books, which I think highlights his satire better. I would suggest starting there, and if you like that book then move onto Fight Club, Diary, Invisible Monsters, Choke & Haunted (if you dare - honestly I couldn't finish the book - it was just too disturbing for me).

Rant is out in May!

I need someone, or some group of people (you), to let me know what is so good about Palahniuk. I've read Fight Club and Choke. His ideas are interesting... kind of, but the character, plot, and concept development seemed contrived and obnoxious to me.

I have a couple friends who cant get enough of his stuff, though.

What do you think?

I like reading his books. I've read Lullaby, Stranger Than Fiction, and Haunted.

Enjoying or not enjoying his work is a matter of taste. What is it that you require of a book in order to appreciate it? The writing itself is nothing special. It's a fairly uncommon style, but it tends to prevent good character development. I enjoy his books for the stories and the ideas those stories present.

I just got done reading Choke because they are making a movie out of it. I liked it a lot. Yeah the writing isn't anything special but it funny and very explicit. I can't wait to read more of him.

I have read all the books he wrote, except for stranger than fiction, which I think hasn't come out in Italy yet, and I love the directness of speech he uses. He is quite different from everything I have read till now and original for what the plot of his novels is concerned...they are confusing and keep you wondering till the end, when you are finally given all the answers and you can put the pieces together!
Furthermore, I think his writing style is interesting too, I mean, the way he goes on repeating certain sentences or words in order to keep the reader's attention focused on the story and all the details and pieces of information he gives concerning different topics...I don't know, I just like it..

I love the book "Survivor", but honestly i couldn't tell you why people love his books, perhaps it's because most of them are readable and the way he writes keeps you interested? Thats just my opinion though.

I agree with Silvia! oh, and if you like how he repeats certain things, not sure if you read it or not, but I would recommend the book "My Friend Leonard" by James Frey, he repeats a lot of sentences also to get the point across i suppose. James frey is an amazing writer, i don't care what oprah thinks. :D

Invisible Monsters and Survivor are his best!

Thank you for the suggestion, nomoredrama, I have never read that book!
For what Palahniuk is concerned, I would say Fight Club, Survivor and Choke are my favourite novels, while I got a little bit disappointed while reading Lullaby and his latest one: Haunted...

Fight Club, Survivor, Lullaby. If you really want to read Palahniuk, read those. I'd just as soon skip him altogether. His books are easy to read and pretty funny, but he's nothing special. And his style, while fairly original, got boring after the second or third novel (but that's just my opinion).

Ive only ever read lullaby a bit odd in places but enjoyable never the less, maybe more so because I wasnt expecting it.

I was introduced recently, and upon reading but one of his short stories am quite eager to look into his work.

You can read Guts here :http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/books/haunted/guts.php
Bewarned, it's not for the squeamish.