Fight Club: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fight Club: A Novel
Book Review: A females oppinion...
Summary: 4 Stars
Since mostly males wrote reviews on this book, and the few female reviews rated it rather poorly and did not give it justice. It may be obvious why males love this book, because the premise is males beating each other to bloody pulps to take out aggression in basements of bars in "fight clubs". I have read this book countless times, and enjoyed it every time. Although at times it can be gruesome and graphic, two traits that I do not particularly like in novels I read, this book really intrigues me. The dark and cynical view of corporations is like a reality check. The narrator, who is never directly named, but once possibly referred to as jack, takes you right into his thoughts and his dark humor is hilarious.
Although I do believe the book is better than the movie, which could possibly be due to my love affair with books, seeing the movie helps one understand the book better. Since it puts things right out there for the viewer to see, as opposed to having to create it in your mind on your own. Plus Edward Norton's amazing unmatchable acting skills make Palahnuik's contemptuous character much more complex and appealing.
Fight Club's Tyler Durdan has become the object of many men's idolization, not to mention obsession too. There are so many unforgettable situations and quotes from this book that just bash on everything from advertising to mothers.
Not everyone is going to enjoy this book, but if you do not mind dark humor and cynicism, I would recommend it.
Book Review: A fine study of Nihilism
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is one of the most incredible analyses of the concept of Nihilism from every aspect. While the movie concentrated on a love story, the book concentrates on a truly incredible idea. Nihilism as a concept must be somewhat understood before one can truly understand the statement of this work.One should note that the very conclusion of the book suggests strongly that Palahniuk does not wish one to embrace Nihilism. Even in an interview he explained some of his ideas and essentially if not exactly that.
But the focus is not the avocation of a belief system, or even an attack on a belief system, but a complete analysis of Nihilism. Even the style and structure of the book was inherently Absurdist, a literary style that arose from Existentialism, of which Nihilism is part. Down to every detail this work is finely crafted, and the greater one's understanding of the concepts the more apt on is to enjoy this work, though it is enjoyable for nearly all. However, the greater the understanding of the concepts involved the more valuable the book is. Without understanding the essential concepts of this book it can create reactions retrograde to the author's own intentions.
By the way, I love this book and I acutally first read it just a few hours south of Portland. Some may know that Palahniuk lives in Portland. For some reason reading a book about something farmiliar so near it's source has quite an impact on someone and I do believe the impression left by Fight Club has only become deeper with my greater understanding of the subject.
Book Review: A first, maybe, in novel/film history
Summary: 2 Stars
What the host site review fails to mention in describing the prose as "lethally swift" is what that swiftness is lethal to... which means, essentially, that you can tell Palahniuk wrote sections of the book in bars, clubs, etc. (which he has discussed in interviews) and not in a place where ideas, characters, anything can really be fleshed out to any great length. It's a firecracker of a premise, and the film (which, to be fair, I must admit I saw first, which may present some bias) takes all the best parts of the book and gives them visuals, which Palahniuk's prose fails in most cases to do. The plots differ in some ways. Without the theme, this book review would rate the novel with one star; the ideas about manhood and culture, etc. give it another star. The movie gets five stars. Watch the movie and then read the book, just to get the whole experience.Book Review: A great book...
Summary: 5 Stars
"All a gun does is focus the explosion in one direction." How can a book be so crazy and yet be so right in so many places. Chris Palahniuk certainly hit a masterpiece with this one. THis is his treatise on how to live or waste one's life. Controversial for many reasons, this book grabs you from the start and then starts shaking you till you hate the life you live and then he breaks the whole mirage with another sweep.
A perfect read for a person who has felt like a small cog in a big machine, understanding your part and nothing of the bigger picture, A Space Monkey...
Book Review: A great quick read with interesting characters
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved "Fight Club" the movie, so I decided to pick this book up. Since the book was written way before the movie - I suspected that things would be different from the movie. Was I wrong! It was like reading an alternative director's cut in the movie where most things were the same, but things were shifted around a little. Palahniuk's writing style is pure MTV - but it works here. Plus, the book has a few more mischief and mayhem examples that the anarchist would find intriguing. I highly recommend this book.