Fight Club: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fight Club: A Novel
Book Review: "Whoa"
Summary: 5 Stars
As I received my Lord of the Flies paper back a feeling of excitement swelled inside me, and it was because of my grade. It was because I knew Fight Club was the next book on our 9th Grade Honors Literature reading curriculum. I had anticipated reading and discussing this book since the moment I bought it from the school bookstore. Of course, I had seen the movie, but even those who hadn't still had the same feeling of enthusiasm just by looking at the title. But before we could begin reading this book we received terrible news. The school administration had decided to withdraw Fight Club from the curriculum. The thrill was taken from right beneath the noses of every freshman in the school. But we reacted, petitions, letters, and inquisitions flooded the Dean's office. But despite our efforts we never got to read this book as a class. But of course the was just the motivation a teenager needs to read a book. "Why would they ban this book? Sex, drugs, violence? Sweeeet". Every kid in the school most likely picked up the book and buried their nose in it.
Fight Club. The title in itself is intimidating. The movie was a masterpiece, but I never realized there was a book behind it, I never realized there was a single mastermind behind this work. Immediately as you begin the book you are confused, but you keep reading. Palahniuk style of writing in fight club is very dramatic and very abstract. Bits and pieces are presented to you, but you still cannot piece together a plot or story yet. You read on hoping to find some answers, and before you know it the book is glued to your fingers. It is hard to describe the emotion in Fight Club to someone who hasn't read it. Fight Club is full of deceptions and hidden meanings, only to be explained later on. This book does not let you down at any one point, you keep reading until your eyes grow sore. Despite the title's barbaric nature Fight Club is not a book filled with rage and violence.
The plot itself is also partially mysterious. It leaves us craving more and more after each page. As an unnamed narrator travels across the country he runs into a smooth witty soap salesman named Tyler Durden. Tyler and our narrator go their separate ways. The main character searching for friends and listeners, attends various cancer support groups. A different one every night, a hundred people who think he is one of them. He is a faker, a lonely man looking for companionship. But when the narrator loses all that he has, he calls Tyler to see if he can stay the night. Tyler reveals to him an entirely new outlook on life. A day turns into a week, a week into a month. Then one night Tyler tells our character to hit him. He is baffled, but nevertheless hits Tyler. Tyler hits him back and they fight. This is the birth of Fight Club.
I can't reveal more of the plot without spoiling the mysteries. Fight Club was a great movie and the book is even better. Don't think that because you've seen the movie you do not need to read the book because you are entirely wrong. Fight Club is a classic that has instilled a new viewpoint into my life. It was one of the greatest books I have ever had the pleasure to read. The school banned this book because it was supposedly inappropriate, and they have made a mistake. Fight Club will leave a lasting impression on me for a very long time. I will not easily forget the reasoning of Tyler Durden, the goals of Project Mayhem, or the viewpoint on life I received when reading this book. So drop down your idealistic defenses and pick up Fight Club. I guarantee you, that once you put the book down all you'll be able to say is "whoa".
Book Review: 'With a gun barrel between your teeth, you speak only in vowels.'
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is poetry. I can't add much more than what has already been said, in terms of message or analysis. What I do know, however, is that this is one of the most important books of our generation. One day, it will be taught in high school English classes, going Scarlet Letter, Huckleberry Finn, Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye, Fahrenheit 451, and then Fight Club. I'm not sure if there is a higher compliment that can be given. The significance of the book's message should not be dismissed.
And even if it is, Palahnuik's literary style cannot be. It is unmistakable. It is fluid. It is transcending. His use of chorus lines make the book such a quick read that you'll finish it in a day. You'll find yourself repeating them in your head six months after you've read the book, long after you've forgotten the petty details. I think that's what makes the book so special. We are all 'Jack's inflamed sense of rejection' and it's been too long since anyone really put that into words.
Anyways, this book is pretty damn special and everyone ought to read it.
Book Review: A Good Book to Read.
Summary: 3 Stars
Its not particularly well written but it keeps you interested. It has some interesting twists and poses very serious questions and ideas in our modern world. The novel is brilliant in some sense in its attacking of subject matter. At the same time, the very very last few pages of the book dismantled quite rapidly (like a bomb) the story the author had been building in a very unsatisfying way. its like building a very intricate house of cards and then taking an industrial fan to face it and blow them all away.
What is so relevant and important in this novel is the identity of humans and society in a modern age. So much of what is written now is garbage and has no meaning which is why this is so poignant- it has meaning. it is a contradiciton. it is sensitive while being insensitive. the deceptive clearness of the narrator leads to a muddled story. The absurdity of the premise is poetic. and it almost works when the entire house of cards the story is built on topples. almost. Regardless of how many stars it gets, this book is well worth the read if you want to read very recent work.
Book Review: A bit disappointing after seeing the movie, but still a brilliant book
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm another one of those who read the book after seeing the movie. I'm going to have to go against the grain here and say that the book was a tad disappointing to read after seeing the movie. I've read books after viewing the movie before and it's usually a whole different experience, but not this time. I'm not saying it's a bad book, it's just the movie is extremely accurate to the book (one of the most accurate I've come across actually), even to the point of using pretty much the same exact dialog. The movie also has narration so you hear the inner thoughts of the characters. Usually this is the one major aspect of reading a book that makes it differ from the movie, but not in this case. When reading this book, you really don't get inside the heads of the characters any more than you do when viewing the movie.
Palahniuk tells a really great and compelling story. There are a lot of twists and flips in the story-line that tie-up into an interesting and unexpected conclusion at the end. There is really great character development. Though most of what the characters do is pretty questionable and very morally wrong at times, you find yourself in complete concurrence with their actions. The only problem I can state is he's not the most descriptive writer. When it comes to describing people, places or things, he's just kind of so-so.
Overall, I have to rate the book five stars because it was indeed a great book. I really suggest reading this book before viewing the movie though because it is extremely accurate to the book. I felt myself kind of trudging along in parts of the book because I knew exactly what was going to happen. However, the book itself is brilliantly written and the story is very original and creative.
Book Review: A decadent trip into modern man's plight - boredom and insignificance.
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm really torn on this one... On the one hand, it is a senseless protrayal of all the ills present in young american men in society today. This book reads more like an adolescent's guide to vandalism and debouchery than a soul searching answer to freedom of the ego.
On the other hand, it can be read deeper as a path to your personal epiphany. What do I really want to do with my life!?
My guess is that Ghandi or Siddhartha would recommend a different approach to inner knowledge. But, to the cult scene in all of us, this one can be an interesting read.
If you can tolerate the senselessness, buy it. If you are turned off by violent approaches to a story, you'll wonder why you bought the book.