my name is andrew says:

Haha, that's awesome

posted Jul 24

InevitableDoubt says:

I wish that back when I was in the 10th grade we read good books like "Fight Club" but no. Not at my school.

posted Aug 14

Mental Eunuch says:

Several of his books have been "optioned", but that just purchases the right to make a movie adaptation, and doesn't really mean they'll actually make the movies. Half the time they just buy up options on anything "just in case" so no one else can make the movie.

Survivor was closest to being made, but, you know, 9/11. According to the Cult Palahniuk site Chuck said Survivor was going to be made into a movie by the people who did Constantine, but those guys are currently making the sequel to "28 Days Later" called "28 Weeks Later", so if it's even still a possibility that's awhile away. Plus, Constantine wasn't exactly high cinema, so it may just be better off languishing in a drawer, I've never been a believer that a crappy mediocre movie is better than no movie at all when it comes to book adaptations.

Choke and Invisible Monsters are also optioned by different people, but there's even less tangible evidence they'll be made into movies than there is for Survivor. And considering names like Jessica Biel were attached to them, they may be better off dead as well, considering she ruins anything she has more than a minor or supporting role in. God, she really is horrible.

posted Mar 22

Nicole Renee says:

There's only been a few cases of a movie being better than the book (Shawshank)...

just curious to see if there was anything to get wrapped up in.

Thanks!

posted Mar 22

Mental Eunuch says:

Lullaby is my favorite Palahniuk, but Survivor is what I consider to be his best book. It's the book where he really hits his stride as an author, and perfects his writing formula (and while I love his work, he is very formulaic once you spot his patterns.)

I would read his books in the order they were written, Invisible Monsters, Fight Club, Survivor, Choke, Lullaby, Diary, and Haunted. Save Stranger than Fiction for last, as it has insights into the development of certain stories that may spoil the plots for you. Fugitives and Refugees you can read at any point.

For a what book is best order, I'd rate them, if I was trying to be impartial, Survivor, Choke, Fight Club, Lullaby, Diary, Haunted, Invisible Monsters.

Haunted wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't as good as I expected. I'm hoping with Rant he breaks out of his formulaic rut (which I've enjoyed so far, but is starting to get old. Even the different characters in Haunted all had the same narrative voice, something that's disappointing even if you rationalize out that their stories being told are being retold by the "main" character, which is a cop-out.)

posted Mar 18

Chris Flew says:

thank you for the detailed feedback. i'll follow your course.

posted Mar 22

Mental Eunuch says:

It was written before "Fight Club", but he couldn't get it published because it was "too disturbing", so it wasn't published until after "Fight Club". Personally, I think it's an inferior book, it really shows that it was his first one, both in terms of story and craft.

posted Mar 18

Mental Eunuch says:

As much as many people I know criticized the book for the "boring" middle parts between stories, I think that without them, the book wouldn't hold together very well. Even the poems as a throwback to Chaucer contribute to making it gel, because without the context of the characters telling the story, the separate chapters just don't work.

Now as a strategy for a second read-through, I think it would work great as a way to refresh your memory.

posted Mar 10

Lil' Brian says:

So far I've read Fight Club and Invisible Monsters and I think I like Invisible Monsters more over all but Fight Club actually had an impact on me. I gues time'll have to tell.

I'm in the middle of reading Survivor right now though. I was reading Choke and then my book just dissapeared.

posted Feb 5

Jessay says:

Invisible Monsters is my all time favorite. Haunted might be a close second. I really didn't like Stranger Than Fiction for the most part. That's the only one that's let me down thus far.

posted Feb 6

Rick says:

choke hands down....

posted Feb 19

paradise. says:

...survivor

posted Feb 21

Drawist77 says:

Choke.. although Survivor is a close second... and Lullabye is a close second second. Replying to the comment about stranger than fiction... I really liked it because having read all his books it lets you in on the real life inspiration for his novels. although it and refugees are the only books of his I havent read twice. But yeah,,, Choke

posted Mar 5

Mental Eunuch says:

Lullabye is my favorite, just because I'm a big nerd and like magic. But I think Survivor is his "best" book. It's the one where he really hit full-stride on his writing style.

I'm going to have to agree that the great part about "Stranger than Fiction" is getting tidbits of what inspired him to write each story. It gives you a perspective on it you couldn't have otherwise.

posted Mar 9

Chris says:

Haunted, no question. I actually put the book down and walked away for like a year, not because it was bad but because I actually got nauseous at one point. That, my fellow fans, is top notch writing. After that I'd have to say Choke, then Survivor. The only other ones I've opened were Invisible Monsters and Lullaby. Monsters I couldn't get into (did I just give up too soon?) and Lullaby I finished last night but really didn't care for.

posted Mar 21

lowercase callie says:

I definitely have to say Choke, though I've yet to read Invisible Monsters and finish Fight Club. Survivor is a pretty good second, though.

posted Mar 22

CKinniburgh says:

I am having a serious problem answering that question. Huge debate within myself between Survivor and Choke at the moment.

posted Mar 24

trev_or says:

Choke most definitely

posted Mar 25

mademoiselle h says:

something between choke and fught club... survivor ... Too hard to choose!!

posted May 7