It was interesting having to purchase a book that the bookstores will not keep on the bookshelves. It's tucked away behind the counter that you have to request from the employee ringing up the rest of your order. It's very covert... you almost feel like you're buying something off the black market. Now, it's not because it's mature(which it is), but because Palahniuk books are often stolen. I guess that would make sense if you've read Fight Club.
That brings me to reviewing the book. I'm not sure how to go about that now that I fear that one of those spacemonkey's might come after me for saying something to the contrary about Fight Club. But, if one would be unhappy that I am critical of Palahniuk's popular novel would defeat the purpose of the anarchist care-not attitude of a "believer". But we only have one follower, and one follower that I know personally. I doubt they'll come after me even though they love knives.
In the years that I've been reading novels that have movies based on them, I have not come across a book that's worse than the movie. I don't think that I should say that Fight Club isn't a good book, but the movie was able to twist and change the book into something with a different outlook. The plot is intact, but the climax is different. The movie puts the action out there and takes away a bit of the grittiness that is Fight Club. It's not a happy ending, feel-good book. The movie brought some of that to the table. That makes me very confused, b/c I still feel like I like the movie better, but the book is worth the read.
This quote sums it up for me:
Watching white moon face
The stars never feel anger
Blah, blah, blah, the end
Less than halfway through the book that quote stuck out. At the end of the book I still felt that way. But, at the end of the book came the best part of the book; the afterward. It clued me in to what Palahniuk was attempting to do with Fight Club. Something that this first read didn't leave me with.. and that was Palahniuk's ability to write!
Let me say this.
I don't think I like Palahniuk's books.
But I'll read another one.
-D
LOL! love the first line.... I started reading that once in college... so, now i know not to add it to the list of 'unfinished books i should finish'
ReplyDeleteokay, we are 1 for 3, am I right? Jordan is worth it but I would just cry over Angela's Ashes and forget Fight Club. I couldn't even watch the movie. And at my age, I refuse to be bored by a book. I gave myself permission not to finish one if it didn't capture my interest or at least inform me. So based on your trustworthy assessment, I will pass on Sherlock. But I LOVE your blog. I'll know when you get to one I must go out and buy! Dad and I are both intently involved with books right now. In fact, I'm off to read right now. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteA book a week? Wow! Go for it! Once I send my kids off to school I think I'll read a book a day -- I'm that reading-withdrawn. I'll become one of those moms who drops her kids off at school wearing her bathrobe, then comes home and drinks coffee while reading until 2:30. Then I'll throw on some clothes, maybe take the curlers out of my hair, pick up the kids, and come home. Then, I'll read more while they're doing homework. TV dinners to eat and TV for the kids to keep them distracted while I get to the denoument and conclusion....
ReplyDeleteYes... this would be an excellent life. For now, I'll read your blog and read a book weekly vicariously through you. :)