I’ve enjoyed Pahlaniuk for several years, since I (finally) read Fight Club a while back. Pahlaniuk is a pretty fantastic writer — I find that when I read his books, I always feel different — there’s a manic pacing that he seems to be unique in being able to create. Having said that, Fight Club is a better book — this is probably the weakest of the several books of his I’ve read (although the book jacket is fantastic). It feels gross in some places just to be gross (a Pahlaniuk special), other times the writing sparkles. Good to read, but not his best. (I also finished Jonathan Lethem’s new book this weekend, also good, but a stark contrast in styles.)
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Have you read Choke? I liked it, along with his other books. I agree with you: when I read Pahlaniuk, I always feel different…typically a lot happier that I am not one of his characters. Another author I like is Nick Hornby. Though not as dark as Pahlaniuk, I think he has a way of capturing the weird side of people in his books. High Fidelity was my favorite book by Hornby.
Have you read Choke? I liked it, along with his other books. I agree with you: when I read Pahlaniuk, I always feel different…typically a lot happier that I am not one of his characters.
Another author I like is Nick Hornby. Though not as dark as Pahlaniuk, I think he has a way of capturing the weird side of people in his books. High Fidelity was my favorite book by Hornby.