Chuck Palahniuk is doing a book tour after the release of his next novel (Snuff). And he is making an appearance in St. Louis on May 27th. Which means? That I'll be able to see him. Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Has anyone seen him speak before?
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I hope it won't be as gross as Rant was. Ew, so much disgustingness. I'm not sure how I feel about him. He's a good writer, but why the graphic scenes of yuckiness?
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
To shock people? I'm pretty sure that's the main goal of those passages of his novels. Something shocking will make people think most of the time. Regardless of the thought process, it is thought provoking. And it forces one to use the imagination to envision things people prefer not talk about. It's challenging.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
It's kind of gross. I don't like being shocked. It's not nesasary. The stories are interesting enough without graphic gross scenes.
Plus I like to eat and read at the same time. I don't want to read a gross passage while I'm eating and envision nasty things.
Posted by Clandestineguitarplayer (Member # 11571) on :
Ok... I am curious... Somebody should tell me, (under the table if you must) about this 'graphicness' you speak of... I am curious... Not in a gross way, but in the way that a teenaged boy is... Wait... Is that the gross way?
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
*shrugs* I enjoy his writing. But I come prepared to be slightly disturbed. That's part of the package with his novels.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
There seems to be a massive outbreak of people reading Fight Club at my school lately. Which is cool because that's a great book.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
Books high school kids read... I've noticed these things go in cycles. It's good for Palahniuk to get into the mix. I'm a big fan of his. He's a lot like Harlan Ellison; he does a specific thing, and nothing else. He's dark. He's developed his own methodology. When you first start reading him, he feels daring and new. After a book and a half, when you've gotten used to the formula, he doesn't feel as new -- but it's still quality stuff.
As for what's "necessary" ... I don't know. I tend to think it's up to the author to decide what's necessary for their own work, and up to readers to decide whether or not they want to read it.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
CGP-his graphicness is the kind that you see on the discovery health channel when someone is getting surgery, and then make it twisted, like a cheap horror film. While none of his books are scary like a horror film, I have gotten queasy more than once while reading his books. I probably won't buy another after reading most of Haunted.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Plus he tends to have a nilistic character going on and on about civilization and how much it sucks. Still, the thought of reaching into a hole for a random animal is kind of funny. But all the waste product stuff, ew.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I think his writing style and, thus, novels are sort of an acquired taste. It definitely takes some getting used to in any of his novels.
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