Choke

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It's a hit!

This is my second time around since I first went crazy and bought a shit-ton of Palahniuk and read them all. Personally I love his collection. Fo... (show more)

This is my second time around since I first went crazy and bought a shit-ton of Palahniuk and read them all. Personally I love his collection. For some reason, his novels are, for me, what trashy romance novels must be for my co-worker, April: I devour them as if they were the endless foodstuffs at an all-you-can-eat chinese buffet, and it always goes down easy. Call me sick, or whatever, but I've honestly never been really shocked by any of his books. Only pleasantly surprised. Of course I love the satire and statements on society. Of course the dead-pan, matter-of-fact way he always presents somewhat atypical, graphic and sometimes disconcerting subjects is well tailored to myself and many others of my niche/generation, but what really gets me about this book is the end. The rebirth of our characters in the final chapters is a great way of presenting the whole honesty/true-to-self spiel without it seeming contrived, overworked, or schmaltzy. Rather refreshing to have him finally make a point without him seeming like he is just pushing the envelope because it's there and it's one of the few ways to get people to pay attention anymore. (show less)

 

 

by Robert L. Woods

No, it's a flop!

His work is great... but don't try and read a bunch of his books in a row, it can be depressing.

 

 

by Anonymous User

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  "Scandalous" isn't the right word, but it's the first word that comes to mind.

  To be honest I don't know if I like "Choke" or not. It is like reading someone's diary and instead of putting it down you keep reading as much as you can just before you get caught. What Palahniuk does is present a social commentary of sorts from a dark, but telling perspective from an apparent scheming sex addict stuck on step 4.

  Palahniuk begins this novel warning the reader to stop, but ac... (show more)

  "Scandalous" isn't the right word, but it's the first word that comes to mind.

  To be honest I don't know if I like "Choke" or not. It is like reading someone's diary and instead of putting it down you keep reading as much as you can just before you get caught. What Palahniuk does is present a social commentary of sorts from a dark, but telling perspective from an apparent scheming sex addict stuck on step 4.

  Palahniuk begins this novel warning the reader to stop, but achieves the opposite by hooking its readers into this immoral and revealing fiction. Told by Victor Mancini, a colonial theme park worker, the novel focuses on his dysfunctional relationships between his dying mother, recovering sex addict friend Denny, and the intriguing Doctor Paige Marshall.

  Throughout the novel Victor "inventories" his sexual encounters and describes his choking scheme, but it is his relationship with his mother, only friend, and doctor that keep the pages turning and keep you wondering what will happen to this lonely pretender that is trying to discover himself and who he will and wants to be. Without spoiling it, his confusing misguided life leads him to confusing misguided truths.

  Palahniuk both shocks you and gives you a little bit of truth, warts and all. Victor's mother says the unreal is more powerful than the real because nothing is as perfect as you imagine it. What "Choke" presents is what happens when the unreal turns itself inside out. It's not pretty, but fortunately Victor is the one who chokes on the unreal for us to learn from.

  I suppose I liked what I got out of "Choke" and I will be sure to watch the film and read another from Chuck in the near future.
  
  "What's it going to be, I don't know...And maybe knowing isn't the point." -Victor (show less)

   

   

  by Eduardo Baskervill on Mar 30, 2009 at 12:39AM

  Already read

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  The thing about reading anything by Palahniuk is that you can never expect anything, it will always come up completely different. When you start reading "Choke", I think you have to stop and look around to make sure nobody knows you're reading what you are reading. With the sexual and social commentary that pepper every single page, it feels like you're reading something you aren't supposed to.

  As you dive in, however, you'll discover this book is about much more than a socially... (show more)

  The thing about reading anything by Palahniuk is that you can never expect anything, it will always come up completely different. When you start reading "Choke", I think you have to stop and look around to make sure nobody knows you're reading what you are reading. With the sexual and social commentary that pepper every single page, it feels like you're reading something you aren't supposed to.

  As you dive in, however, you'll discover this book is about much more than a socially inept sex addict. Victor Mancini has spend his whole life trying to be everything his Mom wants him to be. He was taken from her at a young age and she always sought him out to explain to him all of her ideas on the world we live in. He explores his relationships with his dying mother who now has no idea who he is and he's trying to make her love him. His friend, Denny, is also a recovering sex addict and finds ways to work through his addiction in much different ways than his best friend. And then there's the mysterious Dr. Paige Marshall who isn't what's to be expected, but takes Victor to new heights in his emotions.

  By the end of this book, you will be seeing the reason you read the entire book and sorted through the twisted story lines and the difficult interactions to see the whole truth about life as this misfit explains it.

  "We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sex addicts. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves."
  -"Choke" (show less)

   

   

  by Veronica Havens on Aug 19, 2009 at 08:23PM

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