raymondstary

I read Haunted. There were moments. The entire book was worth reading a single short story hidden near the end because it had the feel of a decent Vonnegut story. I recommend going to a bookstore with a coffee shop in it, taking the book down there and reading that one story. I can't recall the name.

Truth-Teller

This guy really must suck at writing.

Hhahahha!!

raymondstary

Strong opening. It keeps to the spirit of simplicity and scattershot, adolescent rage.

I think the first sentence is intended as a sort of argument. The if/then construction (eg: if there is not an IQ requirement for computer ownership and internet access, then we will get sentences like: "If you are too narrow minded...")
This is coming from the person who has written Chuck, so he's going to know things we aren't privy too, having merely read him.
We learn something about fantasy here, and that something is that fantasy is easily shocked. Twice in this paragraph alone, he is shocked.
I am stunned.


I have to believe the bad writing is intentional and I have become the victim of a clever comedian.
We all know Chuck writes in a box. This man is clearly a charlatan and he has tried to pull the wool over our eyes. He has not written Chuck Pahalhshjfnuikukukiik at all.
I would imagine the only appropriate response to this to be: "We live in a free country!" shouted at rock concert conversation levels. Or perhaps: "Make me shut up, you mascara wearing vampire poseur!"


Is this some bad translation of an Eastern European idiom?

wmd

And to think that I almost bought "Choke" while at the bookstore today.

Maybe I will read it in the library some day instead.

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Amour

That honestly made me sick. Not physically, not "grossed out", but simply disgusted. Haven't read a word of Chuck's since, and I daresay, I feel no palpable loss.

KyleColorado

I find all this Palahniuk-bashing uncalled for. Sure, you can dislike someone`s writing, but is it really necessary to insult the writer?

Keep in mind Chuck has made the New York Times Bestseller list on more than one occassion. have you? Could you? If so, prove it. Publish a novel, make the NYT BS list, and we`ll talk about it here.

I have no qualms here.. some of Chuck`s work has disappointed me.. some of it inspired me.. But in every case I still respect him because he puts in the effort to make it a career out of being a writer.

You may not like the prose, but at least show some respect to a fellow writer.

And yes, in haunted, as Chuck said himself, he was deliberately trying to disgust people.

raymondstary

This is somehow relevant to quality? Does this place the author into some unassailable position of indisputable greatness? I doubt I'll make the best seller list, if I even ever manage to complete a novel, how to book or something as deep and meaningful as "The Secret" (The secret? How to make millions off people who think certain ways of thinking will prevent bad things from happening to you. Drunk drivers will miraculously swerve back onto their side of the road, muggers will say: "Gee that guy is a positive thinker. I'll go mug that guy with the mullet, confederate flag T-shirt and semi-concealed handgun and buttcrack.")

Best seller or not, one puts one's work into the public eye, one should expect, and be immune to, hateful criticisms.

Crazy_dude6662

i didnt find it sick or gross or disgusting, but that was probably because it was unbeleivable. if it was alot more beleivable i might have been grossed out.

__________________
Rose (possesed by Cassandra) : oh chavtastic again

McSteamy:if it isnt my faviourite Dirty Mistress
Meradith (high on morphine) : havn't you heard? now i'm an Adulterous Whore!

Dan

Don't forget how he chewed through his own intestines!!!

__________________
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KyleColorado

Yes, I believe so. While Chuck's minimalistic, nihilistic prose may not be to the liking of some, the quality in his writing lies in his spiralling plots and unexpected twists that engage the reader. Prose vs. plot, a whole new discussion altogether.. I can name other successful authors whose prose I dislike, but whose stories engage (one that comes to mind is the drab narration of Michael Crichton).

Why feel the need to assail a writer at all? Art is subjective. I think most of Picasso's work is bad. If I wanted to assail him, I'd say he paints like an autistic cripple. But he stuck with it and made a success of himself doing so, so for that I respect him and his work. I may not like it, but I don't bash it, because what position am I in to do so?

A good point. It's easy to critique something, even when it could take us ten years and we might still not be able to write a novel worth reading, let alone selling. Partly skill, partly intellilgence (in terms of knowing how to pursue a subject of marketability), and partly diligence, devotion, and hard work.
So, it seems absurd to me to insult the craft of an established author. Critique and discuss its relative merits, sure.. but to flat out mock the craft of someone who has successfully produced something that you cannot seems ludicrous.

raymondstary

I'm reading "Next."
Some parts of C.'s book were quite good. He's not a genius, though. Nothing surprised me. I kept thinking of the movie Saw. Gory, bizarre, sometimes funny. Intentionally jaded.

Because it's fun. And because it's true. Those are just two reasons. Upsetting people is yet another. Perception is subjective, quality itself is not, though it's quite impossible to get out of the subjective realm, seeing as we're mere humans. Were there no real beauty, the word wouldn't exist. I think, therefore I am quite capable of bashing. I am in a position to do so, and that position is sitting, standing, lying down... If someone puts it out there, then they might get it shot off.

[quot]
A good point. It's easy to critique something, even when it could take us ten years and we might still not be able to write a novel worth reading, let alone selling. Partly skill, partly intellilgence (in terms of knowing how to pursue a subject of marketability), and partly diligence, devotion, and hard work.
So, it seems absurd to me to insult the craft of an established author. Critique and discuss its relative merits, sure.. but to flat out mock the craft of someone who has successfully produced something that you cannot seems ludicrous.[/quote] I think being the madman in the square has a romantic appeal. I also think the madman gets to have better sex than the rest of the crowd milling by him.