Fight Club Review

Well it's been a month since I have showed any sign of life on this blog, but I'm back with a vengeance. Life has been a bit rough, and I've taken my hits low and high. With that said I took Fight Club under my wing, the perfect book, during this time. This is Chuck Palahniuk first book, and it's was masterfully written.

Fight Club has an interesting beginning, starting at the end. If you are like most people and have seen the movie, well just expect the book to be twice as good. The movie blew me away, but the book made my world spin twice as fast with a huge overdose of anarchism associated with it. The ideas, plot line, characters, and situations encountered can really make one think about their existence on this measly planet we call earth. The main character let's say Cornelius, since we never really no his name, is living a worthless life, dragging on silently while working his day job for a huge car business. Until he meets Tyler Durden, someone that does everything and anything Cornelius is afraid to do. Pretty soon Cornelius finds himself facing the end of his own existence when he comes home to nothing one day. The thoughts that fly through his head after he meets Tyler are those of many middle age men in society caught in the age of nothing. As Palahniuk takes note that we have no wars, but we are own great depression. We were raised to think we would be rock stars, famous actors, or athletes; after we swallow the hard truth we take our desk job and just play are little role in society. This is the main point behind the whole book, "Accepting nothing." This can be looked at from two views. As not accepting what we are suppose to, or by just accepting nothing more out of life. Tyler builds an army of revolutionaries who aren't going to accept nothing. They are saying no, they are finally going to change their lives. Tyler shows people that they can do what they want, and there is nothing more brilliant then the one passage were Cornelius holds a man at gun point telling him to follow his dreams, and that he will keep his license to check on him every so often to make sure he's not working at a convenience store but going to school to become a veterinarian. As well know though the whole back setting to this book is everyone has join a club were they fight to release themselves of everyday issues. This fight club grows so quickly, and soon overtakes all males around the nation.

With this new found power of being a leader, and showing males that they can go back to the stone age by pounding on each others faces once again. That they can do so much more with their lives if they can take these harsh beat downs once a week. In one part Palahniuk perfectly explains that the world slows down in a way that can only be experienced after you have been punched so much. This book is a classic, it should get a Pulitzer Prize, and be part of 8th grade literature classes across the world. It let's people know that you will fail in life, but that shouldn't stop you from following your dreams. Not everyone is going to make it to the big leagues, but there are many more things out there that individuals can accomplish on their own. The climatic almost ending that takes place about 3/4 in the book when Tyler is really Cornelius makes perfect sense. That everyone wants to be something, but they are just afraid to act a certain way in the eyes of others. This is no more obvious then in today's society with people living behind computer screens and doing the talking from the comfort of their home. Most books are for pleasure or just for a good story; this book has a harsh lesson, get up and live your life or else you will regret it. 5 out of 5.....I really mean it, this book is by far one of the best to come out of the 90s. This should be on everyones to do list and I mean like top 10 before you die.

Rant by Chuck Palahniuk Review

All of the sudden, I have become hooked on Palahniuk and his out of this world works. Ever since picking up Haunted two months ago I have been reading all of his books. I dropped everything the day the new book by Chuck came out on May 1st, even though I was in the middle of finals week. The book was a little different then any of his last, written in an interview type of way. The book chronicles the life of Rant Casey, by having interviews of people who were directly involved or somehow affected by him in life. The way it is done is quite genius, to write something from different perspectives keeping all the characters in mind, and then actually putting a story together with each character having different input on the main one. This book like all of Palahniuk's books has facts that relate to how the government is somehow controlling us, and plans to have absolute control over us all eventually. There are random facts throughout the books about certain civilizations that used disease or viruses to control or just wipe out people. Then there are the little weird habits of certain characters, not as much sexual in this book as you would expect, but this book sure has a boat load of actions that aren't typical in our everyday nature.

Do I dare say that Chuck is slowly approaching the status of a great author known as George Orwell with his talk about the future concerning government intervention in our everyday lives? Chuck closes the gap between imagination and reality with this novel. Maybe one day this will be classified as nonfiction, or maybe it already was nonfiction as he says in the end. If there ever was something to take away from a fiction book that seemed so far fetch, yet so possible was the idea of "boosting" as explained by Shot Dunyon, who is one of the main characters influenced by Rant Casey. The concept behind "boosting," is that humans in the future will have neural transmitters in the back of their necks. They can plug devices into them or record certain moments of their lives for future pleasure. Think of them kind of like a USB port, but they record all five senses. Matrix mixed with real life kind of thing going here. The future doesn't have books or movies, just boosting. Then the other futuristic idea was "Party Crashing," were Nighttimers drive around hitting people with their cars, of course there are certain rules that pertain to running full speed into people. What the idea is like though, is kind of like the idea in "Fight Club," putting yourself in a position of fear and pain that will make you feel euphoric for a little, possibly even reaching a sense of enlightenment.

Nighttimers and Daytimers is the gap between people. More or less like Vampires and real people. The lines are drawn to provide more of a racial separation though. On top of all this is a rabies outbreak caused by Rant Casey which attacks the whole world in a violent zombie like stage that makes people go mad. It's a shame Palahniuk didn't concentrate on this part of the book a bit more. He eventually ends the book with a cool twist on time-travel from his perspective, explaining how it is possible to live forever and become stronger by having sex with those who gave birth to you. It's way to complex for me to explain on here, but it's a neat idea for someone to think of. Then the idea of Rant being his own dad was kind of odd. I mean in the beginning of the book he hates his parents and his dad's a dick, so why would he's dad be a dick to himself. I wasn't sure of that, and how could his dad fall for the tricks he did to himself. The gold coins were also interesting, but how he exactly got them was confusing as well. There are so many things left open for the reader to explore once he reads the book.

Palahniuk puts on another terrific showing of his brilliant skills with Rant. In the end I was satisfied with the plot, although the time-travel theory was almost too much, but maybe it was just enough since I love to think of time-travel and somehow he explained the different possibilities and how it work to one's advantage if executed properly. The future always seems bleak, but as Rant put it, "The future you have tomorrow, won't be the same future you had, yesterday." I give this a 4.6 out of 5. I was completely enthralled with this book once I hit the party crashing chapters, then I hit time-travel and it blew my mind. I love how Chuck gives reasons of why things are possible if something per se like time-travel is possible. The best of authors can only convince you of the impossible, and Chuck sure does that. I just wish the ending was a little more clear, and we had some input from Rant on this oral interview besides the few lines he said before he vanished. Plus if he goes back in time again, wouldn't that cause more problems, and would that mean he would be his own grandfather? If anyone could maybe explain there different view on this book, I would like to hear it, I thoroughly enjoyed but I bet I missed a lot or at least looked at things a lot different.

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Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk Review

The story itself is a bit odd, the focus of it is based around journalist Carl Streator who is trying to understand the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He soon finds out it is more than he had actually hoped for. Sooner or later he realizes that he himself has a great power and is not quite sure if he is the only one. A single song that puts people to death after they hear it in the most relaxing way is what he has uncover. It can be said anywhere and affect anyone in the world if they are thought of when the poem is said. As the book starts to unravel more and more people die and he learns that there are others who also know the poem. These others, most of them parents of dead babies, have no clue that they have the power of life and death with in their household. The story starts to get pretty good when he meets up with someone else with the same power, and knows they have it, they start to travel across America eliminating each book they come across.

Throughout the novel there are two people young adults, hippies, who constantly remind Carl of how power is abused and when certain species are introduced to a new area they destroy it and repopulate it benefiting it themselves but harming the environment. This means that we as humans have taking complete control of our surroundings for our own benefit, but have destroyed it for the use of other species around us. This message is flashed on again and again. Then there is the other message of Big Brother throughout the book. If this poem gets into the hands of the wrong people or even the government it would destroy free thought, and everything would have to be handled in a different way with the government filtering out almost everything and controlling our thoughts.

During his journey across America he falls in love with Helen. Helen is in the same shoes as Carl and knows of the power, but craves for more. Her secretary who brought along her boyfriend on the trip, believe in supernatural powers, and are looking for a book that contains spells for almost everything.

Here and there you will encounter a chapter with italics in the book, weird mysteries or sitings of people doing abnormal stuff. They are using the power of this book to alter the thoughts of mankind for the better of the world, so at least they think. The book isn't a bad read, it's just a little to much. From the beginning to the end the thought of a poem that could destroy the life of another is kind of ridiculous, but Chuck as always puts on a great show with facts and history lessons from the past to back up the credibility of some characters throughout the book. The endings is the best part, it's a shame he didn't continue on for another 50-100 pages or so to conclude the books and get the bad guys. It would've made the book a perfect read, instead this fictitious book does get the idea across about Big Brother and how silly things like this could destroy a perfectly modeled society like ours. I give this a 3.7 out of 5. Probably my least favorite Palahniuk book. Although the facts and ideas raised from this book are just as good as any I have read. My favorite part is when Carl thinks that maybe you don't go to hell for what you do, but you go to hell for what you don't do in life.

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk Review

Yes, that is right, I can't get enough of this Chuck guy. I'm really glad I found out about him two months before his anticipated new released of "Rant." I am reading all his past work, and it's pretty damn good. Choke was a story that I definitely should've heard about from somebody years ago. It is twisted, disgusting, revolting, hilarious, and educational. A sandwich with layers you never thought would go together.

It is about a sex addict, whose best friend is also a sex addict, who tries to deal with his ever depressing life by making people think their his hero. Everyday he goes to a different restaurant to choke, almost to death, in order for someone to save him. By doing so, they then fall in love with him and constantly keep in touch while sending money to make sure he is ok. That is just one part of the characters life. He also works at a Colonial Village set in 1734, constantly visits his sick mom, and screws almost anyone.

Palahniuk visits the past of Victor (main character) to construct the reason why he is the way he is. A medical school dropout, ashamed of his mother, and a pathetic loser. Every chapter will turn into four more as you wonder what in the world could possibly happen next. His crazy sexual drive that keeps you turning page after page is topped off with a climax that shakes you in suspense. You will finish Choke only hours after you pick it up for the first time, because you won't be able to put it down. If you want crude, unusual and bizarre behavior, along with some knowledge of the medical world; get this book. 5 out of 5 for Palahniuk and Choke.

Diary by Chuck Palahniuk Reviewed

After reading Haunted, I was hooked on Palahniuk. I already know what to expect, when I go into reading his next book now, after reading Haunted, Diary and watching Fight Club. He is one sick twisted bastard who uses his knowledge of the world, history, and biology to make the Diary come to life. Starting off leaving the reader confused, the Diary gets you attached to it. The plot is twisted even though through-out the whole book he is hinting at what is really going to happen. All the signs, and warnings are everywhere, yet you will be more than dumbfounded when the conclusion takes place. The reading is pretty easy aside from bits of medical jargon describing face muscles during the novel. Palahniuk puts you right there with the main character with his vivid use of words that make the story grab you by the neck and bring you into it. Having a fascination with seashore towns myself, and antipathy for all artist who wallow in their own self-pity, I loved this book. It was a short read for my quick spring break. The events that occur throughout the novel are confusing, but enough to just want to keep reading on. A mystery novel with out any non-sense about detective work. He uses supreme knowledge when explaining certain situations or occurences, especially when it came to where they got certain colors of paint from in order to pain the Sistine Chapel. This novel almost seems real when he goes over and over the fact that most people only truly accomplish something when they suffer. I don't want to give away anymore, go pick up Diary by Palahniuk, 4.5 out of 5. I took .5 off because it is a little far fetched.

Haunted book Review and 2006 Movies

I just finished the book Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk today. I expected so much more after I read the first story, but it's still a pretty decent read thereafter. It's the Canterbury Tales mixed in with Clue. The whole book keeps you attached, even though the main story is kind of goofy. Each side story will keep you wanting to read on and on to see just how twisted and messed up their lives really are. Is it worth the read? This is definitely worth reading. The detailed descriptions of gruesome scenes used by Palahniuk, will make anyone feel sick in the stomach for days. If disturbing and demented is what you want, with a funny spin on things, this is your book. 4 out of 5.
Enticing as Haunted was, I was quick to pick up Diary, another novel by Palahniuk. Just reading the synopsis and knowing that Chuck wrote it, my expectations are high for this one.

My Favorite Movies of 2006

1. Borat
2. Illusionist
3. You, Me, and Dupree
4. Departed
5. Apocalypto
6. Casino Royale
7. Invincible
8. Fearless
9. The Hills Have Eyes
10. Mission Impossible 3

Although I haven't seen

• Letters from Iwo Jima
• Children of Men
• Blood Diamond

Box Office Standings of 2006 Movies

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2. Cars
3. Night at the Museum
4. X-Men: The Last Stand
5. The Da Vinci Code
6. Superman Returns
7. Ice Age: The Meltdown
8. Happy Feet
9. Casino Royale
10. The Pursuit of Happyness

From the sky.....3 days left to 300

Do you love crazy, out of this world pictures that you would never ever expect to see on a normal site, and are actually G-rated. Check this site out for a quick fix of you daily internet craving. Sky Pics

Another thing to keep in mind is that 300 comes out in 3 days...Yes, that is right 3 more days until the much anticpated movie of the year finally gets released worldwide.

Philly fans------- this may be the year.
Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Aaron Rowand, Chris Coste, Shane Victorino, Pat Burrell, Wes Helms, and finally some picthers that could actually do something. First time since I have been a Phillies fan that we got at least 5 starters let alone 6. That means Freddy Garcia, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jon Lieber, Adam Eaton, and Jamie Myers will have to actually compete for a spot on the starters list.

Dates that mean something
Sunday April 29, vs Marlins-------> Phanatic Bobble-Head
May 11-13 Chicago Cubs at Home
Wednesday May 16 vs Brewers----> Ryan Howard MVP Bobble-Head
Sunday June 3, vs Gaints----------> Shane Victorino Hula Figurine
June 11-13 Chicago White Sox at Home
June 15-17 Detriot Tigers at Home
July 13-15 St.Louis Cardinals at Home
Wednesday July 25, vs Nationals---> Cole Hamels Christmas in July Bobble-Head
September 25-27 Atlanta Braves at Home

Here is a cool way to get some ideas on how to shoot roads for those curious, and creative photographers
Roads in Pics

As a personal note I have just picked up a book called Haunted, by Chuck Palahniuk. If you don't know his name you will definitly know his work. He is the author of the book that became a movie, it is a little known movie called "Fight Club." If you wish to check this book out and keep in touch with me on what you think of it, feel free to do so. Go here to purchase it.