By Chuck Palahniuk’s count, 73 people have fainted during his readings, mostly from the disturbing details of his story “Guts.” Needless to say, his writing invites a variety of reactions, from his devoted fan following (a self-proclaimed cult), to critics who dismiss him as nothing more than a “shock jock.”
Chuck Palahniuk's Pygmy
While his 1996 novel Fight Club achieved both critical and commercial success, last year’s Snuff evoked some particularly scathing reviews. In the New York Times, Lucy Ellmann called Snuff “an exercise in deadening the English language” and said that Palahniuk replaced “any real creative effort” with “every bit of porno-talk he [could] muster.” The Los Angeles Times review wasn’t much better. Luckily for Palahniuk’s fans, he took the criticism in stride and went on to write Pygmy, which released May 5th from Doubleday and is being buzzed about as his best work yet.
In Pygmy, Palahniuk drops a terrorist cell of foreign-exchange students into a midwestern town, where they plot the destruction of the United States. A scrawny, 13-year-old narrator, Pygmy, tells the story in broken English, creating a narrative that requires some effort to understand but achieves the humor and shock value Palahniuk is known for. Reviews so far have been positive – it seems Palahniuk’s talent wasn’t Snuff-ed after all.
“Those left cold by last year’s Snuff (2008) will welcome his return to the fine form of Fight Club (1996). Palahniuk leaps over the line of good taste—and lands squarely on his feet.”
Booklist Starred Review
“Perseverance is its own perverse reward in this singular, comic accomplishment.”
Publishers Weekly Review
“Chuck’s novels might have a high ‘eeewwww’ factor, but beneath it, readers find an underlying sweetness and optimism.”
Baltimore Sun Interview
For interviews with the ever entertaining author, check out his official website, The Cult.
*************
Want to know more about us? Check out “What is Books & Authors and Why Should You Care?”
