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Fight Club #0
Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread
Stories you'll never forget—just try—from literature's favorite transgressive author
Representing work that spans several years, Make Something Up is a compilation of 21 stories and one novella (some previously published, some not) that will disturb and delight. The absurdity of both life and death are on full display; in "Zombies," the best and brightest of a high school prep school become tragically addicted to the latest drug craze: electric shocks from cardiac defibrillators. In "Knock, Knock," a son hopes to tell one last off-color joke to a father in his final moments, while in "Tunnel of Love," a massage therapist runs the curious practice of providing 'relief' to dying clients. And in "Expedition," fans will be thrilled to find to see a side of Tyler Durden never seen before in a precursor story to Fight Club.
Funny, caustic, bizarre, poignant; these stories represent everything readers have come to love and expect from Chuck Palahniuk. They have all the impact of a sharp blow to the solar plexus, with considerable collateral damage to the funny bone.
Representing work that spans several years, Make Something Up is a compilation of 21 stories and one novella (some previously published, some not) that will disturb and delight. The absurdity of both life and death are on full display; in "Zombies," the best and brightest of a high school prep school become tragically addicted to the latest drug craze: electric shocks from cardiac defibrillators. In "Knock, Knock," a son hopes to tell one last off-color joke to a father in his final moments, while in "Tunnel of Love," a massage therapist runs the curious practice of providing 'relief' to dying clients. And in "Expedition," fans will be thrilled to find to see a side of Tyler Durden never seen before in a precursor story to Fight Club.
Funny, caustic, bizarre, poignant; these stories represent everything readers have come to love and expect from Chuck Palahniuk. They have all the impact of a sharp blow to the solar plexus, with considerable collateral damage to the funny bone.
318 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2015
1371 people are currently reading
11788 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Palahniuk
258 books131k followersWritten in stolen moments under truck chassis and on park benches to a soundtrack of The Downward Spiral and Pablo Honey, Fight Club came into existence. The adaptation of Fight Club was a flop at the box office, but achieved cult status on DVD. The film’s popularity drove sales of the novel. Chuck put out two novels in 1999, Survivor and Invisible Monsters. Choke, published in 2001, became Chuck’s first New York Times bestseller. Chuck’s work has always been infused with personal experience, and his next novel, Lullaby, was no exception. Chuck credits writing Lullaby with helping him cope with the tragic death of his father. Diary and the non-fiction guide to Portland, Fugitives and Refugees, were released in 2003. While on the road in support of Diary, Chuck began reading a short story entitled 'Guts,' which would eventually become part of the novel Haunted.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,030 reviews
June 6, 2015
I don't know what's up with all of the overly negative reviews for this book. Personally, and I don't know if you give a shit but I don't really expect you to, I've always sided with Kurt Vonnegut when it comes to book reviews: "Any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae."
Just read the damn book. Don't expect every short story to be the best you've ever read. As long as you do that, you'll be pleasantly entertained. Just like I was. These stories are pretty damn good, and they're worth a read if your interest is piqued even slightly.
My favorite stories: "Red Sultan's Big Boy," "Why Aardvark Never Landed," and "Inclinations." I also liked "Phoenix" and "Loser."
What Palahniuk is doing by blending folktale with traditional modern literature is, I think, really interesting. Even if in some cases the folktale style takes away from the story and appears to just be an exercise in technique; in others the technique helps him hit the nail on the head. I also like how all of those stories appear to take place in the same universe (with Llewellyn Foods being the main thread binding them).
I thought that with every new development in "Inclinations" (the one with the gay therapy group), my suspension of disbelief was nudged closer and closer to the edge, but I didn't quite go over, and I think that story's message is more powerful than any in the collection.
Point is: these stories clearly stand out in my head and they were entertaining while I read them. So, yeah, five stars.
Just read the damn book. Don't expect every short story to be the best you've ever read. As long as you do that, you'll be pleasantly entertained. Just like I was. These stories are pretty damn good, and they're worth a read if your interest is piqued even slightly.
My favorite stories: "Red Sultan's Big Boy," "Why Aardvark Never Landed," and "Inclinations." I also liked "Phoenix" and "Loser."
What Palahniuk is doing by blending folktale with traditional modern literature is, I think, really interesting. Even if in some cases the folktale style takes away from the story and appears to just be an exercise in technique; in others the technique helps him hit the nail on the head. I also like how all of those stories appear to take place in the same universe (with Llewellyn Foods being the main thread binding them).
I thought that with every new development in "Inclinations" (the one with the gay therapy group), my suspension of disbelief was nudged closer and closer to the edge, but I didn't quite go over, and I think that story's message is more powerful than any in the collection.
Point is: these stories clearly stand out in my head and they were entertaining while I read them. So, yeah, five stars.
June 8, 2015
Knock Knock - Starts this collection off in true Palahniuk fashion. This tale of a man telling jokes at his dying father's bedside, and reminiscing about their past is full of sentimental pathos - but is also guaranteed to have you cringing in discomfort.
Eleanor - The main point of this piece seems to be how many malapropisms can be shoved into a piece of writing, while retaining its basic comprehensibility. The malapropisms also serve as double-entendres, for example: 'Jehovah's Witless.' Most of the substituted words are actually funnier than that, throwing an added layer of meaning onto the events. However, although clever, I found it ultimately annoying.
How Monkey Got Married, Bought A House, and Found Happiness in Orlando - An African folktale veneer overlies a strange little story of a young woman who goes into marketing. Incidentally, the title is not very representative of the content.
Zombies - Have you ever felt that all your problems might stem from being too smart, and that life would be easier if you were lobotomized? Well, yes, most people would find self-administered lobotomies pretty terrifying and repulsive, and that's what this story of it becoming a fad/epidemic among disaffected teens hinges on.
Loser - Frat boy becomes a contestant on 'The Price is Right' while tripping on acid. Manic, with a dash of irony.
Red Sultan's Big Boy - Wow. It begins as a tale of a well-to-do dad seeking to assuage his young daughter's grief by buying her a horse to replace a beloved pet that recently died. But the dynamics shift, and it becomes something quite different. This is a thoughtful, insightful story - if you can get past the subject matter, which is not for the squeamish.
Romance - A guy who knows he's 'nothing special' meets a gorgeous woman on the way to Lollapalooza, and the next thing you know, is head-over-heels in love. But, given that this is Palahniuk, you kind of know that a disturbing twist is coming... watch for the clues!
Cannibal - Hmm, well, this one succeeds in being disgusting, but I wasn't convinced on a logical level. High school angst about sex is taken to a new level.
Why Coyote Never Had Money for Parking - Back in pseudo-folktale-land, we meet another employee of the food marketing company we found out about in "How Monkey Got Married..." This redneck-ish young man has found himself living in the ghetto, saddled with a wife and baby, his dreams of rockstar-dom gone up in smoke.
Phoenix - A woman away on a business trip worries about being away from her toddler for the first time. Intercut with this are scenes that gradually reveal details of a house fire their family experienced. Nicely paced, with the feel of a thriller.
The Facts of Life - Learning the details of 'how babies are made' might come as a shock to many six-year-olds. But this 'talk' that a father has with his young son is designed to shock even the most jaded reader.
Cold Calling - Hmm. When I was a Teenage Telemarketer, I actually never did encounter anyone who heaped racist abuse upon me.
Nevertheless, this story about several levels of bigotry and false assumptions is thought-provoking, and well-crafted.
The Toad Prince - Yet another gross-out extravaganza; this one taking teenage sex right into the realm of the bizarro.
Smoke - Ever just really, really not been in the mood to make small talk? If so, this story might speak to you.
Torcher - Cynicism and affectionate humor mix in this quirky almost-mystery about a murder at the Burning Man festival.
Liturgy - It's a send-up of life in gated communities, and of homeowners' associations - and it's also gross.
Why Aardvark Never Landed - Sometimes things are funny because they're true. But this faux-folktale is more heartbreakingly sad because it's true. Some people might think it's funny, too... but I couldn't bring myself there. It's about school bullies, and the effect they have on some of their victims.
Fetch - Can it be? A sweet, heartwarming, positive story from Palahniuk? I absolutely loved this tale of a haunted tennis ball. (It's not without its creepy moments.)
Expedition - An homage to the writings of the Marquis de Sade; this story takes the ready into the dark underbelly of the Paris of a bygone era - both figuratively and literally. I really enjoyed this one - the affected writing style might not wholly convince (although it has an amusing explanation) but the themes tackled are quite effectively done.
Mister Elegant - An 'inside' look at life as a traveling male stripper. As you might expect, there are some cringe-worthy moments.
Tunnel of Love - Here, we meet a massage therapist who specializes in something quite different from what we think of as 'happy endings.' Although, one could say that's exactly what he specializes in.
Inclinations - My favorite story in the book. It's disgusting. It's terrifying. It's over-the-top. But it also captures perfectly a certain mentality of teenage-hood, that I don't think I've ever seen depicted quite so clearly. It's where your experience of the world is limited, and reality seems so awful, that it also seems that just about anything is possible. It also shows a certain kind of flawed - but heroic - decision-making process that is sad and yet admirable at the same time... and also, all-too-familiar. It's tragic, and, if you read much about teen 'reform school' programs, much closer to truth than is comfortable.
How A Jew Saved Christmas - Palahniuk writing a heartwarming Christmas story? Yes, it happened! Which is not to say that there aren't some wince-worthy moments along the way, in this story of nasty office politics and a Secret Santa that goes wrong.
Overall, this is the sort of collection that it's hard to give a 'star rating' to. Either you're going to like Palahniuk's style and themes - or you're not. It's definitely not for everyone. But, although I feel that at times the gross-out element veers into the gratuitous, at other times it's effective and appropriate. There's more going on here than just the shock factor.
Eleanor - The main point of this piece seems to be how many malapropisms can be shoved into a piece of writing, while retaining its basic comprehensibility. The malapropisms also serve as double-entendres, for example: 'Jehovah's Witless.' Most of the substituted words are actually funnier than that, throwing an added layer of meaning onto the events. However, although clever, I found it ultimately annoying.
How Monkey Got Married, Bought A House, and Found Happiness in Orlando - An African folktale veneer overlies a strange little story of a young woman who goes into marketing. Incidentally, the title is not very representative of the content.
Zombies - Have you ever felt that all your problems might stem from being too smart, and that life would be easier if you were lobotomized? Well, yes, most people would find self-administered lobotomies pretty terrifying and repulsive, and that's what this story of it becoming a fad/epidemic among disaffected teens hinges on.
Loser - Frat boy becomes a contestant on 'The Price is Right' while tripping on acid. Manic, with a dash of irony.
Red Sultan's Big Boy - Wow. It begins as a tale of a well-to-do dad seeking to assuage his young daughter's grief by buying her a horse to replace a beloved pet that recently died. But the dynamics shift, and it becomes something quite different. This is a thoughtful, insightful story - if you can get past the subject matter, which is not for the squeamish.
Romance - A guy who knows he's 'nothing special' meets a gorgeous woman on the way to Lollapalooza, and the next thing you know, is head-over-heels in love. But, given that this is Palahniuk, you kind of know that a disturbing twist is coming... watch for the clues!
Cannibal - Hmm, well, this one succeeds in being disgusting, but I wasn't convinced on a logical level. High school angst about sex is taken to a new level.
Why Coyote Never Had Money for Parking - Back in pseudo-folktale-land, we meet another employee of the food marketing company we found out about in "How Monkey Got Married..." This redneck-ish young man has found himself living in the ghetto, saddled with a wife and baby, his dreams of rockstar-dom gone up in smoke.
Phoenix - A woman away on a business trip worries about being away from her toddler for the first time. Intercut with this are scenes that gradually reveal details of a house fire their family experienced. Nicely paced, with the feel of a thriller.
The Facts of Life - Learning the details of 'how babies are made' might come as a shock to many six-year-olds. But this 'talk' that a father has with his young son is designed to shock even the most jaded reader.
Cold Calling - Hmm. When I was a Teenage Telemarketer, I actually never did encounter anyone who heaped racist abuse upon me.
Nevertheless, this story about several levels of bigotry and false assumptions is thought-provoking, and well-crafted.
The Toad Prince - Yet another gross-out extravaganza; this one taking teenage sex right into the realm of the bizarro.
Smoke - Ever just really, really not been in the mood to make small talk? If so, this story might speak to you.
Torcher - Cynicism and affectionate humor mix in this quirky almost-mystery about a murder at the Burning Man festival.
Liturgy - It's a send-up of life in gated communities, and of homeowners' associations - and it's also gross.
Why Aardvark Never Landed - Sometimes things are funny because they're true. But this faux-folktale is more heartbreakingly sad because it's true. Some people might think it's funny, too... but I couldn't bring myself there. It's about school bullies, and the effect they have on some of their victims.
Fetch - Can it be? A sweet, heartwarming, positive story from Palahniuk? I absolutely loved this tale of a haunted tennis ball. (It's not without its creepy moments.)
Expedition - An homage to the writings of the Marquis de Sade; this story takes the ready into the dark underbelly of the Paris of a bygone era - both figuratively and literally. I really enjoyed this one - the affected writing style might not wholly convince (although it has an amusing explanation) but the themes tackled are quite effectively done.
Mister Elegant - An 'inside' look at life as a traveling male stripper. As you might expect, there are some cringe-worthy moments.
Tunnel of Love - Here, we meet a massage therapist who specializes in something quite different from what we think of as 'happy endings.' Although, one could say that's exactly what he specializes in.
Inclinations - My favorite story in the book. It's disgusting. It's terrifying. It's over-the-top. But it also captures perfectly a certain mentality of teenage-hood, that I don't think I've ever seen depicted quite so clearly. It's where your experience of the world is limited, and reality seems so awful, that it also seems that just about anything is possible. It also shows a certain kind of flawed - but heroic - decision-making process that is sad and yet admirable at the same time... and also, all-too-familiar. It's tragic, and, if you read much about teen 'reform school' programs, much closer to truth than is comfortable.
How A Jew Saved Christmas - Palahniuk writing a heartwarming Christmas story? Yes, it happened! Which is not to say that there aren't some wince-worthy moments along the way, in this story of nasty office politics and a Secret Santa that goes wrong.
Overall, this is the sort of collection that it's hard to give a 'star rating' to. Either you're going to like Palahniuk's style and themes - or you're not. It's definitely not for everyone. But, although I feel that at times the gross-out element veers into the gratuitous, at other times it's effective and appropriate. There's more going on here than just the shock factor.
March 14, 2015
Best left unread
I liked Haunted, and I thought this might be like that. I'm not sure what this is. It's a bunch of boring stories, which aren't in any way entertaining.
You don't need to "unread" them, you need to never have read them to begin with. Save yourself ... it's too late for me.
I liked Haunted, and I thought this might be like that. I'm not sure what this is. It's a bunch of boring stories, which aren't in any way entertaining.
You don't need to "unread" them, you need to never have read them to begin with. Save yourself ... it's too late for me.
April 16, 2017
It really pains me to give this book such a low rating. I'm a HUGE Palahniuk fan and I've loved every other book by him that I've read. I was expecting to love this as well, I really thought that short stories written by Palahniuk would pack quite a punch. But I was terribly wrong and I wish I could unread these stories and scrub them from my brain. Each and every story literally left me sitting there with a confused/pained expression on my face and thinking what in the actual fuck did I just read? I kept pushing through thinking that there must be at least one decent story out of the bunch but once again I was terribly wrong. I always expect weirdness from Palahniuk but this collection was so far beyond weird that it actually made my brain hurt. These stories were really fucking awful and I highly suggest avoiding this book at all costs, no matter how big of a Palahniuk fan you are.
February 10, 2017
It's been awhile since I've enjoyed a Palahniuk book. Huge fan of his early stuff but I found myself getting more disappointed with every new book he published until I gave up completely. On a whim, I decided to give him another chance, hoping he'd maybe gone back to his roots and was extremely happy to find he has. This is like any other short story collection, some are fantastic, others good, and a few just ok but none of these shorts can be categorized as boring.
Those unfamiliar with Palahniuk's twisted humour may be more disgusted then amused but fans will enjoy these bizarre new creations from a man with a mind like no other. 3.5/5
*Thank you Doubleday and Netgalley for this review copy.
Those unfamiliar with Palahniuk's twisted humour may be more disgusted then amused but fans will enjoy these bizarre new creations from a man with a mind like no other. 3.5/5
*Thank you Doubleday and Netgalley for this review copy.
December 30, 2024
I don’t write reviews.
And I don’t know why so many people hated this collection. It was very punchy, very clever, very Chuck.
I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of being a contestant on The Price is Right, whilst on acid (Loser). The notion of dumbing yourself down to escape the pressure of modern society was quite poignant (Zombies and Why Aardvark Never Landed on the Moon). I think the tale of boys faking homosexuality to be thrown in conversion camp to gain parental praise and gifts was the high water mark of this tome (Inclinations). Honorable mentions for the stories of, a couple who can’t communicate (Phoenix), a man who can’t understand his hot wife (Romance), the horrors of festivals like Burning Man (Torcher) and a game of supernatural telephone (Fetch). Honestly, each story was interesting and entertaining.
I could also see links to his other books. Inclinations felt attached to Adjustment Day somehow. Mister Elegant hit upon an idea explored a bit in the Remix chapters of Invisible Monsters. The Facts of Life, Knock-Knock and Cannibal feel like cousins of stories in Haunted. If anyone can tell me why this is listed as Fight Club 0, I’d love to know. Fight Club was mentioned once as a book and the rule system was hinted at in Expedition, but I don’t see this as a prequel to Fight Club.
Book 15 - The Year of Chuck
And I don’t know why so many people hated this collection. It was very punchy, very clever, very Chuck.
I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of being a contestant on The Price is Right, whilst on acid (Loser). The notion of dumbing yourself down to escape the pressure of modern society was quite poignant (Zombies and Why Aardvark Never Landed on the Moon). I think the tale of boys faking homosexuality to be thrown in conversion camp to gain parental praise and gifts was the high water mark of this tome (Inclinations). Honorable mentions for the stories of, a couple who can’t communicate (Phoenix), a man who can’t understand his hot wife (Romance), the horrors of festivals like Burning Man (Torcher) and a game of supernatural telephone (Fetch). Honestly, each story was interesting and entertaining.
I could also see links to his other books. Inclinations felt attached to Adjustment Day somehow. Mister Elegant hit upon an idea explored a bit in the Remix chapters of Invisible Monsters. The Facts of Life, Knock-Knock and Cannibal feel like cousins of stories in Haunted. If anyone can tell me why this is listed as Fight Club 0, I’d love to know. Fight Club was mentioned once as a book and the rule system was hinted at in Expedition, but I don’t see this as a prequel to Fight Club.
Book 15 - The Year of Chuck
June 3, 2016
Haha! I finished this one year to the day after I bought it!
Every person I tell that, they say "How do you know?" Because I used the purchase receipt as a bookmark, fuckers. Do not question me. I mean, it's pretty fair to question me when it comes to dates, times, and whatnot, but when it comes to not throwing away a receipt out of sheer laziness, I'm unassailable.
It's kind of become tradition for me to write an annual-ish defense of Chuck Palahniuk. I think he's become a very popular author to hate. And by now, he's written enough books that everyone, even hardcore fans, has disliked a couple or found a couple forgettable.
But I'm not feeling in a defensive mood today. And I gotta tell you, if you're reading this, Palahniuk's 18th or 19th book, depending on whether you count the Invisible Monsters remix as two separate works, gimme a fuckin break. You should know what you're getting into, and if you don't like it, who's fault is that, really?
Instead, I just want to talk about what I liked about this book.
I wish this book had come out when I was in my early 20's and trying to learn how to write, because something Palahniuk does that most writers don't, his frames for his stories, his methods, they're all on very naked display in these stories. I think this is what people mean when they critique his prose, that they are used to seeing a drywalled product when they're getting an unfinished basement from Palahniuk in some ways. But I kinda like it. I like seeing where the stories are going a little bit, in terms of the prose, and seeing what he tries to mask the surprises and what he tries out to give the characters different tones. Sometimes his technique works and sometimes it doesn't, but it's always a lesson. Maybe this is part of why I like him too. Because even when I don't get too thrilled about the narrative arc of a story, I feel like I get something out of it. Like I learned something about writing.
When you first start out, it's really fucking hard. You might have an idea for a story, but you don't know if it's a big enough idea for a whole story, or an interesting enough idea. And I think my biggest problem when I started out was that I didn't know the difference between an idea and a story. Let alone how to take something more abstract, like an emotion, and write a story about that emotion.
I wrote a whole book-length work that was just a bunch of ideas, set pieces that came in sequence. I'm sure there was something there, but it wasn't a story.
I wrote a whole book-length work about...I don't know. A whole bunch of different shit. A bunch of feelings I had that I tried to express through writing.
Neither of those pieces worked because I didn't know what the fuck I was doing. I didn't know the role of story.
I can give you an example of what I mean. Here's an excerpt from an article about Palahniuk:
"Despite one of his most cited stories revolving around a swimming pool masturbation mishap in which the protagonist escapes drowning by biting through his own large intestine..."
And that, to me, is a total misread of the story in question, "Guts."
Yes, that happens in the story, but that's not what the story is ABOUT.
Because (hey, I have defensiveness in me after all! Huzzah!) while that event happens in the story, and while it's grotesque, that story isn't ABOUT that. It's a story with urban legends and sex stuff and the shame people feel about sex.
But it's not ABOUT that stuff either.
It's about...damn, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but it's about being human. It's about how being human now means that we still have these old sexual urges somewhere in the lizard brain, and those come into conflict with polite, modern society. It's about that moment when you first disappointed your parents, big time. It's about a stupid, quick decision that changed your whole life course.
What happens in that story, Palahniuk takes feelings and moments from regular lives that everyone can relate to, and he frames them in a grotesque, outrageous story, and those contrasts really work. When you start to see yourself in this character, when you really feel for him in the last pages of that story, you see the great trick that's been pulled on you. You read this transgressive-feeling story that's ultimately about living up to your own potential.
I think Make Something Up has some strong entries and some that are less strong, but I wish I'd read it a long time ago and took some things away from it.
And I'd really recommend this book to people who are learning to turn ideas into stories, and people learning to read like writers. If you're just starting out, and if you're not really sure what it means to "read like a writer," then this is a good book to get you started.
And here's my advice.
Get a notebook. Read the first story, and then fill the first page in your notebook with reactions to the writing. Don't talk about characters, don't talk about the decisions they made. Don't worry about whether or not you "liked" the story or the characters. Write about the language used. Write about how the story is framed. Write about how the words felt to you, not in a good/bad sense, but with words that describe their rhythm, their overall feeling as opposed to quality. Write about what in the story was successful and wasn't. Copy down a sentence that worked for you, and then compose your own sentence using the same structure.
Doing all that will start you reading like a writer. Instead of being swept away by a story, you'll be thinking about what you're going to write down in your notebook, looking for the places the story turns and the way the framing device is touched on throughout the story. Reading becomes like driving a car for a mechanic where the sounds aren't just a hum, they're individual rhythms and bumps and feelings all created by the workings of the car. When you know how a car works, you know what's causing what and why everything's happening, and you don't just hear the collective noise, you hear its individual parts.
And that's really all I have to say. 'Til next year.
Every person I tell that, they say "How do you know?" Because I used the purchase receipt as a bookmark, fuckers. Do not question me. I mean, it's pretty fair to question me when it comes to dates, times, and whatnot, but when it comes to not throwing away a receipt out of sheer laziness, I'm unassailable.
It's kind of become tradition for me to write an annual-ish defense of Chuck Palahniuk. I think he's become a very popular author to hate. And by now, he's written enough books that everyone, even hardcore fans, has disliked a couple or found a couple forgettable.
But I'm not feeling in a defensive mood today. And I gotta tell you, if you're reading this, Palahniuk's 18th or 19th book, depending on whether you count the Invisible Monsters remix as two separate works, gimme a fuckin break. You should know what you're getting into, and if you don't like it, who's fault is that, really?
Instead, I just want to talk about what I liked about this book.
I wish this book had come out when I was in my early 20's and trying to learn how to write, because something Palahniuk does that most writers don't, his frames for his stories, his methods, they're all on very naked display in these stories. I think this is what people mean when they critique his prose, that they are used to seeing a drywalled product when they're getting an unfinished basement from Palahniuk in some ways. But I kinda like it. I like seeing where the stories are going a little bit, in terms of the prose, and seeing what he tries to mask the surprises and what he tries out to give the characters different tones. Sometimes his technique works and sometimes it doesn't, but it's always a lesson. Maybe this is part of why I like him too. Because even when I don't get too thrilled about the narrative arc of a story, I feel like I get something out of it. Like I learned something about writing.
When you first start out, it's really fucking hard. You might have an idea for a story, but you don't know if it's a big enough idea for a whole story, or an interesting enough idea. And I think my biggest problem when I started out was that I didn't know the difference between an idea and a story. Let alone how to take something more abstract, like an emotion, and write a story about that emotion.
I wrote a whole book-length work that was just a bunch of ideas, set pieces that came in sequence. I'm sure there was something there, but it wasn't a story.
I wrote a whole book-length work about...I don't know. A whole bunch of different shit. A bunch of feelings I had that I tried to express through writing.
Neither of those pieces worked because I didn't know what the fuck I was doing. I didn't know the role of story.
I can give you an example of what I mean. Here's an excerpt from an article about Palahniuk:
"Despite one of his most cited stories revolving around a swimming pool masturbation mishap in which the protagonist escapes drowning by biting through his own large intestine..."
And that, to me, is a total misread of the story in question, "Guts."
Yes, that happens in the story, but that's not what the story is ABOUT.
Because (hey, I have defensiveness in me after all! Huzzah!) while that event happens in the story, and while it's grotesque, that story isn't ABOUT that. It's a story with urban legends and sex stuff and the shame people feel about sex.
But it's not ABOUT that stuff either.
It's about...damn, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but it's about being human. It's about how being human now means that we still have these old sexual urges somewhere in the lizard brain, and those come into conflict with polite, modern society. It's about that moment when you first disappointed your parents, big time. It's about a stupid, quick decision that changed your whole life course.
What happens in that story, Palahniuk takes feelings and moments from regular lives that everyone can relate to, and he frames them in a grotesque, outrageous story, and those contrasts really work. When you start to see yourself in this character, when you really feel for him in the last pages of that story, you see the great trick that's been pulled on you. You read this transgressive-feeling story that's ultimately about living up to your own potential.
I think Make Something Up has some strong entries and some that are less strong, but I wish I'd read it a long time ago and took some things away from it.
And I'd really recommend this book to people who are learning to turn ideas into stories, and people learning to read like writers. If you're just starting out, and if you're not really sure what it means to "read like a writer," then this is a good book to get you started.
And here's my advice.
Get a notebook. Read the first story, and then fill the first page in your notebook with reactions to the writing. Don't talk about characters, don't talk about the decisions they made. Don't worry about whether or not you "liked" the story or the characters. Write about the language used. Write about how the story is framed. Write about how the words felt to you, not in a good/bad sense, but with words that describe their rhythm, their overall feeling as opposed to quality. Write about what in the story was successful and wasn't. Copy down a sentence that worked for you, and then compose your own sentence using the same structure.
Doing all that will start you reading like a writer. Instead of being swept away by a story, you'll be thinking about what you're going to write down in your notebook, looking for the places the story turns and the way the framing device is touched on throughout the story. Reading becomes like driving a car for a mechanic where the sounds aren't just a hum, they're individual rhythms and bumps and feelings all created by the workings of the car. When you know how a car works, you know what's causing what and why everything's happening, and you don't just hear the collective noise, you hear its individual parts.
And that's really all I have to say. 'Til next year.
February 7, 2016
“Aim low and you won't be disappointed.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread
Plenty of shock, just not enough Palahniuk awe (3.5★).
This book is filled with two dozen of Chuck Palahniuk's short stories. 'Make Something Up' is clear evidence that Palahniuk is the king of grotesque and a sometimes master of the short story. Sometimes his prose is a bit uneven. A few lazy narrative couple trips but a couple of these stories were nearly perfect gems of disgust.
There were times when he seemed to be channeling a more disturbed version of David Sedaris (see: 3. Monkey, 9. Coyote, 18. Aardvark). Other times he seemed to be walking instep with Neil Gaiman. To me this is a thicker but more disappointing version a George Saunders collection. Still there is no real comparison. These stories could have only been born in Palahniuk's mind. Some of them came out ready to walk. Some limped. Some should probably been quietly aborted.
Just to clear my own ADD:
1. Knock Knock - 3★
2. Eleanor - 3★
3. How Monkey got Married... - 4★
4. Zombies - 4★
5. Loser - 3★
6. Red Sultan's Big Boy - 5★
7. Romance - 5★
8. Cannibal - Meh 3★
9. Why Coyote Never... - 3★
10. Phoenix - 4★
11. The Facts of Life - 2★
12. Cold Calling - 3★
13. The Toad Prince - 3★
14. Smoke - 5★
15. Torcher - 5★
17. Liturgy - 2★
18. Why Aardvark Never... - 4★
19. Fetch - 4★
20. Expedition - 3★
21. Mister Elegant - 4★
22. Tunnel of Love - 4★
23. Inclinations - 4★
24. How a Jew Saved Christmas - 2★
― Chuck Palahniuk, Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread
Plenty of shock, just not enough Palahniuk awe (3.5★).
This book is filled with two dozen of Chuck Palahniuk's short stories. 'Make Something Up' is clear evidence that Palahniuk is the king of grotesque and a sometimes master of the short story. Sometimes his prose is a bit uneven. A few lazy narrative couple trips but a couple of these stories were nearly perfect gems of disgust.
There were times when he seemed to be channeling a more disturbed version of David Sedaris (see: 3. Monkey, 9. Coyote, 18. Aardvark). Other times he seemed to be walking instep with Neil Gaiman. To me this is a thicker but more disappointing version a George Saunders collection. Still there is no real comparison. These stories could have only been born in Palahniuk's mind. Some of them came out ready to walk. Some limped. Some should probably been quietly aborted.
Just to clear my own ADD:
1. Knock Knock - 3★
2. Eleanor - 3★
3. How Monkey got Married... - 4★
4. Zombies - 4★
5. Loser - 3★
6. Red Sultan's Big Boy - 5★
7. Romance - 5★
8. Cannibal - Meh 3★
9. Why Coyote Never... - 3★
10. Phoenix - 4★
11. The Facts of Life - 2★
12. Cold Calling - 3★
13. The Toad Prince - 3★
14. Smoke - 5★
15. Torcher - 5★
17. Liturgy - 2★
18. Why Aardvark Never... - 4★
19. Fetch - 4★
20. Expedition - 3★
21. Mister Elegant - 4★
22. Tunnel of Love - 4★
23. Inclinations - 4★
24. How a Jew Saved Christmas - 2★
April 4, 2017
I attempted to read this but this is the first time I'm marking something I "Did Not Finish." This tries way too hard to be edgy and was just downright offensive. There are a slew of racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic remarks. There's rape jokes and just derogatory comments about women in general. Please don't try to tell me I "just don't get the joke". I do and it's not funny at all.
I was actually a fan of his before this but after this mess, I really don't know.
I was actually a fan of his before this but after this mess, I really don't know.
March 12, 2015
Why do I always think I will enjoy Palahniuk's books? And then I don't. Boo.
September 22, 2024
«La prima regola del Fail Club, è che non si parla del Fail Club.»
Come sempre Chuckino mio tratta tematiche importanti, temi forti, ma con quella psicologia contorta che se non sei nella sua testa fai fatica a capire.
Certo, non è che se in un libro ci metti parolacce, fluidi corporei ed animali allora sei un figo.
Gli ingredienti devi anche saperli mescolare bene e Palahniuk deve aver fatto un corso di CULIinARIA.
Ovviamente come succede sempre nelle antologie c'è il racconto che ti entra dentro e quello che ti scivola via, ma sta tutto a dove ti sei messo la vasellina.
Non il migliore certo, perché se avessi letto questo libro per primo, forse il mio amore per lui non sarebbe così profondo.
Ma Ciononostantedimeno una Chucklettura che insegna anche cose....voi lo sapevate cos'è il pearling? Ecco io no ed ora sono più acculturata 😂😂
Come sempre Chuckino mio tratta tematiche importanti, temi forti, ma con quella psicologia contorta che se non sei nella sua testa fai fatica a capire.
Certo, non è che se in un libro ci metti parolacce, fluidi corporei ed animali allora sei un figo.
Gli ingredienti devi anche saperli mescolare bene e Palahniuk deve aver fatto un corso di CULIinARIA.
Ovviamente come succede sempre nelle antologie c'è il racconto che ti entra dentro e quello che ti scivola via, ma sta tutto a dove ti sei messo la vasellina.
Non il migliore certo, perché se avessi letto questo libro per primo, forse il mio amore per lui non sarebbe così profondo.
Ma Ciononostantedimeno una Chucklettura che insegna anche cose....voi lo sapevate cos'è il pearling? Ecco io no ed ora sono più acculturata 😂😂
March 2, 2015
The book did kind of leave me conflicted. I really liked some of the storied, but felt like others didn't really capture the kind of writing style that I'm so used to from this author. I feel like he really excels at novel-writing, but when it comes to short stories, it's kind of a hit or miss. I really liked "Zombies", "Knock Knock", "Phoenix" and "Cold Calling", and many others I enjoyed too. Some were just full-on strange, and not in a good literary way. I can tell he worked harder on some than he did on others. But, that didn't bother me as much. What DID was that on the description on the back was promised a short story about Tyler Durden from Fight Club, yet IT WAS NOT IN HERE. It might just be the vine copy, but WHAT ON EARTH I WAS SO EXCITED FOR THAT. I hope the final copy includes that because what a disappointment to not include that in there! Aside from that monstrosity, I'd say many of the stories were pretty entertaining -weird- but still good, although what was up with a lot of characters named after animals? Little odd. But I still liked it, I feel like people who haven't read any of Chuck Palahniuk's books might really dislike it, but if you know what to expect, it won't be as much of a shock. I didn't dislike it enough to give it 3 stars, but didn't like it enough to give it 4 stars, so I think the rating should be somewhere between these 2 numbers.
February 24, 2018
Ο Τσακ Πόλανικ είναι ένας από τους αγαπημένους μου συγγραφείς, αν και δεν έχω διαβάσει όσα βιβλία του θα ήθελα, γιατί πολλά δεν έχουν μεταφραστεί ακόμα. Αυτό είναι το έκτο του που διαβάζω και δηλώνω για ακόμη μια φορά ξετρελαμένος από τον κυνισμό, το αλλόκοτο χιούμορ, την τρέλα και την παράνοια που χαρακτηρίζουν ως επί το πλείστον τα μυθιστορήματα και τα διηγήματα που έχει σκαρφιστεί ο συγκεκριμένος τύπος. Τα πέντε προηγούμενα βιβλία του ήταν μυθιστορήματα, οπότε αυτή είναι και η πρώτη συλλογή διηγημάτων του που διαβάζω. Και, τολμώ να πω, ότι και στη μικρή φόρμα ο τρελάρας δεν τα πάει καθόλου άσχημα!
Η συλλογή αυτή περιέχει είκοσι και πλέον διηγήματα, αλλά μικρότερα και άλλα μεγαλύτερα, το ένα πιο τρελό και παρανοϊκό από το άλλο. Εδώ θα γνωρίσετε μαϊμούδες που διαπρέπουν (ή τουλάχιστον προσπαθούν να διαπρέψουν) στο χώρο του μάρκετινγκ, φλαμίνγκο που κάνουν πεζοδρόμιο, στρίπερς με ειδικές ανάγκες, έναν χοντρό που βρίσκει τον έρωτα στο πρόσωπο μιας πανέμορφης αλλά καθυστερημένης γκόμενας, εφήβους που ξεφεύγουν από τα προβλήματα της καθημερινότητας "καίγοντας" τον εγκέφαλο τους με καρδιακούς απινιδωτές, καθημερινούς τύπους που μεταμορφώνονται σε φρικιά για λίγες εβδομάδες στα πλαίσια μιας διοργάνωσης αλά Φεστιβάλ του Φλεγόμενου Ανθρώπου στην έρημο της Νεβάδα, και ο Θεός βοηθός. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι δύσκολα θα βρείτε έστω και έναν φυσιολογικό τύπο σ'αυτά τα διηγήματα.
Όπως και η κουτσή Μαρία το γνωρίζει, ο Τσακ Πόλανικ δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα. Ή θα τον αγαπήσεις ή θα τον μισήσεις. Σπάνια υπάρχει μέση κατάσταση. Γενικά, ο Πόλανικ είναι ένας συγγραφέας που γουστάρει να προκαλεί, να ανάβει τα αίματα, να βγάζει τους αναγνώστες έξω από τα ρούχα τους, να θίγει διάφορα σημαντικά ζητήματα της ανθρώπινης κοινωνίας με εξεζητημένους τρόπους, να φέρνει στην επιφάνεια ενοχλητικά θέματα που οι περισσότεροι έχουμε αναρωτηθεί αλλά ντρεπόμαστε γι'αυτό, και πάει λέγοντας. Και όλα αυτά τα κάνει με μια κατάμαυρη και συχνά πυκνά αλλόκοτη αίσθηση του χιούμορ, με έντονο κυνισμό, με πλήρη αδιαφορία για την πολιτική ορθότητα. Και, φυσικά, ξεφεύγοντας πέρα για πέρα από τα όρια της λογικής.
Όπως κάθε βιβλίο του ιδιαίτερου αυτού συγγραφέα, έτσι και αυτό δεν είναι καθόλου συνηθισμένο. Αν θέλετε να διαβάσετε διηγήματα με αρχή, μέση και τέλος, με συνηθισμένη φόρμα και κλασικά αφηγηματικά μοτίβα, καλύτερα να διαβάσετε κάποια άλλη συλλογή διηγημάτων, ενός άλλου συγγραφέα. Ο Πόλανικ εδώ κάνει στην άκρη την λογική και παρουσιάζει κάποιους τρελούς χαρακτήρες, μπόλικες ακραίες καταστάσεις και πολλές κουλές ιδέες. Φυσικά, σαν συλλογή έχει τα προβλήματά της, και το λέω εγώ που λατρεύω το συγγραφικό ύφος και στιλ του Πόλανικ. Όμως, σε γενικές γραμμές, πρόκειται για μια συλλογή διηγημάτων που πραγματικά απόλαυσα. Τέλο�� πάντων, έστω και για λίγες ώρες, ξέφυγα από τα συνηθισμένα. Όμως προειδοποιώ: Πιθανότατα δεν είναι η ιδανική επιλογή για πρώτη γνωριμία με τον συγγραφέα.
Υ.Γ. Άψογη η έκδοση του Αίολου, με εξαιρετική μετάφραση και τρομερό εξώφυλλο.
Η συλλογή αυτή περιέχει είκοσι και πλέον διηγήματα, αλλά μικρότερα και άλλα μεγαλύτερα, το ένα πιο τρελό και παρανοϊκό από το άλλο. Εδώ θα γνωρίσετε μαϊμούδες που διαπρέπουν (ή τουλάχιστον προσπαθούν να διαπρέψουν) στο χώρο του μάρκετινγκ, φλαμίνγκο που κάνουν πεζοδρόμιο, στρίπερς με ειδικές ανάγκες, έναν χοντρό που βρίσκει τον έρωτα στο πρόσωπο μιας πανέμορφης αλλά καθυστερημένης γκόμενας, εφήβους που ξεφεύγουν από τα προβλήματα της καθημερινότητας "καίγοντας" τον εγκέφαλο τους με καρδιακούς απινιδωτές, καθημερινούς τύπους που μεταμορφώνονται σε φρικιά για λίγες εβδομάδες στα πλαίσια μιας διοργάνωσης αλά Φεστιβάλ του Φλεγόμενου Ανθρώπου στην έρημο της Νεβάδα, και ο Θεός βοηθός. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι δύσκολα θα βρείτε έστω και έναν φυσιολογικό τύπο σ'αυτά τα διηγήματα.
Όπως και η κουτσή Μαρία το γνωρίζει, ο Τσακ Πόλανικ δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα. Ή θα τον αγαπήσεις ή θα τον μισήσεις. Σπάνια υπάρχει μέση κατάσταση. Γενικά, ο Πόλανικ είναι ένας συγγραφέας που γουστάρει να προκαλεί, να ανάβει τα αίματα, να βγάζει τους αναγνώστες έξω από τα ρούχα τους, να θίγει διάφορα σημαντικά ζητήματα της ανθρώπινης κοινωνίας με εξεζητημένους τρόπους, να φέρνει στην επιφάνεια ενοχλητικά θέματα που οι περισσότεροι έχουμε αναρωτηθεί αλλά ντρεπόμαστε γι'αυτό, και πάει λέγοντας. Και όλα αυτά τα κάνει με μια κατάμαυρη και συχνά πυκνά αλλόκοτη αίσθηση του χιούμορ, με έντονο κυνισμό, με πλήρη αδιαφορία για την πολιτική ορθότητα. Και, φυσικά, ξεφεύγοντας πέρα για πέρα από τα όρια της λογικής.
Όπως κάθε βιβλίο του ιδιαίτερου αυτού συγγραφέα, έτσι και αυτό δεν είναι καθόλου συνηθισμένο. Αν θέλετε να διαβάσετε διηγήματα με αρχή, μέση και τέλος, με συνηθισμένη φόρμα και κλασικά αφηγηματικά μοτίβα, καλύτερα να διαβάσετε κάποια άλλη συλλογή διηγημάτων, ενός άλλου συγγραφέα. Ο Πόλανικ εδώ κάνει στην άκρη την λογική και παρουσιάζει κάποιους τρελούς χαρακτήρες, μπόλικες ακραίες καταστάσεις και πολλές κουλές ιδέες. Φυσικά, σαν συλλογή έχει τα προβλήματά της, και το λέω εγώ που λατρεύω το συγγραφικό ύφος και στιλ του Πόλανικ. Όμως, σε γενικές γραμμές, πρόκειται για μια συλλογή διηγημάτων που πραγματικά απόλαυσα. Τέλο�� πάντων, έστω και για λίγες ώρες, ξέφυγα από τα συνηθισμένα. Όμως προειδοποιώ: Πιθανότατα δεν είναι η ιδανική επιλογή για πρώτη γνωριμία με τον συγγραφέα.
Υ.Γ. Άψογη η έκδοση του Αίολου, με εξαιρετική μετάφραση και τρομερό εξώφυλλο.
March 23, 2015
Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread
by Chuck Palahniuk
Finally receiving a degree in communications, Monkey takes her newly written resume to Llewellyn Food Product Marketers, Inc. Now employed she finds herself standing behind a folding table located in grocery and department stores offering food samples for shopping consumers. Blessed with nonstop charm and a pleasant smile, Monkey was an instant success. However when the company is faced with the test of selling a problematic kind of cheese that has the fragrance of feces and burning hair with a touch of salmonella, an unforgettable cast of characters appear. All watch in tense drama as Coyote throws down his gauntlet in an ultimate challenge for promotion.
This and many others make up a collection of short stories full of wit and humor written by none other than Chuck Palahniuk himself. Chuck has a peculiar way of exposing the reader to awkward situations that is guaranteed to stir an inner emotion or two. From an overfed cat that is the center of a inconceivable insurance scam, to a father taking full advantage of a teachable moment for his young son to learn the twisted truth about the facts of life. It's all here. All the out of the ordinary bases are covered in this book of the bizarre.
Labeled as Transgressional Fiction, Palahniuk often creates characters that have been marginalized in one way or another by society, then reacts with self destructive aggressiveness. Embellishing in the fact 'truth is stranger than fiction', Palahniuk has accomplished a strong cult following by infusing personal experience with enjoyable exploits. Due to his early success with the novel Fight Club, Chuck has been allowed free reign and creativity for future projects. Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread brings his uncommon style of originality to the page in small portions of controlled insanity.
May 12, 2017
I’m a huge fan of short story collections. They are perfect for a busy and hectic schedule. You can read one or more at a time, depending on how long your reality break is and you don’t have to worry about getting caught in the middle of a “can’t put this book down” moment. I also like the fact that a well-written one has a concentrated punch that leaves you pondering it for days. A great collection will offer you a sampling of the author’s thoughts across their spectrum of moods, just a taste of what is to come if you follow them back to their lair. A bad collection leaves you feeling like you got the dregs of their morning coffee, not fit for consumption but since their lips touched it somebody felt it was worth a quick buck.
Where does this read fall? I would put it in the middle.
It wasn’t the worst collection I have ever picked up but it certainly wasn’t the best. If I didn’t already know and love this author I would have probably rated it lower. As a new reader I might have considered not reading anything further from him but as an established reader I am in it for the long haul. I was also more tolerant because I just got off a crap read and needed something familiar to wash that horrible taste out of my mouth, a comfort read.
I don’t really feel like going more into it than that because I don’t feel like I should give it more than what it gave me.
Where does this read fall? I would put it in the middle.
It wasn’t the worst collection I have ever picked up but it certainly wasn’t the best. If I didn’t already know and love this author I would have probably rated it lower. As a new reader I might have considered not reading anything further from him but as an established reader I am in it for the long haul. I was also more tolerant because I just got off a crap read and needed something familiar to wash that horrible taste out of my mouth, a comfort read.
I don’t really feel like going more into it than that because I don’t feel like I should give it more than what it gave me.
June 20, 2020
Una raccolta di racconti abbastanza strana, e difficile da valutare.
E' comune che in testi di questo tipo ci siano racconti che piacciono di più e altri più dimenticabili, ma qui si passa da un inizio imbarazzante, con racconti talmente insensati da far pensare seriamente di lasciar perdere la lettura del libro, a un filotto verso la fine in cui inanelliamo buonissimi racconti, del tipo che si spera di leggere da questo autore: tematiche importanti affrontate nello stile inconfondibile di Chuck quando è in forma, piene di eccessi, di assurdo e di psicologia incasinata.
Il problema sono i tanti racconti in cui l'assurdo e il nonsense hanno prevalso sulla critica, sul piacere della lettura e sulla storia stessa.
Per quanto mi riguarda il libro si è salvato giusto per un pelo e solo grazie alla parte finale, dove su 9 racconti 6 sono di ottima fattura, 1 buono e solo 2 mi hanno lasciato perplesso.
E' comune che in testi di questo tipo ci siano racconti che piacciono di più e altri più dimenticabili, ma qui si passa da un inizio imbarazzante, con racconti talmente insensati da far pensare seriamente di lasciar perdere la lettura del libro, a un filotto verso la fine in cui inanelliamo buonissimi racconti, del tipo che si spera di leggere da questo autore: tematiche importanti affrontate nello stile inconfondibile di Chuck quando è in forma, piene di eccessi, di assurdo e di psicologia incasinata.
Il problema sono i tanti racconti in cui l'assurdo e il nonsense hanno prevalso sulla critica, sul piacere della lettura e sulla storia stessa.
Per quanto mi riguarda il libro si è salvato giusto per un pelo e solo grazie alla parte finale, dove su 9 racconti 6 sono di ottima fattura, 1 buono e solo 2 mi hanno lasciato perplesso.
October 29, 2015
How sad. I was very excited to start this book, because in high school I loved Palahniuk. But.. Perhaps my tastes have matured. I read the first story, thought it was okay but disturbing (which is what I expected actually,) but couldn't even get through the 2nd 2 stories. It was then I gave up.
There are too many books to be read to force myself to read one I'm not enjoying.
There are too many books to be read to force myself to read one I'm not enjoying.
March 31, 2019
A collection of sick, vulgar and skilfully written short and repulsive stories. Highly recommended! 🙈
June 8, 2015
Palahniuk asserts himself as a modern-day O. Henry geared towards the present-day thirst for satisfyingly shocking stories of Schadenfreude (building blocks: horror, humor, and humiliation) in this collection.
Of note, "Cannibal", a gutsier "Guts", which actually churned my stomach; "Torcher", wherein the reader - and the world - is introduced to an all-new pulp sub-genre, the Burning Man Noir (think Inherent Vice with more mud, music, mutants and mayhem), and the surprisingly touching "How a Jew Saved Christmas".
Of note, "Cannibal", a gutsier "Guts", which actually churned my stomach; "Torcher", wherein the reader - and the world - is introduced to an all-new pulp sub-genre, the Burning Man Noir (think Inherent Vice with more mud, music, mutants and mayhem), and the surprisingly touching "How a Jew Saved Christmas".
May 5, 2016
"Santa's sure you choked down bigger meat than this!"
Chuck Palahniuk finally came out of the closet.... I bought this book awhile ago and put it in my tbr closet and I forgot all about this gem until I went digging into the dark pit known as the book closet. As it sat there gleaming like the holy grail, I reached down.. eyes wide and held it close my to chest... like my precious.
"It's like in death, we all get a glamour shots makeover."
For awhile Ive been trying to track down all the magazines with his short stories in them. My husband said... why doesn't he just publish a book with all of them in it? And then here it was, like an answer to his Palahniuk prayers!!!
If you love Chuck, you've probably already read most of these. It reminds you why you live and breathe Chuck. His stories mess with your mind and it feels like your in a escape room that you don't want to leave. This contains some of my favorite short stories of all time. Sometimes you just need a good sock to the face. Thank you, Tyler!
"Watch me pull a rabbit out of my pants. And he sprayed hot baby gravy all over a bookcase full of nothing except a hundred of to kill a mockingbirds."
Chuck Palahniuk finally came out of the closet.... I bought this book awhile ago and put it in my tbr closet and I forgot all about this gem until I went digging into the dark pit known as the book closet. As it sat there gleaming like the holy grail, I reached down.. eyes wide and held it close my to chest... like my precious.
"It's like in death, we all get a glamour shots makeover."
For awhile Ive been trying to track down all the magazines with his short stories in them. My husband said... why doesn't he just publish a book with all of them in it? And then here it was, like an answer to his Palahniuk prayers!!!
If you love Chuck, you've probably already read most of these. It reminds you why you live and breathe Chuck. His stories mess with your mind and it feels like your in a escape room that you don't want to leave. This contains some of my favorite short stories of all time. Sometimes you just need a good sock to the face. Thank you, Tyler!
"Watch me pull a rabbit out of my pants. And he sprayed hot baby gravy all over a bookcase full of nothing except a hundred of to kill a mockingbirds."
May 18, 2019
Many of these stories seem to be intended to be shocking. Maybe I'm just jaded, but none were shocking or titillating to me. But some were interesting.
This is my first experience with the author, apart from the movie adaptation of Fight Club. It wasn't what I expected based on that film. The stories are similar to what is called "Bizarro Fiction", though at least one, Expedition, is more like the New Weird Horror of Thomas Ligotti.
My favorite stories were the three that were in the style of Native American stories about Coyote, Raven, and other animals, such as "Why Coyote Never Had Money for Parking". Cultural appropriation, perhaps, but he made it into his own thing and they were fun.
At least two stories make winking references to Fight Club.
This is my first experience with the author, apart from the movie adaptation of Fight Club. It wasn't what I expected based on that film. The stories are similar to what is called "Bizarro Fiction", though at least one, Expedition, is more like the New Weird Horror of Thomas Ligotti.
My favorite stories were the three that were in the style of Native American stories about Coyote, Raven, and other animals, such as "Why Coyote Never Had Money for Parking". Cultural appropriation, perhaps, but he made it into his own thing and they were fun.
At least two stories make winking references to Fight Club.
'Prithee pay heed, the first-most rule regarding the monster is thee must nevermore speak of meeting the monster.'
The stranger continued to speak thusly in the stilted, archaic parlance of his forebearers a century ere. 'The second-most rule regarding the monster is thee must nevermore speak of meeting the monster.'
June 7, 2015
I remember the good old days of being in high school and thinking that Palahniuk was a world-star writer. I gave up on him after his dreadful attempt to be Chaucer with "Haunted." When I saw this book available at the library, I figured, "What the hell? It can't be that bad."
But I was wrong. It physically hurt my eyes to read this nonsense. I do not understand the cult following behind him. Sure, it is "edgy," but doesn't it need to be well-written too? If all you're doing is being shocking, then get a reality TV show. This was my final attempt at reading anymore of his books.
But I was wrong. It physically hurt my eyes to read this nonsense. I do not understand the cult following behind him. Sure, it is "edgy," but doesn't it need to be well-written too? If all you're doing is being shocking, then get a reality TV show. This was my final attempt at reading anymore of his books.
June 10, 2020
اصلاً نتونستم با این کتاب ارتباط برقرار کنم، بعضی جاها فقط از روی خطوط میپریدم. بین داستانها، داستان
Cold Calling
رو بیشتر از بقیه پسندیدم. تماس سرد به روشی در بازاریابی تلفنی میگویند و در مقابل، اصطلاح تماس گرم را نیز داریم، با این حال اگر کسی با اصطلاحات بازاریابی آشنا نباشد ممکن است خیلی از عنوان کتاب سردرنیاورد
در یکی از داستانها
silent treatment
به صورت «سکوتدرمانی» ترجمه شده در حالی که معنای درست آن قهر و کممحلی است
در داستان آخر هم برای کلمهی
Jew
برخی جاها کلمهی کلیمی و برخی جاها هم کلمهی یهودی به کار رفته و متن، یکسان نیست
ترجمه درکل بسیار بد بود
Cold Calling
رو بیشتر از بقیه پسندیدم. تماس سرد به روشی در بازاریابی تلفنی میگویند و در مقابل، اصطلاح تماس گرم را نیز داریم، با این حال اگر کسی با اصطلاحات بازاریابی آشنا نباشد ممکن است خیلی از عنوان کتاب سردرنیاورد
در یکی از داستانها
silent treatment
به صورت «سکوتدرمانی» ترجمه شده در حالی که معنای درست آن قهر و کممحلی است
در داستان آخر هم برای کلمهی
Jew
برخی جاها کلمهی کلیمی و برخی جاها هم کلمهی یهودی به کار رفته و متن، یکسان نیست
ترجمه درکل بسیار بد بود
August 24, 2017
Disclaimer: A free copy was received through the Goodreads First Reads program.
A collection of transgressive short stories written by Palahniuk over the course of a decade, including some previously published pieces.
It’s hard to start with this book, it’s story are mostly held up on cheap shock and gross-out tactics while relying on attempts to add surprising twists at the ending. At least one story is written in a faked dialect nearly impossible to read and only one or two stand out as actually having a good premise and decent execution. I certainly can’t unread these stories but it’s not because they were good.
I can remember every gross-out gimmick, but none of the characters names. I can remember that Palahniuk uses the word “anymore” in strange places and seems to be a little preoccupied with foreskin. Full of twisted views on love, marriage and women, it’s a mess. It was not entirely unenjoyable, but it’s clear Palahniuk valued cheap gimmicks above any characterization or plot.
This book seeks to offend and disgust it’s readers and to that end I imagine it will be very successful. Otherwise it’s just not very good.
A collection of transgressive short stories written by Palahniuk over the course of a decade, including some previously published pieces.
It’s hard to start with this book, it’s story are mostly held up on cheap shock and gross-out tactics while relying on attempts to add surprising twists at the ending. At least one story is written in a faked dialect nearly impossible to read and only one or two stand out as actually having a good premise and decent execution. I certainly can’t unread these stories but it’s not because they were good.
I can remember every gross-out gimmick, but none of the characters names. I can remember that Palahniuk uses the word “anymore” in strange places and seems to be a little preoccupied with foreskin. Full of twisted views on love, marriage and women, it’s a mess. It was not entirely unenjoyable, but it’s clear Palahniuk valued cheap gimmicks above any characterization or plot.
This book seeks to offend and disgust it’s readers and to that end I imagine it will be very successful. Otherwise it’s just not very good.
June 17, 2015
http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/coll...
When viewed from the outside, it’s rather remarkable that someone like Chuck Palahniuk could become such an iconic figure in popular literature. In a literary world filled with writers who are content to play it safe with their talents, Palahniuk has never been afraid to let his freak flag fly, telling stories of outsiders and generally delighting in his role as a subversive voice.
There are those who would still call Palahniuk a “cult novelist” – likely looking down their nose while they said it – but there’s no denying his place as a prominent person in the realm of American letters.
His latest offering - “Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread” - is a bit of a departure for Palahniuk; while he has made his bones as a novelist (with over a dozen to his name thus far), this latest book is his first collection of short fiction. But make no mistake – this compilation of work (21 stories, one novella) is instantly recognizable as fully endowed with his lunatic spirit.
Just about every piece in this collection is noteworthy in some way. However, there are a few that make their presence felt a bit more strongly than the rest.
In “Zombies,” we learn that the latest craze among the best and brightest youth is using cardiac defibrillators to zap away the world’s expectations of them. “The Facts of Life” – a tale of a father giving his son “the talk” - is an O. Henry story on acid. “Torcher” follows the man who enforces the rules at an anarchic Burning Man-esque festival. There’s even a story – “Expedition” – that shows us a never-before-seen side of Tyler Durden. And as for “Cannibal,” well … you’ll need to just read that one for yourself.
These stories are filled with sex and drugs and life and death, all intermingled to an extent that sometimes makes it impossible to separate one from the other. There are stories about the unexpected side effects of soul-sucking jobs and tales of inexplicable acts of depravity. Often, passion and perversion are one and the same.
Palahniuk’s greatest weapon as a writer is his distinct and unmistakable voice – a weapon he wields with abandon throughout this collection. Even in the book’s lesser lights, the muscular prose and twisted personalities shine brightly. His unique talent for blending the banal and the absurd into something that simultaneously transcends and embraces both notions is on full display. Simply put, he’s the only one who can do what he does.
And it should be noted that the leanness inherent to short fiction suits him; there are ideas here that are as brilliantly blasphemous as any he’s ever built in a novel, yet might not warrant the full-length treatment. A forum like this allows those brief glimpses at the unpleasant underside of consciousness to breathe free as self-contained entities. Their power is not diminished by their brevity; if anything, their impact is enhanced.
And you will be haunted by some of what is contained within these pages. The pathways Palahniuk opens are not easily closed; the vivid viscerality of the narratives and images that are presented is powerful and affecting to a degree not often found in literature.
(As a personal aside, don’t make the same mistake that I did and read this before going to sleep. My dreams that night were the stuff of nightmarish legend – consider yourselves warned.)
One might consider the extremes to which these stories go to be excessive, but their extremity and excess is a major key to what Palahniuk is doing. These are not words written for the faint of heart or weak of spirit – even if their subjects are often both. If nothing else, understand this: when reading “Make Something Up,” you will feel. You may not feel good, you may not feel happy … but you will unquestionably feel something - an impressive achievement by any literary standard.
When viewed from the outside, it’s rather remarkable that someone like Chuck Palahniuk could become such an iconic figure in popular literature. In a literary world filled with writers who are content to play it safe with their talents, Palahniuk has never been afraid to let his freak flag fly, telling stories of outsiders and generally delighting in his role as a subversive voice.
There are those who would still call Palahniuk a “cult novelist” – likely looking down their nose while they said it – but there’s no denying his place as a prominent person in the realm of American letters.
His latest offering - “Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread” - is a bit of a departure for Palahniuk; while he has made his bones as a novelist (with over a dozen to his name thus far), this latest book is his first collection of short fiction. But make no mistake – this compilation of work (21 stories, one novella) is instantly recognizable as fully endowed with his lunatic spirit.
Just about every piece in this collection is noteworthy in some way. However, there are a few that make their presence felt a bit more strongly than the rest.
In “Zombies,” we learn that the latest craze among the best and brightest youth is using cardiac defibrillators to zap away the world’s expectations of them. “The Facts of Life” – a tale of a father giving his son “the talk” - is an O. Henry story on acid. “Torcher” follows the man who enforces the rules at an anarchic Burning Man-esque festival. There’s even a story – “Expedition” – that shows us a never-before-seen side of Tyler Durden. And as for “Cannibal,” well … you’ll need to just read that one for yourself.
These stories are filled with sex and drugs and life and death, all intermingled to an extent that sometimes makes it impossible to separate one from the other. There are stories about the unexpected side effects of soul-sucking jobs and tales of inexplicable acts of depravity. Often, passion and perversion are one and the same.
Palahniuk’s greatest weapon as a writer is his distinct and unmistakable voice – a weapon he wields with abandon throughout this collection. Even in the book’s lesser lights, the muscular prose and twisted personalities shine brightly. His unique talent for blending the banal and the absurd into something that simultaneously transcends and embraces both notions is on full display. Simply put, he’s the only one who can do what he does.
And it should be noted that the leanness inherent to short fiction suits him; there are ideas here that are as brilliantly blasphemous as any he’s ever built in a novel, yet might not warrant the full-length treatment. A forum like this allows those brief glimpses at the unpleasant underside of consciousness to breathe free as self-contained entities. Their power is not diminished by their brevity; if anything, their impact is enhanced.
And you will be haunted by some of what is contained within these pages. The pathways Palahniuk opens are not easily closed; the vivid viscerality of the narratives and images that are presented is powerful and affecting to a degree not often found in literature.
(As a personal aside, don’t make the same mistake that I did and read this before going to sleep. My dreams that night were the stuff of nightmarish legend – consider yourselves warned.)
One might consider the extremes to which these stories go to be excessive, but their extremity and excess is a major key to what Palahniuk is doing. These are not words written for the faint of heart or weak of spirit – even if their subjects are often both. If nothing else, understand this: when reading “Make Something Up,” you will feel. You may not feel good, you may not feel happy … but you will unquestionably feel something - an impressive achievement by any literary standard.
May 22, 2015
www.shelfnotes.com review
Dear Reader,
Yes! Chuck is back. This story collection renewed my love for his storytelling capabilities. I don't know why but his past few books haven't been connecting well with me. There was a moment there that I wanted to chuck this against the wall (breaking my paperwhite) just because he starts off with some pretty terrible stories. Thankfully, as you trudge along, the light gets brighter and brighter. I don't know how else to do this but break down my thoughts in order by story. This should be in order but won't contain my thoughts on EVERY story - more of a progression of how I felt.
Knock-Knock - Not a strong story, this paved the way for my unhappiness on a huge level, I started thinking I would have to quit Palahniuk for good.
Huge skip of stories here because I was so frustrated and annoyed with them.
Eleanor - This story was really unique with the language, it was bad english mixed with some highly intelligent words. I even noticed the character would sometimes use words incorrectly which made it into a fun game for me, trying to find them.
How Monkey Got Married - Great story that reflects on how ridiculous humans are with commercialism and American life (very Palahniuk ala Fight Club).
Zombies - I loved this story, had some of the best quotes, "We're basically big animals, evolved to break open shells and eat raw oysters, but now we're expected to keep track of all three hundred Kardashian sisters and eight hundred Baldwin brothers. Seriously, at the rate they reproduce the Kardashians and the Baldwins are going to wipe out all other species of humans." Seriously, everything about this story was awesome, probably a favorite from this collection. I have some interesting thoughts about this the delve into the plot a bit, so if anyone would like to discuss, let me know.
Loser - Another fantastic story. This collection starts off like a train wreck but quickly switches over to deliver some of my favorite stories. This one is a must read - being on a gameshow while tripping on acid!?
Romance - This has got to be one of the funniest short stories I've read in a long time. I'm not talking about this one, just read it.
Cannibal - Back to the smutty - getting old Chuck... this talent, blarg... wasted! Thankfully the other stories overpower this because I just didn't understand his intention here.
Phoenix - Read and reviewed this already here.
Fetch - A haunted tennis ball? Where has this story been all my life?
Expedition - Love! Love! Love! This dark turn Palahniuk takes here is soooo good, I need more of this. I think he needs to pull a horror story out of his bag of tricks next.
So there you have it folks. Great stories, worth reading and buying. For those Fight Club fans, many references stuffed in. I would recommend this to any Chuck fan, especially those that have lost the faith in him. This one should restore that within all fans. I dare you to try it.
Happy Reading,
AmberBug
Dear Reader,
Yes! Chuck is back. This story collection renewed my love for his storytelling capabilities. I don't know why but his past few books haven't been connecting well with me. There was a moment there that I wanted to chuck this against the wall (breaking my paperwhite) just because he starts off with some pretty terrible stories. Thankfully, as you trudge along, the light gets brighter and brighter. I don't know how else to do this but break down my thoughts in order by story. This should be in order but won't contain my thoughts on EVERY story - more of a progression of how I felt.
Knock-Knock - Not a strong story, this paved the way for my unhappiness on a huge level, I started thinking I would have to quit Palahniuk for good.
Huge skip of stories here because I was so frustrated and annoyed with them.
Eleanor - This story was really unique with the language, it was bad english mixed with some highly intelligent words. I even noticed the character would sometimes use words incorrectly which made it into a fun game for me, trying to find them.
How Monkey Got Married - Great story that reflects on how ridiculous humans are with commercialism and American life (very Palahniuk ala Fight Club).
Zombies - I loved this story, had some of the best quotes, "We're basically big animals, evolved to break open shells and eat raw oysters, but now we're expected to keep track of all three hundred Kardashian sisters and eight hundred Baldwin brothers. Seriously, at the rate they reproduce the Kardashians and the Baldwins are going to wipe out all other species of humans." Seriously, everything about this story was awesome, probably a favorite from this collection. I have some interesting thoughts about this the delve into the plot a bit, so if anyone would like to discuss, let me know.
Loser - Another fantastic story. This collection starts off like a train wreck but quickly switches over to deliver some of my favorite stories. This one is a must read - being on a gameshow while tripping on acid!?
Romance - This has got to be one of the funniest short stories I've read in a long time. I'm not talking about this one, just read it.
Cannibal - Back to the smutty - getting old Chuck... this talent, blarg... wasted! Thankfully the other stories overpower this because I just didn't understand his intention here.
Phoenix - Read and reviewed this already here.
Fetch - A haunted tennis ball? Where has this story been all my life?
Expedition - Love! Love! Love! This dark turn Palahniuk takes here is soooo good, I need more of this. I think he needs to pull a horror story out of his bag of tricks next.
So there you have it folks. Great stories, worth reading and buying. For those Fight Club fans, many references stuffed in. I would recommend this to any Chuck fan, especially those that have lost the faith in him. This one should restore that within all fans. I dare you to try it.
Happy Reading,
AmberBug
June 10, 2015
I feel like I say this about every short story collection I read. Short story collections just seem kind of hit or miss for me, and every time I read one there are stories I love and stories I hate. Make Something Up is no different.
Of course, there are the par for the Palahniuk course gross out stories ("The Toad Prince"), but there were several stories that I felt had a bit more nuance to them. "Expedition" was wonderful. I love the idea of Tyler being sort of hereditary, and I thought some of the things Palahniuk wrote about absent fathers in that story were particularly insightful. "Romance" bears up to re-reading as does "How a Jew Saved Christmas", both of which I had read when they were previously published elsewhere. I believe "Zombies" and "Tunnel of Love" were also previously published, but I didn't find them quite as compelling on a second read.
Overall, I think that this collection is a must read for Palahniuk fans. There were more good stories than not so good (and of course, some people will just prefer different stories). It's a solid set of stories from one of my favorite authors to read for fun. It was entertaining, quick, and occasionally unexpected. I especially liked some of the self-referential bits within stories, because it really highlights the tongue-in-cheek nature of so much of Palahniuk's work.
Finally, I truly hope that compiling a set of stories that were already written and working on a sequel (Fight Club comic books) has given Chuck a bit of a rest. Over the past several years, he's really been cranking out novels, and I think a little time to breathe might do a world of good for the next one he writes.
Of course, there are the par for the Palahniuk course gross out stories ("The Toad Prince"), but there were several stories that I felt had a bit more nuance to them. "Expedition" was wonderful. I love the idea of Tyler being sort of hereditary, and I thought some of the things Palahniuk wrote about absent fathers in that story were particularly insightful. "Romance" bears up to re-reading as does "How a Jew Saved Christmas", both of which I had read when they were previously published elsewhere. I believe "Zombies" and "Tunnel of Love" were also previously published, but I didn't find them quite as compelling on a second read.
Overall, I think that this collection is a must read for Palahniuk fans. There were more good stories than not so good (and of course, some people will just prefer different stories). It's a solid set of stories from one of my favorite authors to read for fun. It was entertaining, quick, and occasionally unexpected. I especially liked some of the self-referential bits within stories, because it really highlights the tongue-in-cheek nature of so much of Palahniuk's work.
Finally, I truly hope that compiling a set of stories that were already written and working on a sequel (Fight Club comic books) has given Chuck a bit of a rest. Over the past several years, he's really been cranking out novels, and I think a little time to breathe might do a world of good for the next one he writes.
September 2, 2018
بعضی از داستان ها خیلی خوب و بعضی دیگر خیلی بد بود.
اما تعداد خوبها بیشتر از بدها بود.
و داستانهای خوبش تأمل برانگیز بودند.
اما تعداد خوبها بیشتر از بدها بود.
و داستانهای خوبش تأمل برانگیز بودند.
June 19, 2021
The rating is for the following stories (the rest are a miss)
Zombies (5 stars)
Red sultans big boy (mr. Hands!)
Romance
Cold calling
Zombies (5 stars)
Red sultans big boy (mr. Hands!)
Romance
Cold calling
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,030 reviews