Reading 1001 discussion

What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout t he novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?

Palahniuk was helping us to see that we are all flawed on some level. That possibly it is our "job" to help others and work through our own problems.

Addiction was a big theme especially sexual addiction. Mental health and the way those with mental health issues are treated. Deciding who we are and how we should behave Victor is different things to different people and his whole life seems to be an act.

The disconnection between people and the inadequacies of the official attempts to help those with illnesses and addictions was important. The primary need to be needed was a big theme. Although I find it unbelievable that people would want to support someone they only knew because they had saved them from choking, I thought it an amusing construct to describe these needs.

the influence of mother or mother-child relationships, loneliness vs. social connection, aging, finding meaning/identity.

Strangely enough I don't think addiction or mental health issues were the primary themes but rather were vehicles to explore underlying issues. In other words, the addiction was the outward manifestation of inner problems such as his need to belong and be connected with others.