Lullaby

Creative, darkly funny novel by an amazing author.

Reading a Palahniuk novel is like watching a David Lynch movie written by a more literary Howard Stern: completely off the wall, usually mildly offensive and nearly impossible to dismiss. Certainly not for the conservative or oversensitive, his novels are incredibly intricate, smart and darkly funny. The movie Fight Club has generated a huge amount of success and cult following, and that was based on a Chuck Palahniuk novel. I really enjoyed reading Lullaby and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed watching Fight Club or another film adaptation based on Palahniuk's other novel Choke.


The basic summary (if you could even make one short enough to call it a summary) is all centering around a culling song, or lullaby that has the power to kill a person after you sing it to them. Carl Streator is a journalist investigating SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome and he's not coming up with new explanations until he happens upon this culling poem and it's correlating presence at each victims family home. Once he discovers the truth behind the tragic deaths he embarks on a journey of destruction and discovery with the colorful and powerful Helen Hover Boyle, that will change his life and the world forever.


I love the descriptions of the characters in the book. They are each so colorful and eccentric that you really start to care for them no matter how much more vile and corrupt they become. It is difficult to compare Palahniuk's style to any other authors because it honestly is more like it's own language. He is probably the author that influenced me the most to want to be a writer. Something about how he is able to mix fascinating story with his own views and opinions really inspired me. I am going to try and read another Palahniuk book called Diary next and then possibly will read Invisible Monsters which is set to be made into a film later this year.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Chuck is the man

Chuck Palahniuk is a writer like no other. His books are original and spectacular and while you know his writing style, you never quite know what you're getting yourself into when you start reading one of his books. Not surprisingly, Lullaby is no different. Lullaby is one of those books that you'll think about over and over again, not quite knowing why. It's not a bad thing, though, because you're reminded of how you felt when you read it. Chuck is an awesomely creative (and probably crazy) artist. Chuck is the man.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Chuck did it again!

Haunted is still by far my favorite, but Palahniuk has provided me with yet another great read. I had such a hard time putting it down and I completely read it in two days. I loved that you never knew where it was going next and every time you think you have figured it out, he surprises you again! Crack it open and get to reading!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This Is Great!

Wow I had never read any of Chuck Palahniuk stuff before my roommate got me to read this book and I have to say that is a really good book and that Palahniuk is an amazinig writer... I will definately be reading more his stuff!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Has stephen king read this? Spookily hilarious.

When I finished this book I had to read it again! And I don't have time to read books twice but I knew I was missing some really great dialogue because I was reading to fast. It is the most ridiculous story when you think about it but the telling of it is some of the funniest s**t I have ever read. I am buying Fight Club today and am hoping it stinks so I can get some work done. Kudos to the guy in US magazine who recommended it but now I am hooked on Mr P!!!

One of Chuck's Best

Fans will find this novel an especially well-wrought addition to their Palahniuk collection. With savagery, the author takes on practitioners of witchcraft, and subjects them to his trademark brand of merciless examination.

All day read

Once you start this book, you will not want to put it down. It always seems like everything is going to be explained on the next page. The way Chuck Palahniuk writes is full of detail and very descriptive. This book is definitely not meant for an easy Sunday morning read, you need to be in a good state of mind for this book. It took me a few days to read this but it was well worth it. I wish somebody would make this into a movie.

Loved it

It has been a long time since a book has really pulled me in like this one did. I thoughly enjoyed every word of it.

Outstanding

One of my favorite books by chuck. Very creatve story that makes you think.

Coming from a true palahniuk fan

This book was so boring.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended - you must check it out!!

No text was provided for this review.

Great read!

This was an offbeat story with peculiar characters. Good plot twists at the end. I look forward to reading more by this author.

good book

Another great Chuck book

Didn't put me to sleep...

Quick read. Interesting plot, but a little confusing at times. Great detail and narration. I definitely recommend it.

And he does it again.

I've been a fan of Palahniuk's writing ever since reading Fight Club and Survivor for the first time. Lullaby definitely does not disappoint either. The book tells the story of a nursery book containing a culling song - which causes parents to unintentionally lull their children (or significant other) into a peaceful death. A newspaper reporter that is investigating SIDS stumbles across the poem, and once discovering the power it has, goes on a quest to erase it so that no one else can get hurt.

In all, I found the story very entertaining and a thrilling ride the whole way through - and most people that like Palahniuk's style of writing should like the story as well. It flows well in his usual style of prose and keeps you interested from beginning to end. The characters are well developed and while reading it, you can almost see the story play out in front of your eyes like a movie. The only thing I didn't enjoy was that, like a movie, there were a few cheesy parts that seemed to be thrown in to make the audience happy. Very minor incidences, but all in all, a very good read.

Culling

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk is a very good book. It is different from his other novels in that it has real 'supernatural' type activity. The twists are nice. The last one really got me! This book is easy to read and it will hold your attention. The plot doesn't waste very much time moving along. I found this book to be a little more sexual than most of his other works. Snuff and Choke being the other 'sexual' ones. Read this on a rainy day or a weekend. It's a good book.

!!!!!!

after the initial confusion, this book has the power to really trigger your imagination.

i loved it.

Awesome!

Could not put this book down. Palahniuk has such a dark humor in this novel. Great ending! I would recommend this book to anyone.

A great book by a great author

Chuck Palahniuk creates a thrilling fictional story with an amazing storyline in Lullaby by centralizing his theme around something that is hard to wrap your own head around. The detectives run this story, and go around the country looking for books that hold an old African ¿cure¿, that can put anyone into permanent sleep if they here it. The detectives set out to find every book that has the cure in it so that no one else can get a hold of it and have the easiest killing mechanism ever. They have to do their fair share of dirty work to get the books that they need. They go to people¿s house and libraries and have to steal, or even kill, to get the books. All it takes is for the ¿cure¿ to be read in the mind of someone to make someone else go down. The main detective takes this to the extreme in the climax of the book. Anyone and everyone that gets in his way is nothing he has to handle with. He does this to help himself, but he finds himself becoming comfortable with it and he can¿t cope with it. The story has so many twists and turns that the detectives can barely keep up. It¿s a great read and anyone who loves reading should try this book. It mixes a great storyline with some slight romanticism to make a wholesome novel that is mind-blowing at the least.

Twisted beyond all belief

Words can kill--at least that's the premise of this fantastic Palahniuk novel. Don't be fooled by the title--this is no sweet and low-down book it's a nasty, funny, bawdy, horrifying novel that is so intricate and well-porortioned that you'll be shaking your head at the ending. Great fun stuff.