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The first rule about fight club is you don't talk about fight club.
Chuck Palahniuk's outrageous and startling debut novel that exploded American literature and spawned a movement. Every weekend, in the basements and parking lots of bars across the country, young men with white-collar jobs and failed lives take off their shoes and shirts and fight each other barehanded just as long as they have to. Then they go back to those jobs with blackened eyes and loosened teeth and the sense that they can handle anything. Fight club is the invention of Tyler Durden, projectionist, waiter, and dark, anarchic genius, and it's only the beginning of his plans for violent revenge on an empty consumer-culture world.
Plagued with insomnia due to the cynical nature of his job (he investigates accidents for a carmaker in order to assess the cost-effectiveness of a recall), Fight Club's nameless narrator spends his evenings attending support groups for the terminally ill. Masquerading as a sufferer of various cancers, or as a victim of brain parasites, he discovers that losing all hope bestows a sense of freedom; Facing death, he feels more alive than ever before, and sleeps like a baby. Until Marla Singer — also a shamming support group groupie — ruins everything.
Marla not only invades his therapy sessions, but gradually insinuates herself into his private life as well, taking up with his housemate, the mysterious Tyler Durden. Tyler, a self-styled "minimum wage despoiler," works a succession of night jobs, taking perverse glee in sabotaging and blackmailing his employers. When, on a whim, the narrator and Tyler take turns punching out their frustrations on each other at a local bar, Fight Club is born.
"The first rule about fight club is that you don't talk about fight club."
Soon the disaffected drones of industry are spending their off hours beating each other to bloody pulp. After a night in Fight Club, they go back to their jobs bruised and battered, but with the liberating sense that they can handle anything. But FightClubis only the first stage of Tyler's anarchic master plan; Soon random acts of unkindness proliferate as mayhem and organized chaos spread across the country, culminating in a schizophrenic showdown on top of the world's tallest building.
The 2008 audio edition of Palahniuk's ground-breaking 1996 novel provides a timely opportunity to contemplate the direction of Generation X and the wider, popular culture over the past dozen years. The white, male, 20-something angst of the story's unnamed protagonist and his mysterious partner in crime, Tyler Durden, may now sometimes seem like slightly dated grunge rock. Also, the themes of domestic terrorism and insurrection certainly play differently in a post-September 11 world. Yet Palahniuk's power to provoke our collective sacred cows remains undeniable. The narrative-with its delusional twists and turns-presents serious challenges on audio. James Colby cleverly plays deadpan cool through much of the early plot exposition so that the chaos that eventually takes hold becomes all the more eerie and surreal. He pulls off the convoluted climactic revelations with emotional authenticity. The listening experience may be too jarring for general audiences merely hoping for a commute diversion. However, the release offers today's crop of young urban hipsters an opportunity to connect with the voices of a previous decade. A W.W. Norton paperback (Reviews, June 3, 1996). (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The story goes that Palahniuk wrote Fight Club out of frustration. Believing that his first submission to publishers (an early version of Invisible Monsters) was being rejected as too risky, he decided to take the gloves off, so to speak, and wrote something he never expected to see the light of day. Ironically, Fight Club was accepted for publication, and its subsequent filming by directory David Fincher earned the author an obsessive cult following.
The apocalyptic, blackly humorous story of a loner's entanglement with a charismatic but dangerous underground leader, Fight Club was the first in a series of controversial fiction that would keep Palahniuk in the spotlight. Since then, he has crafted strange, disturbing tales around unlikely subjects: a disfigured model bent on revenge (the revised Invisible Monsters) ... the last surviving member of a death cult (Survivor) ... a sex addict who resorts to a bizarre restaurant scam to pay the bills (Choke) ... a lethal African nursery rhyme (Lullaby) ... and so the list continues.
Although Palahniuk makes occasional forays into nonfiction, (e.g., Fugitives and Refugees and Stranger than Fiction), it is his novels that generate the most buzz. His outré plots and jump-cut storytelling are definitely not for everyone—some have likened them to the horrible accident you can't tear your eyes away from—but even critics can't help but be impressed by his flair for language, his talent for satire, and his sheer originality. Newsday wrote, "Palahniuk is one of the freshest, most intriguing voices to appear in a long time. He rearranges Vonnegut's sly humor, DeLillo's mordant social analysis, and Pynchon's antic surrealism (or is it R. Crumb's?) into a gleaming puzzle palace all his own."
Palahniuk has said that he has heard a lot from readers who were never readers before they saw his books, from boys in schools where his books are banned. This might be the best evidence that Palahniuk is a writer for a new age, introducing a (mostly male) audience to worlds on the page that usually only exist in technicolor nightmares.
Palahniuk's family has had a sad history of violence: His grandfather killed his grandmother and then committed suicide; later in life, his divorced father was murdered in 1999 by a girlfriend's ex-husband. The killer was convicted and sentenced to death in October, 2001. Palahniuk's book, Choke, was driven by an attempt to look at how sexual compulsion can destroy (see essay below for more).
When not working on his novels, Palahniuk has written features for Gear magazine, through which he befriended shock rocker Marilyn Manson; and is reportedly working on a script of the Katie Arnoldi novel Chemical Pink for Fight Club director David Fincher.
While writing, Palahniuk has said he listens to Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Radiohead.
To a reader who asked in a Barnes & Noble.com chat why the novel Invisible Monsters was not released in hardcover, Palahniuk responded: "My original request was not to have any of my books released as hardcovers b/c I felt guilty asking for over $20 for anything I had done. With Invisible Monsters I finally got my way."
Invisible Monsters was inspired by fashion magazines Palahniuk was reading at his laundromat, according to an interview with The Village Voice. "I love the language of fashion magazines. Eighteen adjectives and you find the word sweater at the end. 'Ethereal. Sacred.' I thought, Wouldn't it be fun to write a novel in this fashion magazine language, so packed with hyperbole?"
Outstanding book!
Power animals, split personality disorders, soap, fighting, mayhem, support groups, tainted food, castration, the book has a little bit of everything.........
I unfortunately saw the movie, at least 5 times before getting around to reading this book. If you haven't seen the movie yet, STOP, read the book first!
I've read two other books by Chuck Palahniuk, this one is the best so far!
"Fight Club" is excellent, the characters, the dialogue. It's all amazing!
There are so many good lines in this book, its hard to describe, but here are my favorites-
"If your a male, and you're Christian and living in America, your father is your model for God. And sometimes you find your father in your career."
"Tyler Durden the great, who was perfect for one moment, and who said that a moment is the most you could ever expect from perfection."
"How everything you ever love will reject you or die. Everything you ever create will be thrown away. Everything you're proud of will end up as trash. I am Ozymandias, king of kings."
There are 8 simple rules for "Fight Club"=
1.You don't talk about fight club.
2.You don't talk about fight club.
3.When someone says stop, or goes limp, even if he's just faking it, the fight is over.
4.Only two guys to a fight.
5.One fight at a time.
6.They fight without shirts or shoes.
7.The fights go on as long as they have to.
8.If this is your first night at fight club, you have to fight.
The movie adaption of this book, follows the novel pretty close! Ed Norton and Brad Pitt could'nt have done a better job!
Highly recommended to everyone and especially Palahniuk fans that may never have read (Chuck's 1st book)!
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.yeahdaniele
Posted March 23, 2009
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there aren't good enough words for this book except
READ IT!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Fight club is a great book. It is a unique adventure that really makes you think. It blends humor, action, and psychological-thriller style genres. All of the characters are presented as very real people. You get to know them and you have a real interest in them. The twists and turns are incredibly clever. It's a very short book, 218 pages, and is worth the time.
Even if you have seen the movie I think you would get a lot out of this book. While the movie and book are very much alike, they have differences that make them unique from one another. You connect better with the book, and it is still wildly entertaining.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.S_Jones
Posted March 23, 2011
The movie Fight Club has been my favorite for many years and I just barely got the chance to read the actual book. In my opinion the book is on another whole level compared to the movie. I love the way the characters are presented more and I feel like some of the back story Palahniuk gives you that is not in the movie makes the story move along much better. Based on the style of writing Palahniuk uses in this book, I think I'll be buying more books he has written. If as an individual you are easily offended you should probably not read this book because it can be quite vulgar at times. I laughed off a majority of the vulgarity but that may not be a possibility for everyone. This book has now become one of my favorites just like the movie and I think anyone like me that really enjoys the movie would feel the same if they read this book. I definitely recommend it but again warn that it may not be for everyone.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.elmitrio
Posted October 16, 2010
This book is one of the most entertaining, books I have read recently that was well-written. Many authors have a good, or just interesting idea, but do not have the skills to convey them on paper, Chuck Palahnuik is not one of those people, his creative story design and compelling narrative make the story interesting and beautiful. The book takes you deep inside the head of our tormented, but nameless character. It throws you around through through the thoughts of this person as he participates in launching a club that evolves into a terrorism/myaterdom project. This is one of my all time favorite books. Read the book before seeing the movie (which is also excellent)
Dmitri G (for Mrs. Castle 5A class)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.You'll be caught right away by Palahniuk's sweeping aphorisms and fresh writing style. Likely, you've heard of the film or have even seen it before you even knew there was a novel. Read it anyway. It's for people who crave twisted psychological tones, fans of drama or Chuck Palahniuk in general, and heck, even chemists. This book is a special snowflake.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Booklover12360
Posted February 1, 2009
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This is one of those books that you just have to read before you die. It has many plot twists and is one of my favorite novels. If you haven't read anything by Chuck Palahniuk, this is where you should start.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.iheartbooks
Posted December 26, 2008
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i wish i could just erase my memory and read this book over and over again. i have read a lot of books since i read this one but none have been able to compare. this is my favorite book of all time. there is really nothing else i can say...read it. you just have to. and be prepared to change. there is a you before fight club and a you after fight club. it is life changing. i LOVE chuck palahniuk. anything he writes deserves a prize
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 27, 2008
My favorite book of all time, 'Fight Club' is absolutely amazing with every page. Everything about this novel is so unique and captivating that only Chuck Palahnuick could come up with it. Don't expect to find anything like this! Written brilliantly and artfully, Palanuhnick's 'Fight Club' has been made into a cult classic for a reason.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 9, 2012
I don't want too.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 9, 2012
Hit me with your best shot! Come at me!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 3, 2012
What Fight Club?
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Posted January 30, 2012
WIEEEEERRRRD!!!!! RRRRRRAAAANNNNNDDDDDOOOOOMMMM!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 21, 2012
Fight Club is not the typical book I would read. I am more into reading about realistic situations, some romance, or nonfiction. Fight Club isn't my number one choice and it didn't catch my eye right away. This book surprised me! I thought this book was going to be about fighting and it was going to go into great detail with blood and killing, but that is false! This book has deeper meaning like finding who you are and you will ask yourself how far will you go to follow someone blindly? The ending is definetely the best part and it had a unexpected, shocking twist!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 8, 2012
This book, originally a 7 page short story, is perfect. It's inspirational. Must read for all.
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Posted January 2, 2012
Practically the exact same as the movie.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 28, 2011
Intriguing
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Posted December 18, 2011
This is a pretty dark story, but short and very interesting.
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Posted November 16, 2011
Showcases a truly gifted author
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 30, 2011
Great storyline, but if you've seen the movie, you'll find out that there is nothing new brought to the table by reading this, which is weird.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
The first rule about fight club is you don't talk about fight club.
Chuck Palahniuk's outrageous and startling debut novel that exploded American literature and spawned a movement. Every weekend, in the basements and parking lots of bars across the country, young men with white-collar jobs and failed lives take off their shoes and shirts and fight each other barehanded just as long as they have to. Then they go back to those jobs with blackened eyes and loosened teeth and the sense that they can handle anything. Fight club is the invention of Tyler Durden, projectionist, waiter, and dark, anarchic genius, and it's only the beginning of his plans for ...