Lullaby

Lullaby (2002) and Nana (2003) by Chuck Palahniuk
Weight: 2 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating

My fascination with Chuck Palahniuk died long ago , but there once was a time, when I was about 16, when I was obsessed.  I ordered Luna at the bookstore, not realizing it was a Spanish edition and was disappointed, but also excited, when it came in.  Apparently, the confusion was not just my problem.  I just looked it up on Amazon and there was a picture of air filters instead of the book.

This is kinda sad.  At every bookstore I ever worked at the Spanish section was ridiculously small and lackluster.  If you didn't want to read about God then you probably didn't need to read at all.  You would really think that, in the United States in particular, we would get it together.  If for no other reason than having yet another population to sell shit to.  When social unity does not matter then money does, right?

Life After God

Life After God  by Douglas Coupland

1995

Weight: 11.2 oz

Method of Disposal: Donating or give it away

Since we are already on the topic of authors that were compared to Chuck Palahniuk I have decided to release Life After God.  The Waldenbooks computer recommended Copeland to my friend Sarah and me.  It took me awhile to purchase and read any of his novels, but I started with Life After God.  Again, I was less impressed than I expected to be.  I had recently read Breakfast of Champions and was kind of excited to see the pictures in this book, but they did not serve the same purpose and were not as exciting.  The book was a rambling mess, and while I can get into a good rambling mess from time to time this was not one of those times.  It did not have the same thrill of a Palahniuk book, and it was not shocking in the least.  I had already purchased other books of his, and I will say it got better.

I am not entirely sure that at this stage in my life I am much of a Palahniuk, Copeland, or Ballard fan.  I guess that is coming across quite clear.

Concrete Island

Concrete Island  by j. g. ballard

2001

Weight: 7.2 oz

Method of Disposal: Selling or giving away

j.g. ballard was recommended to me back when I was reading all of the Chuck Palahniuk books I could get my hands on.  I was told that if I liked him I would love Ballard.  At the time, I was not as impressed by him as I hoped.  Now that some time has passed, I am no longer a fan of Palahniuk and would consider Ballard to be a much better author.

Nonetheless, there was something lacking in Concrete Island, or I just did not care about the characters at all.  I think the premise was intriguing and that I expected so much more than what I got.  I remember feeling so let down.  Maybe without the expectations it would have read better.

Things I like about this copy:

• There is a little blue star sticker over the barcode.  This was the symbol my dear friend Sarah and I used when working at Waldenbooks to show that we did not want the book to be returned even if the PDT (?—Barnes and Noble had a different name for it) scanner told us it was not selling and it was time to send it back.

•  The blue blue sky over the interstate on the cover

• The Title

• The pages changing color with age

"I want to have your abortion."

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
1997
Weight: 9.6 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating or giving away

Fight Club was so fun to find when I was a youngin’. My friend Sarah recommended it to me, and I loved it. It got me on a Palahniuk kick that lasted for years, and has finally completely faded away. I have been so disappointed with him lately. I am not going to re-read Fight Club because I am afraid I have outgrown it, but I love how I loved it back then. I think I would still enjoy it today, and I do like the movie, but I also think it would just be different. I mean, I hope it would?

I have to say, there are days where I wish I could just go into a basement, fight someone I don’t know, leave, and go about my life. I am sure that is not what I am suppose to glean from this book, and I do cringe a little even thinking it since I remember some kids in high school making their own absurd/ridiculous “fight clubs” in the labyrinths of the local mall. I really would rather not relate to them. And have you seen the insurance mayhem commercials lately? What’s that about?
Anyway, Palahniuk should not be held up as a genius, but he use to be quick and fun to read—way before the days of Snuff. If you want this book, let me know ASAP.