Not for the faint of heart(warning, spoiler alert!)

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	• Haunted: A Novel Chuck Palahniuk Anchor, 2006 - 432 pages average customer review:based on 102 reviews view larger image
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Dark & Disturbing

You know, I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book...its' a "collection" of supposed short stories written by people "trapped" at a writers retreat...people who reveal as the book goes on that they have no good reason to continue to live...their individual lives are a mess and most of them are, in fact, murderers of one sort or another. Instead of looking for an atmosphere to create as a writer, they spend their time sabotaging the food, heat, washer, and toilets...then mutilate themselves and each other. It's a disturbing look into the human psyche through the eyes of people already living and behaving beyond what most of us would consider normal, they've all already broken that barrier...so how far will they go to be the best survivor of the bunch? Deeply disturbing. I haven't read anything else by Palahniuk (this being my first...and no, I have not read Fight Club though I did see the movie). I had a really hard time getting into this one. It does push the envelope and makes with the uncomfortable-ness (a LOT). Overall, interesting but also dark, disturbing, and extremely gross...I give it a solid B.

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Not for the faint of heart(warning, spoiler alert!)

I am into all kinds of horror. I found this book by accident in my local library. I have to say, this book is very graphic, even for me. I found the short stories for the most part could hold my attention and get me to keep reading-at times I could not put the book down. The background story of a writer's retreat in which the characters are being kept held against their will I found a little weak. I found it hard to keep track of who everyone was as pseudonyms were used instead of names. Each wrote their own story, and some more than one. Some were better than others. As a writer, I thought I was twisted-not as twisted as Palahniuk though. The last story was a sort of afterword where the author kept tooting his own horn on how people fainted everywhere he read his story, "Guts". Yes, it was disturbing, but I don't believe him. He also said all of the stories were based on people he has encountered. I also find that hard to believe, especially in the case of the rich people becoming homeless on purpose.

All in all, it was a good read and it kept me on the edge of my seat at times, but it also disappointed-especially in the use of cannibalism, which I think is overused, and in this case, unnecessary. It smacks of too many late night horror movies-people being kidnapped and then eating eachother. That the characters wanted to stay and kept lopping off limbs to do it was also hard to swallow(so to speak).

If you like horror that is not the typical, Steven King variety, you will certainly like this book, but be warned, don't read it while you eat if you have a weak stomach.

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Couldn't put it down!

This book is definitely not for the conservative populace, minors, or your grandmother with the heart problem. This novel goes farther than anything Palahniuk has ever written as far as guts, sex, murder, and the ever-tasty cannibalism. If you're a fan of his, then I shouldn't even have to tell you to read this; it should already be in your library! If not, then you'd better have a strong stomach, flexible morals, and a fondness for the bizarre, because this book is one crazy surprise after another that will leave your jaw hanging as you utter the words, "I CANNOT believe he just went there!"

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Great Writer, but bad book

This is the first (and currently only) book which I have read from Chuck Palahniuk. Having many friends who have read his previous works, I saw this cover, saw the name, and decided this will by introduction into his realm. Bad idea.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style, I heartly disliked the outline of the book - short stories within a novel. Every other chapter is a short story written by one of the characters in the novel, a neat premise. Unfortunately, any horror or shocking feature each tale offers is then lost to this premise. Also, the main novel isn't that exciting either, a little twisted, but the story is something I have read before.

My suggestion to this book, buy it (actually, borrow it) and only read the short stories and stay away from main novel. If Palahniuk did this, each story would have had a far more powerful impact upon the reader. Only then, go back and read the novel if you are really curious about what happened to each character.

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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