Customer Reviews

Haunted: A Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Chuck Palahniuk is most known as the author of Fight Club, the book that became the movie with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton; and overnight Palahniuk had a cult following. Erie, scary, and terrifying; if I had to use three words to describe this book, that would be it. Robert A. Heinlien the classic Science Fiction author once quipped "One man's theology is another man's belly laugh." of this book I would state, 'One man's perversion is another man's pleasure." This book will hit both, depending on who you are and your sensibilities.

This book is a collection of short stories, written by characters who are on a writer's retreat. They all responded to an ad to "give up three months of your life and create the masterpiece you have always said you would". Each of the 18 respondents had an idea of where they would be going - to a large country estate, a camp in the woods; yet the reality is they get locked into an old ornate theatre house. They have food, shelter, and facilities, yet all doors are locked, all windows bricked over and no way out.

From there the book becomes a cross between Fear Factor, Survivor and your most feared horror story. We see the depths to which people will descend to achieve fame and riches. Palahniuk, during the current book tour, was reading the first story called 'Guts' and to date there have been 63 people who have passed out with many people being injured falling into book cases in book stores. This book will at times, turn your stomach, but will give you an understanding of the darkest side of human nature.
Readers beware! This book is like the fight club movie on super steroids.

(First Printed in Imprint 2005-06-03 as 'Fight Club author gets Haunted')

Chuck Palahniuk is most known as the author of Fight Club, the book that became the movie with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton; and overnight Palahniuk had a cult following. Erie, scary, and terrifying; if I had to use three words to describe this book, that would be it. Robert A. Heinlien the classic Science Fiction author once quipped "One man's theology is another man's belly laugh." of this book I would state, 'One man's perversion is another man's pleasure." This book will hit both, depending on who you are and your sensibilities.

This book is a collection of short stories, written by characters who are on a writer's retreat. They all responded to an ad to "give up three months of your life and create the masterpiece you have always said you would". Each of the 18 respondents had an idea of where they would be going - to a large country estate, a camp in the woods; yet the reality is they get locked into an old ornate theatre house. They have food, shelter, and facilities, yet all doors are locked, all windows bricked over and no way out.

From there the book becomes a cross between Fear Factor, Survivor and your most feared horror story. We see the depths to which people will descend to achieve fame and riches. Palahniuk, during the current book tour, was reading the first story called 'Guts' and to date there have been 63 people who have passed out with many people being injured falling into book cases in book stores. This book will at times, turn your stomach, but will give you an understanding of the darkest side of human nature.
Readers beware! This book is like the fight club movie on super steroids.

(First Printed in Imprint 2005-06-03 as 'Fight Club author gets Haunted')

As you may have figured out, HAUNTED is composed of one underlying story and several short stories by the characters within the novel. Each of these stories reflect the creeping madness and desperation for attention that each captive writer yarns for. Every day that they are held "captive" they seek new ways to make their imprisonment seem more inhuman to the talk show hosts and news reporters that they are sure will await them when they are finally rescued. The one with the most scars and wounds will obviously be the one who gets the most attention, fame, and money and so the self mutilation and mayhem begins. It may seem like a mindless gore-fest, and it is, but only on a surface level. Two books you must read are HAUNTED (which is why you’re here, right?) and McCrae’s latest tour-de-force, KATZENJAMMER. Also you must read the book RUNNING WITH SCISSORS by Burroughs—crazy, man . . . crazy.

One of the most unique and engrossing novels I've ever read! Wonderfully grotesque and equally as funny.

"HAUNTED" is clearly an amazing book. Author Chuck Palahniuk has an amazing talent for turning and twisting the human character making the grotesque beautiful and the beautiful obscene. I was awe struck by "HAUNTED" and would not hesitate to recommend it in the same breath with "THE LOSERS CLUB", "MY FRACTURED LIFE", and "A LONG WAY DOWN." "HAUNTED" is worth the experience.

I've been waiting for this book for a while and now it's finally here. Was it worth the wait? Yes and no. As with all short story collections the stories can be a bit hit and miss, but Chuck more than makes up for the misses when he hits.

Anyone expecting a huge pukefest having read or heard about 'Guts' may be disappointed but there are lots to enjoy here. Most of the stories don't have 'Guts' visceral impact but are still suitably twisted in Palahniuk's inevitable way.

The narrative that links the stories is a great satire on reality TV and the desire for fame, and would also have worked well as a stand alone novella.

Palahniuk is one of best writers around today and continues to challenge and provoke his readers with this latest addition to his catalogue. BUY THIS BOOK (if you're not too squeamish). I must also recommend, THE LOSERS'S CLUB: Complete Restored Edition by Richard Perez -- which I purchased along with HAUNTED (no shipping charge, or tax for both -- and discounted!) Good deal via Amazon = Palahniuk + Perez

Chuck P (don't ask me to spell it . . .) never met a topic he didn't like-or couldn't write about. The guy is an absolute genius and if he had written FIGHT CLUB alone, his reputation would have been solidified. But throw into this mix LULLABY, SURVIVOR, and INVISIBLE MONSTERS (my favorite, by the way) and you've got one first-rate author with imagination enough for twenty. Now we get HAUNTED. While this wasn't my favorite of Mr. P, it was still better than most books on the market today. If you enjoyed the diverse and quirky CHILDREN'S CORNER by McCrae or the complex and heart-felt RUNAWAY by Munro, then this book is for you. Please be sure to check out all Mr P's other works as well---there's not a bad on in the bunch!!!

Chuck Palahniuk is most known as the author of Fight Club, the book that became the movie with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton; and overnight Palahniuk had a cult following. Erie, scary, and terrifying; if I had to use three words to describe this book, that would be it. Robert A. Heinlien the classic Science Fiction author once quipped "One man's theology is another man's belly laugh." of this book I would state, 'One man's perversion is another man's pleasure." This book will hit both, depending on who you are and your sensibilities.

This book is a collection of short stories, written by characters who are on a writer's retreat. They all responded to an ad to "give up three months of your life and create the masterpiece you have always said you would". Each of the 18 respondents had an idea of where they would be going - to a large country estate, a camp in the woods; yet the reality is they get locked into an old ornate theatre house. They have food, shelter, and facilities, yet all doors are locked, all windows bricked over and no way out.

From there the book becomes a cross between Fear Factor, Survivor and your most feared horror story. We see the depths to which people will descend to achieve fame and riches. Palahniuk, during the current book tour, was reading the first story called 'Guts' and to date there have been 63 people who have passed out with many people being injured falling into book cases in book stores. This book will at times, turn your stomach, but will give you an understanding of the darkest side of human nature.
Readers beware! This book is like the fight club movie on super steroids.

(First Printed in Imprint 2005-06-03 as 'Fight Club author gets Haunted')

I've been waiting for this book for a while and now it's finally here. Was it worth the wait? Yes and no. As with all short story collections the stories can be a bit hit and miss, but Chuck more than makes up for the misses when he hits.

Anyone expecting a huge pukefest having read or heard about 'Guts' may be disappointed but there are lots to enjoy here. Most of the stories don't have 'Guts' visceral impact but are still suitably twisted in Palahniuk's inevitable way.

The narrative that links the stories is a great satire on reality TV and the desire for fame, and would also have worked well as a stand alone novella.

Palahniuk is one of best writers around today and continues to challenge and provoke his readers with this latest addition to his catalogue. BUY THIS BOOK (if you're not too squeamish). I must also recommend, THE LOSERS'S CLUB: Complete Restored Edition by Richard Perez -- which I purchased along with HAUNTED (no shipping charge, or tax for both -- and discounted!) Good deal via Amazon = Palahniuk + Perez

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As a huge Chuck fan, I really enjoyed this book. I think for someone to really appreciate it, they need to understand how Chuck writes and what he writes about. He enjoys shocking people and pushing the envelope - he definitely achieved his goal with this book.

I wouldn't put it up there with Fight Club and Invisible Monsters, but it definitely comes close. Some of the stories are absolutely brilliant, while others are mediocre, but it's an all around good read.

One thing I would suggest to anyone who is going to read this book - do not read it before you go to bed, as it elicited some pretty intense dreams. So just be careful, because you might wake up thinking, "wtf?" and realize it had something to do with what you read last night.

I highly suggest this book to any Chuck fan. It's brilliant. It really is the most disturbing and outrageous book I have ever read.