Victor Mancini, a medical-school dropout, is an antihero for our deranged times. Needing to pay elder care for his mother, Victor has devised an ingenious scam: he pretends to choke on pieces of food while dining in upscale restaurants. He then allows himself to be “saved” by fellow patrons who, feeling responsible for Victor’s life, go on to send checks to support him. When he’s not pulling this stunt, Victor cruises sexual addiction recovery workshops for action, visits his addled mom, and spends his days working at a colonial theme park.

amusing, with some rather unpleasant imagery

RABCK to livrecache

Thanks for this RABCK, freelunch. I really enjoyed Fight Club, the only other book of his I've read. Although 'enjoyed' is a strange word to use. His writing style intrigued me, and I found the movie engrossing. I'm keen to read more by this author, although he doesn't seem to be a very cheerful chap. Clever, but.

Thanks again.

Without meaning to sound ungracious - and I did request it - I just can't read this book. I persevered through a few chapters, but then just had to give up.

I'll probably offer it to the VBB where it might find a deserving home. I'm sure it's ever so good for the genre, but it's just not me. Perhaps if I'd seen a movie of it first . . . am I superficial or what?

Claimed in the VBB 12. Planning to post it today.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Another VBB book on its way!

I have been very slack in journalling this book, which I received last week. Thanks to livrecache for sending it on - I quite like Palahniuk's work and 'Choke' is his only entry on the 1001 Books to read before you die list. On to the pile it goes!!

Finally, after two years, I have read this book! And to be honest was not as impressed with this one as others I've read of Palahniuk. I actually found the imagery of the first few chapters quite challenging to read, although it 'settled' down after a while and the questions that are raised about Victor's parentage were pretty interesting - I enjoyed the second half better than the first. But to be honest I found this a little derivative of Fight Club - the use of self help groups in particular.

Left on a chair in the garden of the Kona Brewing Company - not sure how the booked fared though. We've been getting some heavy rain since then so I hope it's ok!!