I borrowed this book from a friend because she had an available copy. She couldn't get through the first 20 pages and after attempting to read it four or five times, I couldn't either and ended up giving it back. I might buy it later on and reattempt but it doesn't seem worth it right now. Sorry Chuck. I still love you.

I completely agree with Amy's posts. Pygmy was very tedious to get through and the ending left me feeling confused. I have loved every other book Chuck has written; even Snuff. His violent imagery really excites me and allows me to explore views and experiences from the safety of a book and not through what might be a damaging reality.

I actually really liked this book because it showed me that Chuck has range in the different characters he depicts. Granted, the only other one I've read is Fight Club, but as somebody who writes books myself (whether or not they are good is another matter), I can really appreciate the challenge Chuck put himself through to make this book, let alone cut each of his books down to 250 pages each time. That takes SKILL, my friends, to cut down every unnecessary word in each of your novels consistently.

I FINALLY finished it. I hate to say this but I feel like Chuck had to finish the book quickly and because of that it lacks a great ending. Its like the story just continues along and then suddenly everything changes in the end and it's over. It was better than Snuff but that's not really saying a whole lot cuz I was severly disappointed in Snuff. Oh Chuck...!

It does get easier but you have to keep up with it. If you put it down for a few days it's like starting all over again.

Alexa, after the first third of the book, it does get much easier!

NerdGirlBlogger wrote: "I haven't begun reading Pygmy yet, so I'm hoping all the trouble you girls have had with it simply means that the book starts off slowly and ends brilliantly. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, as I'..."

I agree completely, I've never met a C.P. book I haven't liked, but Pygmy seems just incredibly different than all of his other works. I can barely get past the first couple of pages! Hopefully I'll get through it, and it will get better.

Chuck Palahniuk is a master of horror. While I would rank him up there with the Stephen King of the 80s and early 90s, I have to make clear that Chuck and Stephen write two different types of horror books. You can never say, oh, if you like Stephen king, then you'll like Chuck Palahniuk. Palahniuk is an original, and he writes about the horror of mankind, deep within themselves, in very frightening yet near believable situations. We have no idea what we can find within ourselves once pressed, and this is where Palahniuk shines. He writes the darkest, creepiest, most spectacular books I may ever read. We always want our anti-hero to win in his books, and this is why his books work so well for me. Fight Club will always be his masterpeice.

Pygmy is a little difficult to read at first, as we are dealing with the thoughts of a foreign born person. But by books end, the message is clear, and it is very disturbing to realize what we wished for and what happened was for more scarier than what the alternative was. I like that ever book of his is different, and this book in a word, was certainly DIFFERENT. In my world, different is always good!

Yeah I'm still working on it but honestly not enjoying it like I usually enjoy other Palahniuk books.

I love it not the same as his other books but still great in my eyes I also had trouble with the broken english but started from the beginning and got through it

I'd recommend buying it from Amazon. They always have the best book deals.

I'm about halfway thru Pygmy right now. Sometimes it's easier to comprehend and others I'm just completely lost. I'm slowly enjoying it more but still not as excited by it as I feel I should be.

I haven't begun reading Pygmy yet, so I'm hoping all the trouble you girls have had with it simply means that the book starts off slowly and ends brilliantly. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, as I've never met a Chuck Palahniuk book I didn't like.

Ben, the book has been out for a little while now, so if you can't find it at your local bookstore, order it online or have them order it for you.

I'm struggling with how it's written. It's about a foreign exchange student who is really a terrorist so it's written from his point of view in really broken English. It's just really hard to understand exactly what's going on in some of the scenes.

Mostly, I'm just not finding it compelling me forward the way I've found other Palahniuks (I.M. included).


Ben wrote: "Might get a few raised eyebrows for this one, but I felt the same way about invisible monsters. I cant find pygmy in the bookstore yet - what do you two think makes it difficult to read?"

Might get a few raised eyebrows for this one, but I felt the same way about invisible monsters. I cant find pygmy in the bookstore yet - what do you two think makes it difficult to read?

I'm having a similar experience. I read only a small spurt, then put it down to read another book.

I'm SLOWLY getting thru Pygmy and I feel like a traitor but I can't help but really not like this book. It's so difficult for me to get thru plus I feel lost half the time and find myself rereading bits and pieces cuz I don't feel like I understand. What did everyone else think about this book???