Justin's bookshelves

read (17)

currently-reading (2)

to-read (2)

Justin is currently reading

	07/15 Justin is currently reading: The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason (Paperback) by Sam Harris bookshelves: currently-reading	my rating:
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	05/29 Justin gave to: Mere Christianity (Paperback) by C.S. Lewis bookshelves: currently-reading	my rating:
	Justin said: ""merely impossible to read." " see all 3 comments

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August 15

Justin gave

to:
Choke (Paperback)
by Chuck Palahniuk

my rating:

read in August, 2008

Justin said: "Let’s see. If you can get past the sex, there might be some kind of a story here. The sex is interesting, and at times even really, really funny. But after awhile, it’s seriously juvenile and worse yet, just gaunt functionality --this guy, the he...more Let’s see. If you can get past the sex, there might be some kind of a story here. The sex is interesting, and at times even really, really funny. But after awhile, it’s seriously juvenile and worse yet, just gaunt functionality --this guy, the hero ironically called 'Victor,' seems to spin his wheels most of the time, while meticulously pruning a fairly ambitious life of fraud and fantasy.

You might say, "isn't that a good thing for a narrator to have?" Well, maybe if you're the Marque D' Sade, but not if you're trying to say that I'm like you.

This aside, Victor's take on a few things is interesting if not honest. Exhibit A: Being hen-pecked by his bat-shit crazy mom, and being otherwise assaulted by women he didn't do anything to: everything is Victor's fault. Just being there, being male, and in arm's reach, is reason enough. "How are these people's [people=women] problems my fault? i'm tired of this," Victor relates.

I can't say this isn't something that resonates with me. Too easily men are painted as thick, dull slobs who either can't dress themselves, pry themselves away from the game, or communicate sufficiently with their spouses. The reverse is just as bad: that EVERY man is playing every single angle he can to his greatest benefit, and this purposely to the detriment of women in general. Men are the reason why things are messed-up in the world.

Now, do these caricatures exist? Totally. But can I at least get a concession that men are not the only ones who do these things? Man, I hope so, because where I part from Victor is that he sees himself as every man dealing with EVERY woman. Look, I've met the type, but I don't swing for what he's pitching.

As the rest of Choke plays out, it's almost like a mystery. You really wonder what's going to happen to these people next. Will Victor land his mother's care-taker? Will he straighten out? Is he really genetically related to Jesus? And so on. But ultimately, Palahniuk wants to say that all of us are just as messed-up as Victor: red-hot for a good lay, suffering from a deep-seated saviour-narcissism, and that this is all "okay." It kinda reminds me of the "love conquers all" ending to Brazil. it was a funny bit to include from Gilliam, but a lame place to take the story for Palahniuk.

After seriously trying to figure out why I kept reading this book, aside from expanding my sexual repertoire (enter sarcastic widening-eyes of disapproval), I recognize this book has the basics of what could be a really grotesque, yet wildly successful Broadway show. Think Rocky Horror Picture Show, on a chemical hang-over and a spinal headache. I'm not kidding. At any point during this book, I was waiting for someone to break into verse or something. Sam Rockwell is going to make a great Victor in the screen adaptation.

In the beginning of the book, Victor warns us this book is not worth your time. And, well, until the Broadway premiere, I suggest you take his word for it. Otherwise, you'll end up talking to me about how disturbingly weird it was to be repulsed yet compelled to read about the world according to Chuck.

...less "

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Justin gave

to:
The Good Earth (Oprah's Book Club)
by Pearl S. Buck

my rating:

read in August, 2008

Justin said: "["oprah's" book club... well, i guess i should be happy she learned how to read...anyhoo...]

The Good Earth.

i'm not entirely sure what to say about this book. the scope of it is ambitous enough, and for the most part it works -- i'm ...more "

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June 03

New comment on Justin's review of Mere Christianity

Justin wrote: "well, i'm about to read God is not Great, and have gone back through some things i previous read: Pa...more "

(see all 3 comments)

May 29

Justin gave

to:
Mere Christianity (Paperback)
by C.S. Lewis
bookshelves: currently-reading

my rating:

Justin said: ""merely impossible to read." "

see all 3 comments

April 22

Justin added a quote:
"Definition of rock journalism: People who can't write, doing interviews with people who can't think, in order to prepare articles for people who can't read." — Frank Zappa

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April 16

Justin gave

to:
Unspeakable: Facing Up to Evil in an Age of Genocide and Terror (Hardcover)
by Os Guinness

my rating:

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see all 17 of Justin's books »

Justin's favorite quotes

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."
— Stephen King

tags: reading, writing

252 people liked it

"I believe that sex is one of the most beautiful, natural, wholesome things that money can buy. "
— Steve Martin

tags: humor, sex

52 people liked it

"Definition of rock journalism: People who can't write, doing interviews with people who can't think, in order to prepare articles for people who can't read."
— Frank Zappa (The Real Frank Zappa Book (Picador Books))

tags: humor, music, writing

24 people liked it

"Lord, make me chaste... but not yet."
— Augustine of Hippo

4 people liked it