Rant: The Oral Biography of Buster Casey
by Chuck Palahniuk
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Book Reviews of Rant: The Oral Biography of Buster Casey
Book Review: One of My Favorite Palahniuk Works
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed Rant a lot. I thought it was weird and different, but it really came together so well at the end. It is a bit difficult to really explain what I loved about the book without spoiling the plot a bit so I will do my best in that aspect.
The book itself had some really interesting themes that were present. The main idea, kind of brought up pretty much from the opening scene, is that everybody views people in different ways. That these views can actually cause a single person to almost have an entirely different view of the same person that it is surprising that it is actually in fact the same person. And that we can make sure to act a particular way to influence the way we interact and are viewed by others. This is really taken to many levels in the novel from looking at it from perspectives of family members, friends, and community members.
The story of the novel here is in my opinion well written. It keeps the reader interested without giving up too much and really pays off towards the end when a lot of the elements in the story really start to connect and it turns into a really satisfying experience. It is especially interesting if you take a step back at the end and just try to draw a mental timeline of the characters and the relationships in the novel. It becomes fascinating at this point to think about who is actaully influencing who and the cause of many of the major events in the novel. I also like the use of some random titles that you learn mean very different things then they first seem to mean, like the distinction of "historian" in the context of the story.
There was actually not very much that I disliked about this novel. I though the pacing was right throughout the book, and the characters really felt like they had purpose and direction and developed in the story.
Book Review: Unique Story You Won't Forget
Summary: 3 Stars
Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite contemporary writers. In my opinion, I think he is destined to become known for many classics, including my two favorites: Survivor: A Novel and Fight Club: A Novel. "Rant" is a typical Palahniuk novel, and by typical I mean a incredible format and a story told only by the incredible lives of the characters that surround the hero (or anti-hero as the case may be).
"Rant" is told through the lives of those that encountered him, in the incredible, amazing, and tragic moments that defined his (and their) lives. I was not necessarily fond of the format throughout the duration of this book because at times some of the encounters are trivial at best. Knowing Palahniuk, I always thought there was something meaningful in the meaningless moments. Unfortunately, outside of further defining those characters and Rant himself, which I suppose is the whole point of the story.
It is a wonderful tale with a twist of the unnatural. Strung throughout the story is bits and pieces of the grand scheme of the direction of the story. You see it coming and know what is going on, but with the chaos and destruction of Rant's life pounding in every "testimonial," I almost refused to believe it.
This book is not in its own right a masterpiece, but it certainly further adds to the exceptional list of extraordinary books. It is a must read for Palahniuk fans, although for those out there, I would suggest the previously mentioned books as prerequisites for complete and total appreciation.
J.Stoner
Book Review: Fans will love--but not for everyone
Summary: 4 Stars
A tragic-comic thriller ride, Rant is about Buster "Rant" Casey and is filled with author Palahniuk's dark, blacker-than-night humor, cynical and withering social commentary, as well as stomach-churning, diarrheic-inducing details. Every odd ball he ever encountered is interviewed to display their own moral ineptitudes as well as what they thought about Rant.
The name Rant comes from the sound kids make vomiting and Casey will always be remembered with that nickname even after he ends his life with a blaze of glory in a stupendous car accident. Palahniuk proved himself with Fight Club and six other novels. His social commentary is witty and intelligent, as the car dealer says, "...but every person is obsessed with himself. You are your own favorite hobby. You're an expert on you." Palahniuk is always on the money with his societal observances.
There is a divided culture described here, those of the Daytimers and those of Nighttimers and Rant's group, the Party Crashers. The Crashers are a group of wild-living crazy men and women who challenge authority, look out for police and are reckless beyond belief, which is probably what Rant got in their car handing over an 1887 gold coin for gas money. His token to getting the inside scoop on the fast-paced, dangerous life that a serial killer would be quite at home with and welcome. Yes, Rant is a serial killer. After his death many are shocked, but one thing is for certain: he was headed that way long before he hit adulthood.
Armchair Interviews says: It takes a certain countenance to deal with Palahniuk's writing, if you have the stomach for grossness, you'll love this book.
Book Review: Spectacular!
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a spectacular, wonderful book; truly a thinking-persons' delight. The presentation of the story, much like participating in a group discussion after the fact, mirrors the key aspect of the story itself: we and the characters in the story are all in the same boat, trying to unravel and understand the complexities of Rant, everyone else in our discussion group, what has transpired, and life in general. Most importantly, as we progress, each of our perceptions of the story - what really happened - is continually changing, and changing the way the details of the story will come out along with what exactly the details really mean. And yes, I do mean participating: more than just listening in, we feel like we are part of the conversation, right along with the other characters.
Definitely a fun read, with an appropriate amount of satisfying gross-out and extreme episodes, but this book is also loaded with great insights into modern life and the perils facing society at large. There's a lot here, but it's up to the reader to make the connections and do the thinking. A second read is just as satisfying too - and maybe even moreso.
Four stars instead of five as the end fades just a bit; definitely could have used a bit more discussion about linear time in the same vein as the Easter Bunny without hitting the reader over the head with a sledge hammer.
But again, a fantastic book that rewards thinking beyond just reading!
Book Review: Huge fan off Chuck- but couldn't even finish this one.
Summary: 1 Stars
Is it just me, or is Chuck Palahniuk going downhill? Invisible Monsters is one of my all-time favorite books, and I've read everything else Palahniuk has ever written. I thought Diary was a little worse than usual, but still read Haunted as soon as it came out. I thought Haunted was trying to be disgusting and vile for absolutely no reason, with none of the insight or provocative thinking of his earlier novels, but still bought Rant as soon as it came out. I have about one chapter left and can't even bring myself to finish. The plot line is so far-fetched and so uninspiring that I don't care at all what's going on, or how this story ends. What I've read so far makes no sense at all, and none of the characters grab your attention or elicit any emotion. His early novels (Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, Choke, Survivor) all seemed to explore some dark aspect of the human psyche, and shed light on some quality you didn't even know you had. I guess I'm just not twisted enough to identify with Rant Casey, or any of his friends and family. None of the genius of Palahniuk's repetitive writing syle is here ("I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. I am Jack's smirking revenge." or "Give me violent revenge fantasies as a coping mechanism. Flash. Give me detatched exisentialist ennui. Flash.") None of his thought-provoking asides. No fascinating and multi-faceted characters. Just a twisted story that leaves you disgusted and confused.