Snuff
by Chuck Palahniuk
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Book Reviews of Snuff
Book Review: Worth the wait...
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, I would have to say that this book was worth the wait. It definitely isn't his best work to date (look into 'Rant' or 'Choke'), it was good.
My only problem with the book is how short it was. It was a good story, full of classic Palahniuk facts that are things you may not learn anywhere else.
Like most people have, and will, say- if you are a Palahniuk fan then you will enjoy this book. If not love it. It's far from his worst book (which, even those were still good) and it has all the classic elements of a Chuck Palahniuk novel.
However, I would not recommend this to first time readers of his work. His earlier works (Fight Club and Invisible Monsters) are a better place to begin. I'm a true fan of his work and look forward to what is coming next.
You will not be wasting your money
Book Review: Never judge a book by its subject matter
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to confess to my initial trepidation when approaching this book. Despite being a fan of the author, I was convinced there would be moments which would not sit well with me. Moments I'd be embarrassed by, irked by. Reading about a 600 person gang bang wouldn't normally be the type of thing I'd go for. And yet, this is a fantastic book. In spite of my wariness, it was engaging, highly relevant and ultimately very satisfying. Every chapter, every scene and virtually every sentence was vital and propelled me towards its "climax". This momentum did make the book seem short but the quality of the experience far outweighed any criticism over quantity.
My only negative is that, due to its subject matter, recommending this to friends and family ain't going to be easy. That said, it's my favourite novel of 2008.
Book Review: Light, Breezy, Adult Entertainment
Summary: 4 Stars
The pink book jacket and brown lettering let you know immediately that this is not your usual Palahniuk book. At just under 200 pages, "Snuff" is Chuck Palahniuk's shortest novel. It's more focused than his previous works, and, instead of being "darkly funny," ends up being just plain funny--think David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs. The subject matter--the adult film industry--is mined here for most of the comedy beats, although the details aren't as graphic or sexual as you might expect for such a risque topic. (There are better books about the industry anyway, such as Jenna Jameson's enthralling How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale.) If you're looking for a light, fun summer read, though, "Snuff" will suffice.Book Review: Chuck off his form
Summary: 2 Stars
First off, I have to say I love Chuck. He is cool, he is irreverant, he is way outside the box, and I love all that. I have seen him do a book reading, which was awesome and totally in your face. Fight Club, Rant, Survivor, Choke, all great books. But Snuff? No way. Facile, stupid idea, superficial, lazy writing. Chuck does not have his edge here, and the characters are loathesome and mere cut-out figures without backbone, without shape. And there is no plot, and basically no theme, except maybe that the porn industry is completely disgusting. No way Chuck. This book misses the mark by a long shot. Can't wait for you to get back on track with a real book, not this little sketch. That said, the book is still not forgettable, because it is so weird and unique. Who else can write about the sleaze of porn with such terse style?Book Review: Yes, well, maybe
Summary: 3 Stars
When I first read the story outline about an ageing porn star who wanted to go out with a bang, or in this case 600 of them, the first thing that came to my mind was the hygiene issue. After 599 servings, if you'll pardon the expression, I wondered what Mr. 600 would be faced with. I must admit I haven't read any of Chuck Palahnuick's books before, and reading all the reviews that have gone before, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a book for me. I'm still not sure, so I think I'll leave it for a couple of weeks and have another look at it. In the meantime I have been reading Suzie Van Aartman's very wonderful 100 Percent Erotica now that is sex with a capital F and well worth looking at. Snuff isn't a bad book on the whole, but as I said it might benefit from another read when my mind set is more tuned in.