Rating:  Summary: Smoke with no fire Review: Here's a question: if Fight Club hadnt existed what kinda reviews would Survivor get? Lets cut to the chase here. Yes, the social critique cuts deep as it does in other books the author has written too. Yes he delivers some hard hits on religion, the media, and societal hypocrisy, and yes you would have to really think hard to come up with many modern authors who are as merciless when they put us all under their microscope as he is. Yes the prose is "different" than what you'd mostly find out there. Yes the dripping sarcasm is present (as it was in Fight Club), yes the subtle irony is there too, yes the unique and hardcore sense of humor isnt absent either. So why does this not work then? Well, for starters because the story is messy. Or because there is no character that really engages you in it like there was in...Fight Club. How many times have i mentioned the author's previous novel already? You get the point. I do have the annoying suspicion that people feel either obliged to see this book in an overpositive view exactly because of its predecessor and simoultaneously afraid to be honest about how much they really liked it (or disliked it) for the same reason. Would i reccomend "Survivor"? No, but I'd rather tell anyone to start from where the real juice is (which would, err, be Fight Club) and wait a while till the author redelivers the results of his massive and powerful potential. I wont bother reviewing the story since many other reviewers have already done it but i'll repeat my warning: this book here is dodgy, folks. I forced myself through it and i was puzzled because i (obviously) was expecting something way, way, better. All this doest mean i'm giving up on the author, of course not. I'm just a bit dissapointed by this particular effort.
Rating:  Summary: amazing Review: This is an astonishing work of literature. This is the first Chuck Palahniuk that I've read. I couldn't put this book down! Tender Branson, the main character, is the last member of the Creedish Cult. He soon gets in the view of Hollywood. Everything in his life just spirals from then on. Murder, love, mystery. I recomend this to anyone who can handle satire.
Rating:  Summary: It was very JUST OK. Review: The style was nice.. a quick read.. very 'pulpy'. But the ending was lackluster, and the over all plot seems like it could have beeen flushed out more. It was a fun little book... but, i would have a hard time reccomending it to someone.
Rating:  Summary: Wow! This is a must read. Review: First off let me start by saying that I hate reading. Due to my current occupation, I have plenty of time that needs to be occupied. After seeing the movie Fight Club, I instantly developed a strong sense of interest for books and movies with that unique twist of psychological events. I found out who wrote the script and searched for his other writings. I can honestly say that the twist I saw in Fight Club was also present in this book (Survivor). Like I have stated earlier, I hate reading, but I finished this book in two sittings. Once I started I couldn't stop reading. I don't think I have ever read a book this fast in my entire life, and I can't wait to start reading Lullaby. Survivor was a book full of roller coaster like events, irony, and dark humor. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I can only hope there are other authors that can strike such interest in me once I finish reading the other 5 books written by Chuck.
Rating:  Summary: Palaniuk's brain child Review: Survivor the novel, by Chuck Palaniuk is a dark, satire filled fun land, with intriguing characters and a unique story line that represents modern day mutations that might occur. I liked most of the book, it was very entertaining and deeply disturbed, all at the same time. Each character was intriguing, in his or her own way. (Chuck, you're doing a good job,keep writing.) The book was extremely unpredictable and fascinatingly bizarre it was full l of twists and turns that take you on an emotional roller coaster with the main character, (Tender Branson). Who becomes religious media messiah and later the worlds enemy. Overall it was a great documentary on how mixed up some peoples minds are, due to the environment or internal demons. Whatever the case, it was written with true talent that is indispensable when writing such a strange tale. My only complaint is the ending, which i did'nt understand, but I suppose it fit the book's atmosphere, unexpected and in your face. But ultimately necessasry in order to feed you the full essence of the message the author wass trying to get across. It is up to you to interpret, so go buy the book. ( I have a feeling that this writing will be around for a long time, and will be picked apart and analyzed for years to come, so we can try to get a feel for all the implications and ideas of this book and other books by this author.
Rating:  Summary: Entertaining, But Not All of What Chuck's Capable Of Review: Any other who publishes more than one novel can fall into a little bit of a rut. Characters start to seem similar, plots seem somewhat stale and recycled and an overall sense of deja-vu tends to overrun the work. Chuck Palahniuk, when he wrote this book, was in a little bit of a rut. First off, it seems as though most off his leading female characters are begining to seem a little bit like Marla from Fight Club. His writing style is much the same in this book as in Fight Club but it seems, at times, as though the narrators of both Fight Club and Survivor are the same person in different situations. Overall, however, the plot and the story were great. It is very funny in places and offers a very unique view of the world, as does all of Palahniuk's books. If you've never read one of Chuck's books before, pick up Fight Club or Choke first, then move onto this.
Rating:  Summary: "According to my daily planner....." Review: "Testing, testing. One, two three. Maybe this thing is working. I don't know. If you can even hear me, I don't know." Tender Branson is on an airplane all by himself, cruising on autopilot at about 39,000 feet above the ground. The only other thing on the plane is the black box, which he is planning to recite his life story into it, so there are no mistakes about his life when he is found dead. So nobody calls him a monster, or a murderer. What he is about to reveal is his life in the so-called Creedish Death Cult, and how he came about to being the last survivor Twisted and unpredictable events land him into the spotlight, bringing unexpected fame and recognition in this hilarious and dark satire, "Survivor." Chuck Palahniuk strikes once again, bringing life and wickedness to this wildly entertaining novel. You are about to find out all about Tender Branson, and all of the things that had happened to him, leading up to where he is now, alone on the plane, and ready to face death. Although according to his daily planner, he should probably be cleaning one of his many employers' houses, or telling them how to eat a lobster the right way. This novel will stun you from start to finish, and will never let go of you until the final sentence. As impossible as I would've thought, I actually enjoyed this novel more than "Fight Club," and that is one of my favorite books. This book had me laughing aloud in so many parts and so many places. I think it's a much better novel than "Fight Club." I know not many people will agree with me, that is fine. This is strongly my opinion and nothing more. The narration and dialogue is so crisp, so sharp, so dark, and yet so funny and entertaining all at the same time. The writing is so original an groundbreaking. To think that I used to hate first-person narrations. Palahniuk is a very impressive author, and is able to show us that he isn't afraid to tackle on issues that may be frowned upon by others. This is a great satire that takes a bitter look at fame and organized religion. It also proves to be a much more funnier novel than "Fight Club," or at least I think so. It is so refreshing to come upon a talented author, such as Palahniuk. This is by far one of my new favorite books, and I have just got done reading it for the second time. You'll be sad when you finish it, but will be excited to re-read it. "Survivor" is a magnificent and unforgiving tale of fame, religion, and superstardom. Take nothing for granted and expect the unexpected. Once you start, you cannot stop reading. I must go now, because according to my daily planner, I'm supposed to be somewhere else and try to better myself as a human being. Besides, I don't want to give too much away. The greatness that lies within this terrific read is that you cannot predict what's going to happen next. Read the novel and take the trip.
Rating:  Summary: Weeee what a zany book! Review: The book Survivor is up there as being one of my favorite books. The story of Tender Branson, the last surviving member of the Creedish Death Cult, Survivor is a dark yet hilarious satire. This is easily Palahniuk's best book. Fo rilla. The story is told in a flashback much like ALL of Palahniuk's books. This one, however, is being told into the blackbox recorder of an airplane about to crash into the outback. I don't think any other writer could have written this book. Palahniuk's style, while not without its influences, is what makes the book so funny. Fo rilla. I highly recommend this book to everyone it's a zany and enjoyable ride. Fo rilla.
Rating:  Summary: one of the sharpest books I've ever read Review: The observations of human beings and their habits and mannerisms, culture and essentially everything else you can think of are so dead on in this book that it will sting you. However, it is hilarious at every step, especially when the narrator describes the crazy ways he uses to clean things. Anyway, this is the only book I've read by said author, but after reading it I will seek out the others. If you like sarcastic and intelligent humor, this is the book for you. If you are the type to be defensive about things the writer might point out about you, then don't. Highly recommended.
Rating:  Summary: Palahniuk a visionary voice of virility Review: "Being myself just was not going to work anymore. It was time to make trouble." - Tender Branson Chuck Palahniuk hits the proverbial jackpot in this one. You talk about an enigmatic protagonist - Tender Branson is inscrutable, mysterious, overly subservient, bizarre, solitary, gloomy, alienated, and yet somehow an endearing central character that I strangely enough rooted for . Having just read Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut just prior to Survivor, I drew many parallels between the two masters of sardonic, sordid satire inundated with hilarious black humor in these two great works - overrampant consumerism, commercialism, materialism, conformity to the point where Americans have become sickeningly servile programmed robots sorely lacking in inventiveness and creativity, a surpressed ability to act on one's own without the instruction or approval of others, as well as the escalating degradation of moral values. Survivor is one book I could not put down due to its tres bizarre, yet laconic prose...
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