Paranoia

Rating:
Summary: Nice try no cigar...
Review: "Paranoia" may be promising a lot already through the title but fails dramatically to live up to expectations.
A story full of holes never helped any book and this is the case here: Chad, who is a quite down to earth type and who works in a mental hospital sees his life fall apart as his wife leaves him and he loses his job. Suddenly he gets a sudden visit from his gone-for-years brother (Palmer). Palmer informs him that he's been a member of the notorious Illuminati and that they are ready to launch a plan that will throw the world in a global dictatorship while 100s of 1000s will die. Palmer then reveals to Chad that he's now an Illuminati foe and wants to foil the plan and for that he wants Chad to assasinate an Illuminati master so the evil plan can be spoiled.
Chad hears this out , buys it hands down, (oh, Palmer convinces him cuzz he predicts the assasination of the president), and then they go ahead to assasinate the masters of the infamous Illumicrew. Then the story goes on where poor Chad finds out his wife has been assasinated by the Illumis and that this was also part of the plan, and eventually, also finds out that his brother has tricked him into this as he wants to take over the leadership.
Now, why a supposed Illuminati would use poor ole Chad for his plan when he's got all this incredible power is anybody's guess. The story is as hilarious as that, sadly...Or why the supposedly ultra-powerful Illuminati masters would have such poor protection as they are shown to have in the book is also quite a joke.
Firstly, if this book intends to hook the conspiracy freaks then this will be exactly the crowd that will find "Paranoia" totally ridiculous. Riddled with cliches and totally naive dialogue the book is for the most part a torture to read. Only when the author goes on small sprees where he reveals his thoughts about the various conspiracies that may have gone on in history does the book become interesting.
But then, if you want to be informed about conspiracy lore and reality then why start with this sorry effort? Prefer some other of the dozens of books about the subject out there.
Making a cheap, hardly believable story where you do a "best-of-conspiracies" mix is hardly worth reading if you are a serious "truth seeker". It doesnt even have any entertainment value as there is zero fun in going through it.
A book best ignored.

Rating:
Summary: Nice try no cigar...
Review: "Paranoia" may be promising a lot already through the title but fails dramatically to live up to expectations.
A story full of holes never helped any book and this is the case here: Chad, who is a quite down to earth type and who works in a mental hospital sees his life fall apart as his wife leaves him and he loses his job. Suddenly he gets a sudden visit from his gone-for-years brother (Palmer). Palmer informs him that he's been a member of the notorious Illuminati and that they are ready to launch a plan that will throw the world in a global dictatorship while 100s of 1000s will die. Palmer then reveals to Chad that he's now an Illuminati foe and wants to foil the plan and for that he wants Chad to assasinate an Illuminati master so the evil plan can be spoiled.
Chad hears this out , buys it hands down, (oh, Palmer convinces him cuzz he predicts the assasination of the president), and then they go ahead to assasinate the masters of the infamous Illumicrew. Then the story goes on where poor Chad finds out his wife has been assasinated by the Illumis and that this was also part of the plan, and eventually, also finds out that his brother has tricked him into this as he wants to take over the leadership.
Now, why a supposed Illuminati would use poor ole Chad for his plan when he's got all this incredible power is anybody's guess. The story is as hilarious as that, sadly...Or why the supposedly ultra-powerful Illuminati masters would have such poor protection as they are shown to have in the book is also quite a joke.
Firstly, if this book intends to hook the conspiracy freaks then this will be exactly the crowd that will find "Paranoia" totally ridiculous. Riddled with cliches and totally naive dialogue the book is for the most part a torture to read. Only when the author goes on small sprees where he reveals his thoughts about the various conspiracies that may have gone on in history does the book become interesting.
But then, if you want to be informed about conspiracy lore and reality then why start with this sorry effort? Prefer some other of the dozens of books about the subject out there.
Making a cheap, hardly believable story where you do a "best-of-conspiracies" mix is hardly worth reading if you are a serious "truth seeker". It doesnt even have any entertainment value as there is zero fun in going through it.
A book best ignored.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating -- a great read!
Review: First off, this is a great story -- it's tight and well-written, easy to read and hard to put down. DiLouie puts you into the action with a no-nonsense but descriptive style and the plot gets you thinking but is twisty enough that it doesn't lead you to the conclusion until you've reached it. I enjoyed the character development (or breakdown, depending on how you view it) and his "action" scenes were pretty darned good, too.

Second, the topic is fun -- dark, but fun. The historical perspective about conspiracy theories and theorists that DiLouie inserts throughout the book is absolutely fascinating, even for those of us trusting souls who think Oswald acted alone. (The CIA made me say that!)

I enjoyed this book very much! I read it through in one sitting and plan on going back again in a week or so to see what I missed. I strongly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Great Read -- Totally Riveting
Review: Not much to say except I was recommended this book by a friend who read it and, with some extra time on my hands, decided to check it out. It was a fascinating read. The plot is one that draws you in and made me think, too. Good, dark escape. I highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful & Informative
Review: Paranoia is a taut, compelling read from start to finish. The narrator, Chad Carver, is an ordinary guy who's pulled into a nightmare world of conspiracy theories. When his long missing brother Palmer re-enters his life and tells him that the Illuminati, an immensely powerful group of conspirators, are about to kill the president and then committ further atrocities against the population, Chad must decide whether or not to believe him. Paranoia weaves many fascinating facts about actual conspiracies into the plot, enticing readers to do their own research. The novel is aptly named, for Dilouie manages to capture the essence of that state --the reader, like Chad, has no idea until the final pages who or what is to be believed. Readers of The Illuminatus Trilogy (by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea) will especially appreciate this book, though it's also a good introduction to the intriguing but frightening realm of conspiracy theories.

Rating:
Summary: The new Catcher in the Rye...
Review: Quite a good book- just finished the other day. Very
thought provoking, but from a different perspective,
one that says to the reader, "I'm going to make You a
conspiracy theorist...". It's almost as though this
is the type of book that would replace the book for
the people who always need The Catcher in the Rye, in
that it truly touches the reader, and brings out a new
enlightenment on life, even for those who are
conspiracy theorists. The spooks who needed Catcher as their safe-haven, does this novel bring out that feeling, emotion, and security blanket? We will see...

Rating:
Summary: The new Catcher in the Rye...
Review: Quite a good book- just finished the other day. Very
thought provoking, but from a different perspective,
one that says to the reader, "I'm going to make You a
conspiracy theorist...". It's almost as though this
is the type of book that would replace the book for
the people who always need The Catcher in the Rye, in
that it truly touches the reader, and brings out a new
enlightenment on life, even for those who are
conspiracy theorists. The spooks who needed Catcher as their safe-haven, does this novel bring out that feeling, emotion, and security blanket? We will see...

Rating:
Summary: We are watching you Charlie.
Review: The way Chuck Palahnuik is the master of generation Z cultural breakdown, DiLouie's in his game w/ mental psychosis vs the omnipotent benovelent big-brother. Is the little voice in your head an enemy, a friend, or just something implanted by the Illuminati. In life, there are no good guys and there are no bad guys..beyond being circumstancial, its the side that keeps you alive. And after reading this, its just a little more difficult to take "democracy" for granted. This book is a mandatory wake up call. The world is not the Disneyland themepark you've been told it is. Question everything. Follow nothing. Paranoia is OPENING-YOUR-EYES 101. Submission to the system is the weapon of the oppressor. A bit too fanatical? I think not nearly fanatical enough.

Rating:
Summary: A Compelling What-If
Review: Wow! Are you ever wondering what am I going to do next? This is the book that makes you think that. What are they going to do next? DiLouie puts so much doubt in you as to which person is right or wrong or telling the truth. You will not know who did what till the end. If you figure this out before it is all over, then you are a psychic.
Also, the characters seem like everyday people. It sucks you in and makes you think, this could be me! Enjoy.