Helpful Score: 8
Although I loved the movie, this is a classic case of the book being better than the flick. Fans of the movie owe it to themselves to read this book!
Helpful Score: 5
I have passed up reading this on my shelf at least 50 times. I absolutely LOVE the movie. It's one of the few that I consider to be nearly perfect in it's execution. I figured the book would be so good that I would forever not like the movie... well, I was wrong. The book is good, but the movie adaptation was such a clustering "screw with your mind" visual medium, that it blows the book away. Without giving away any spoilers, the thing you find out at the end of the movie, I thought was pretty obvious in the book - BUT that could be because I knew the ending, I don't know... the book was "good" but the movie is better - wow, I think I've maybe said that twice in my life!
Helpful Score: 4
Great book...makes a strong social statement of misguided, disgruntled and disaffected youths of the country. The author writes in such a way that will keep you as confounded as the main character...he bends time writes scenes within scenes. This contributes greatly to the huge plot twist revealed at the end.
As brilliant as the books is, the Brad Pitt/Ed Norton movie actually conveys the passion of Tyler(Pitt) and the bitterness of the main character (Norton) a lot better than the book does. Also , the plot and flow of the story came across much clearer to me on film than in the book (I saw the movie first).
As brilliant as the books is, the Brad Pitt/Ed Norton movie actually conveys the passion of Tyler(Pitt) and the bitterness of the main character (Norton) a lot better than the book does. Also , the plot and flow of the story came across much clearer to me on film than in the book (I saw the movie first).
Helpful Score: 2
It is hard to write a comment on this book. It is similar to the film, but with fantastic differences too. I like them both for different reasons. The movie was a fantastic adaptation, in my opinion. But the book was fabulous in it's own right. It is dark and seedy and funny all at once. Definitely a good read.
Helpful Score: 2
I could not finish this book. My brother recommended this book to me. I have never seen the movie. While I can understand why my brother loves this book and why it appeals to so many people, I just could not stomach any more. The plot seems fascinating, but the author has some horrible stomach flipping descriptions. I do most of my reading at meals or before bed. I could not read during these times, because the descriptions were so vivid that I was losing my appetite. And it was causing surreal nightmares. Don't get me wrong. This book has some good writing in it. It just upset my personal sensabilities too much to continue. This book is NOT for the squeemish.
Helpful Score: 1
this is the best book i have ever read (i think) chuck palahniuk is probly (in my opinion any way) one fo the best authers around today...one of the other ppl that posted a review said that the movie was better but I think the book is because it shows marla as a better person and in the movie she is like a footnot that dosnt matter and is just there to piss off the narrator
Helpful Score: 1
This is Palahniuk's masterpiece of a novel--packed so full of his wit and wisdom, a new kind of philosophy is born. The movie was great, the book is better. Exquisite!
Helpful Score: 1
I cannot say enough about this book - it is raw, well-written and effectively one of the best books I have read in a long time. The facts that it's Palahniuk's first work, and that it began as a short story are surprising and make it all the more enjoyable! If you've seen the movie, do not doubt for a second that this book far surpasses what the directors were trying to portray on-screen! It's amazing and wonderful and I will most absolutely hang on to my copy and read it again.
Helpful Score: 1
Knockout
First off I'll say that the ending of the book is different than the movie. And I think it's actually more ballsy! This is a great book that speaks to an alienated subclass. It's really not just about fighting but about getting in touch with yourself (your dark half) and becoming whole. It's about being real. Yeh, it's violent: so what. Fun to read and exciting, with plenty of attitude. I recommend it.
First off I'll say that the ending of the book is different than the movie. And I think it's actually more ballsy! This is a great book that speaks to an alienated subclass. It's really not just about fighting but about getting in touch with yourself (your dark half) and becoming whole. It's about being real. Yeh, it's violent: so what. Fun to read and exciting, with plenty of attitude. I recommend it.
This novel embodies the nineties by magnifying its mistrusting, rule-rejecting, self-reliant characters - all members of Generation X. It is a dark, twisted tale of self loathing and self destructive behavior which culminates in a surprise revelation that makes you want to start the book again. I saw the movie 15 years ago and then promptly forgot the plot (but managed to not forget Brad Pitt) so the movie did not spoil the book for me. I was impressed with the author's quirky writing style and there is no doubt that this style of writing has contributed to the many lines of this book now embedded in pop culture: "The first rule of Fight Club is..."
Way better than the movie.
This book rocks. It's written in a simplistic format, but with a very deep story.
I saw the movie before I read the book and I have to say I'm impressed with how faithful the movie was to the source. I really enjoyed it.
Hands down one of the best books I have read. There are parts of the book that the movie left out and I now wish the movie had included. Chuck Palahniuk creates a disturbing individual/individuals that at some point in our lives we can all relate to. Must read!!!
I loved the movie "Fight Club", so I decided to read the book. The movie followed the book with only a few exceptions (the most notable being the ending). When Palahniuk describes the fights, they are just so much more vivid than the visuals in the movie. There are some things that just can't be described in film. I was satisfied with this novel.
I would not recommend this to many people because it's just so controversial, but it's a real eye opener.
I would not recommend this to many people because it's just so controversial, but it's a real eye opener.
i thought this was a great book.. wierd ideas on the world we live and the extent our society values materialisim... better than the movie
Great writing and fresh and new. Even better than the movie and much more dramatic.
Dark and subversive, even weirder than the film (if that's possible). Palahniuk is a master storyteller and is able to weave the most useless yet fascinating trivia into the narrative. A very fun book.
His name was Robert Paulsen.
Fight Club is funny in a detached way. Palahniuk's writing reminds me a lot of Kurt Vonnegut.
Fight Club is funny in a detached way. Palahniuk's writing reminds me a lot of Kurt Vonnegut.
Must read for anyone who has seen the movie. Quick to read but so much is packed inside.
This is the debut novel of Chuck Palahnuik. I read it when it first came out in PB in 1997. I remember it was wildly different and I liked it very much.
I haven't read all of Palahniuk's work since I kind of felt the latter stuff like Snuff kind of just delved into his literary pattern of finding small tidbits of information about life and somehow weaving them into a tawdry storyline wasn't all that interesting after he's done it a few times. This, however, is Palahniuk's first book, the fourth chapter of which was just written on it's own and later turned into a novel.
The book I liked a lot for it's edgy, fast moving, stream of consciousness format. I think the difference between his "good" and "bad" books is that books like Choke or Fight Club actually have a tangible, moving story which gets your invested in the characters and storylines more. The little info tidbits like "Here's how you make dynamite" and "Baggage handlers are called throwers" seem incidental and add to the story, vs the later books like Snuff where the story seems incidental to him telling you interesting factoids and anecdotes. Just FYI the book is pretty descriptive in it's violence and language and sex. Definitely for the on board R-X adult reader.
Second, since there's no way to untether this from the movie of the same name, they are different animals. The book/movie relationship reminded me in many ways of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. Both books contain similar elements, characters and situations with some changes between the book and movie. In both cases the books are actually edgier and delve more into adult subject matter. One thing I do enjoy more about books and these authors is they can and do tackle subject matter darker than you could in a mass marketed Hollywood film. Palahniuk in this version actually writes an epilogue that details many of the stuff that has arisen since the book was originally published ranging from the movie to the real life "fight clubs" that were inspired by or preceded the book. I found that actually pretty insightful for him to write about his experience going from an unknown author struggling to find an audience to his work to being world renowned and copycatted almost overnight. I suspect other bibliophiles will enjoy it as well.
The book I liked a lot for it's edgy, fast moving, stream of consciousness format. I think the difference between his "good" and "bad" books is that books like Choke or Fight Club actually have a tangible, moving story which gets your invested in the characters and storylines more. The little info tidbits like "Here's how you make dynamite" and "Baggage handlers are called throwers" seem incidental and add to the story, vs the later books like Snuff where the story seems incidental to him telling you interesting factoids and anecdotes. Just FYI the book is pretty descriptive in it's violence and language and sex. Definitely for the on board R-X adult reader.
Second, since there's no way to untether this from the movie of the same name, they are different animals. The book/movie relationship reminded me in many ways of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. Both books contain similar elements, characters and situations with some changes between the book and movie. In both cases the books are actually edgier and delve more into adult subject matter. One thing I do enjoy more about books and these authors is they can and do tackle subject matter darker than you could in a mass marketed Hollywood film. Palahniuk in this version actually writes an epilogue that details many of the stuff that has arisen since the book was originally published ranging from the movie to the real life "fight clubs" that were inspired by or preceded the book. I found that actually pretty insightful for him to write about his experience going from an unknown author struggling to find an audience to his work to being world renowned and copycatted almost overnight. I suspect other bibliophiles will enjoy it as well.
A totally mind-blowing book. It keeps you guessing until the very end and even then you\'re not sure you got it all. Makes you want to go back to page one and start again.
I was absolutely riveted. I could not put it down.
I loved it, the book was just as gripping as the movie~
Fantastic book. If you haven't (or even have) seen the movie, you need to read it.
"Fight Club" is about the conflict within us for acceptance from our peers, our loved ones and ourselves, as well as, the struggle for complacence, satisfaction and feeling of self worth. If you've seen the movie and decide not to read the book, you're doing yourself a disservice
This book is a can of Alphabet soup gone wrong. Utterly brilliant!
I really really dug this book, but I was expecting more of a statement on society like an Ayn Rand which is probably unrealistic. Anyway, I've wanted to read it forever and since there were 25 people ahead of me I just bought it. I hope it gets passed around the swap quickly.
Definitely my favorite Chuck Palahniuk book. This book was absolutely incredible. The ending blew me away. One of the best books I have ever read, in all honesty.
Love, love, love this book. This is NOT chick lit! This is a powerful treatise on society, and on the psyche. As a psychology major, I ate it up with a spoon. Violence is not the topic at hand, the nature of the mind is.
I recently re-read this book (hadn't read it in years, but LOVE the movie), and somehow didn't find it as good the second time around. Perhaps it's that nihilism and anarchy become less impressive and attractive with age. :) Anyway, if you're a fan of the movie, the book really only works if you think of them as completely separate. The details of the book differ so far from the movie that it's not really the same story (although the premise is the same.) Minor details such as how The Narrator meets Tyler to major details, such as what happens at the end, are completely different. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story, and Palahniuk fans would love it as they love most other things he has written. However, if you're coming to Palahniuk as a fan of the movie Fight Club, I am skeptical that the book would impress you.
This book was quite a ride! I never saw the movie, so I had no idea what to expect. There's a big twist that really took me by surprise.
Now I'm dying to see the movie and find out how they staged this.
The book was a really fast read - I read it in a day. I couldn't wait to see what happens next. When you become completely unglued from reality, anything can happen!
Now I'm dying to see the movie and find out how they staged this.
The book was a really fast read - I read it in a day. I couldn't wait to see what happens next. When you become completely unglued from reality, anything can happen!
I have not read this book.
This is typical Palahniuk...gritty, shocking and with that odd sense of humor thing he does. Entertaining read.
