Sophia C. reviewed on 9/20/2009 + 289 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

True fact: You'll find a lot of bodily fluids, half-naked men, random trivia and hard-core pornography playing on the overhead televisions in Chuck Palahniuk's Snuff. You'll likely find annoying his gratuitous use of the phrases "dude" and "true fact." But if you can peel that away like the excess cheese on a slice of pizza, there's an interesting story at the core of this far-fetched plot centering around aging adult film star Cassie Wright's open casting call for 600 male participants. Does her record-breaking serial fornication attempt need to be a snuff film (e.g. someone has to die on screen) in order for her career to go out with a (gang)bang? The real action happens in the green room, as three men and the production manager alternate running the plot from their own perspective. Each has his own agenda: Mr. 72, a young man who is convinced he's the son Cassie gave up for adoption; Mr. 137, a disgraced actor facing his own demons; Mr. 600, Cassie's old co-star with his own flabby career; Cassie's assistant Shelia, quietly taking bribes and making sure things run along. This book is a dirty, intense, and ultimately thought-provoking experience and commentary about pornography, identity, and human nature which boils over into an explosive ending. I kept on imagining the story adopted into a play like Mamet's Glenngarry, Glen Ross.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details