Haunted: A Novel

Haunted:A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk ****

Whether you love him or hate him or must admit that Chuck P is without a doubt the most creative writer of our time; Haunted is very creative. The plot is not really a plot but yet it is. We find a group of 'writers' who go to what they think is a three month or so work shop to help them write their masterpiece, but what they find once they are their is that they are being held captive for what seems like forever. Once this is realized the 'guests' decide their masterpiece should be about this experience and try to make it as outrageous as they can. Mutilation, dismemberment, masturbation, murder, suicide, manslaughter, animal rituals(? maybe), and just about anything else that Upchuck thought he would include in this story of story's within the story. By the way this is not for the squeamish, but then none of his work is really. Though it does become stale in a some places, especially about three fourths through, but that is okay because then it picks up greatly.

As the book begins to come to a close we realize this is merely a tale of humanity and it's obsession with pain and punishment. Whether we want to admit it or not according to the narrator and Mr. Whitteir in the story (not the same person) we all love misery. This is a great novel that all fans of Chuck 'upchuck' Palahniuk will enjoy.

I found myself loving the backstories of the characters more than I did the main storyline. It's a collection of stories linked by a common thread, yet in a way, it could've worked as individual short stories. The individual stories of the participants themselves are not for the squeamish. It's almost like a snuff film for the mind.

Anyone who likes the format of the TV show "Lost," will like the backstory/flashback element of this novel. It takes the format and pushes it beyond even cable TV standards, giving the reader an uncomfortable edge each time you read another thread.

But that's why I loved it. It's an unabashed look at the darkside of the human mind and the horrors some of us go through in the past and the horrors we are willing to commit to gain something. It's that dark thing that some of us hide so that when other people hear it, makes our lives seem not so bad. As its title suggests, it's a "haunting" look into the human psyche and will stick with you long after you close the book.

This book made me sick. Literally. I had read about 3/5 of it when I got so nauseous and dizzy that I had to put it down once and for all.

Having said that, there was a reason I got as far as I did. I couldn't put it down. I'm just a wimp and couldn't take it anymore. If you have a strong stomach, go for it!

The razor blades in the doll did it for me. *Shudder*

This book has an interesting concept, but unfortunately it isn't executed well. It's overhanded attempt at satire is unfortunate, especially from someone who has shown themselves to be quite talanted.

Good book, amazing characters. Very, very disturbing stories. I loved it!

I have my favorites of course and so will you, each character tells his/her story, with a few characters telling more then one story a piece.

Saint Gut-Free "Guts" - hilarious and probably the most digusting story you'll ever read

Director Denial "Exodus" - brilliant, brilliant writing

Chef Assassin "Product Placement" - love this one

Tess Clark "Post-Production", "The Nightmare Box" - this story still haunts me

This is the same guy that wrote "Fight Club" and currently is making another one of his books into a movie, "Choke"!

If you like, gruesome, graphic and sexually charged disturbing literature, you just found it!