Following a strange conversation with Lynne about whether or not her physics teacher looks like Chuck Palahniuk (I say yes, she say no) I got interested and started reading up on him.

This guy is one of the best writers around, despite the debates. He takes issues that are often previously untackled and makes it funny, shocking and inspiring. I have most of his books (anyone with spair copies of Haunted and Invisible Monsters, feel free to give me a late birthday present) and I read them over and over. They're not only great for reading, they're great for quoting for ToK. They make good topics for the Extended Essay, too. Let me know if you want to read mine, I'll put it on here.

An example of his viewpoint, here's a passage from Lullaby (one of his best):

"Centuries ago, sailors on long voyages used to leave a pair of pigs on every deserted island. Or they'd leave a pair of goats. Either way, on any future visit, the island would be a source of meat. These islands, they were pristine. These were home to breeds of birds with no natural predators. Breeds of birds that lived nowhere else on earth. The plants there, without enemies they evolved without thorns or poisons. Without predators and enemies, these islands, they were paradise. The sailors, the next time they visited these islands, the only things still there would be herds of goats or pigs. .... Does this remind you of anything? Maybe the ol' Adam and Eve story? .... You ever wonder when God's coming back with a lot of barbecue sauce?"

Of course, he's had his share of criticisms. People accuse him of inspiring lunatics to go ahead with crazy plans, starting Fight Clubs and bombing the shit out of government offices, but this is what he has to say to that:

"Wow. Bummer. I can't control that, you know? All I can control is how much fun it is for me to do it. And beyond that, I can't control whether people are going to go to it, whether they're going to like it, how they're going to interpret it. I can't control it, so I don't even worry about it."

It's true, isn't it? He writes a book and if people decide to go crazy, that because they had crazy in them anyway. Books are all based on reality, and Fight Club was written because he saw something missing in society, that men needed somewhere to be together, and this was his answer. Anyone who's read the book knows that his answer fails, but hey, critics and crazies never understand books.

Fight Club was made into a game, which I find totally counter what it's about (same could be said for the movie, but it was so fucking good), and although I have my criticisms, this is what he had to say:

"I don't care what they do with my book so long as the fucking check clears."

And I think that's great.

[ 1 moments of sanity]

[ submit some sanity ]

first off, i miss you.
secondly, i totally agree with him. his ideas are just given out to the public and they chose what to do with them. bravo, chuckie.
its like when someone teaches you something, but it's your choice to listen and learn, or ignore him. the professor still gets paid.
i cant eat without my bbq sauce, as you already know.
there =] i commented, and it sure was NOT the first time.
<3************************

By  Anonymous, at 11:17 pm