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Here's an update on Chuck Palahniuk adaptations, including CHOKE, DIARY and SURVIVOR!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with an update on what Chuck Palahniuk books are up for adaptation and what his feelings are on these projects. Palahniuk, for those who aren't sure, wrote the novel FIGHT CLUB which was turned into a movie that one or two people may have seen. Nothing huge below, but nice little juicy tidbits nonetheless! Enjoy!
Last night I went to a special reading/autograph/Q&A event with Chuck Palahniuk here at Indigo bookstore in Toronto. He read an exerpt from his latest book "Haunting" and his infamous short story "Guts." He seemed like a pretty personable guy. He knew how to handle the crowd and was very witty/funny throughout. He went on to talk about some of his books and where they are in terms of development.
Survivor:
- Has been picked up by the same creative team that was responsible for Constantine. The audience sighed collectively when he said this to which he quipped: "They had the nicest cheque! Geez!"
Choke:
- The script has been written and is ready for shooting/casting. Palahniuk says he's "very pleased with the script and liked it a lot." Apparently it's being developed by the same producers responsible for Requiem for a Dream and I Heart Huckabees. Take that for what you will.
Diary:
-Palahniuk seemed to be the most enthusiastic about this one. Apparently, Palahniuk heard David Fincher was in negotiations to direct it in an HBO miniseries form. Which, if done right, should be pretty interesting.
That's all I got. If you use this, I'm BobbyHorsepower. If you don't use this, you're all jerks.
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second rule is that if you don't dig Palahniuk...you've obviously got bitch tits.
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They'll have to come up with a rating beyond NC-17 for that one! LOL
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So it was that Dogtown movie, Benjamin Button and Stay. Can anybody help me out with the rest?
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They could do it in a suggestive (lame) way, with a narrator describing what is happening whilst we watch the dude struggles to get free.
In fact, if these are a success you can pretty much bet the bank ALL Chucks books will be shitted onto the screen.
Wow, can you imagine them trying to make the end of Fight Club now?... oh... sensitive...
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Jun 17, 2005 5:41:20 AM CDT
I thought Benjamin Button was still up and running, quantum_ken
by moviemaniac-7
But it might not. You never know with Finch. Palahniuk must be one of the best writers on the planet right now. I'm a big fan and I hope that all the adaptations give justice to the books, like Fight Club. Keep 'em coming, Chuck!
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Read the book. It's one of his best. And, losing your poop chute to a swimming pool drain is only one of many, many challenges that movie will face.
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stargirl is right. ( damn the 'return' key ... curses )
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Jun 17, 2005 6:55:17 AM CDT
alien 3 was the first Fincher phantom project and set the trend.
by evolvingsensblty
that flick was a pale ghost of what it should have been. also i think there was a thing called "seared", maybe...with brad pitt as a chef. also rendezvous with rama with morgan freeman. what was "stay"??
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Jun 17, 2005 7:32:17 AM CDT
SithLord999 deserves to lose his poop shoot to a swimming pool d
by monkey butler
for daring to say that Requiem for a Dream and I <3 Huckabees were shit.
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"Stay" is a mindjob flick written by David "25th Hour" Benioff. Now it's being directed by Marc Forster. Or directed, really. It's done.
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That's like that pool from Voyage of the Dawn Traitor (Spelling? It's been a while) that makes anything that's dipped in it turn to gold... and falling in it.
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That could be a wonderful, wonderful thing... Peace.
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For Sith to call BOTH Requiem and Hucks crap....
you really are an idiot, and I hope you suffer a fate worse than Saint Gut Free.
First off, all of this news has been on The Cult's website of Chuck Palahniuk for quite a while. But okay.
It's unfortunate that Survivor is to be done by those behind Constantine...... it wasn't bad, yet it certainly wasn't fantastic - Survivor is my favourite so I hope it doesn't just come off as an average film. The news about Choke is the best yet though, I think it's his best novel and the creative team will surely rock.
Diary was shit and I hope it never touches a screen. -
Diary is a Palahniuk's weakest book and does not have much movie potential...unlike, say, a wanker losing his lower intestine to the swimming pool drain.
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Or does that no longer happen?
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Yeah, Diary sucked ass (pardon the Guts pun). I've got Choke and Lullabye still to read, but I'm having a hard time motivating myself to do so after reading Diary, it sucked so bad.
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That's too bad. Have yet to get to it. Just liked the idea of a Fincher Miniseries since Fight Club was great. PEace.
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The Panic Room DVDs showed DF in a full blown OCD breakdown mode. The worst PR I've ever seen put out by a director.. Hearts of Darkness was bad too, but at least a classic film was the end result so all is forgiven.
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Lullaby would be an awesome movie. Oh, fuck that! ADAPT INVISIBLE MONSTERS! WE NEED FACELESS CHICKS AND TRANNIES! By the way, if you didn't know that Chuck Palahniuk is gay, you probably watch Jay Leno. Think about it. No, I'm kidding. But look at that neck. Tailor-made for dick sucking. I've been saying it since day one. Besides, his books always have extensive writings about masturbating or something like that. Total homo. I love that gay bastard. And FYI, people doing Survivor, just because the book calls for a redhead female lead does not give you the right to cast Nicole Kidman. She's about 30 years too old for that role now. And don't cast Alicia Witt. I just plain don't like her.
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Having read all of Chuck's books, this is by far the weakest. The movie rights were shopped around Hollywood for a long time but nobody was interested, partially because nobody could figure out how to turn it into a coherent and/or interesting story. If Fincher's figured out a way to do it, that would be exciting. But I'm skeptical.
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I have read Fight Club, Choke, Diary and am in the process of reading Lullaby. I was pretty excited about Choke since Palahniuk said it was his favorite character. After reading it, I was pretty disappointed by the book. It seemed as if it could have gone in a darker direction than it did. Also the ending was pretty weak in my opinion. Diary on the other hand, I thought was great and would probably be better suited as a miniseries (and on HBO). I'm halfway throught Lullaby and I think that could a really good movie.
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Despite being loopy, he has this strange realism floating around him that I really enjoy. It only perpetuates in his work. If Fincher directs ANYTHING, let alone another Palahniuk property, I'll be happy. -- http://www.cafepress.com/thenewpulp
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I must admit, I have a strong disposition, but "Guts" did make me put the book down for a moment. Yuuccckk. Haven't reacted like that to a book since a couple of passages in "American Psycho" (the rat in the vagina, for example, or when he reaches his arm down that chick's throat) I couldn't get that fuckin image out of my head, and I think it does for swimming pools what Jaws did for the ocean, for me at least..
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Fight Club is a far better movie than the book. Survivor is mediocre at best. His cult consists of literature starved future Reader's Digest subscribers.
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The trick to reading Chuck, and it's not a trick for a lot of us, is you have to read his books twice. On that second reading it really all comest together. I just finished "Haunted" and am reading it again, catching and understanding so much more the second time around. The same can be said for "Diary" which I think woudl be a great profect for Fincher and HBO. Also, if you ever get a chance to see Chuck live, at a signing, go! He is great.
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Jun 17, 2005 1:08:57 PM CDT
A "Haunted" movie would be similar to how they film "Lost".
by prozacmorris
No, not filmed in Hawaii but with the flashbacks setting up a lot about the characters and why they're at the retreat. I think if done right, NO BIG STARS, on a small budget and locked into an R-RATING, "Haunted" would be great. The kid from "The New Guy" could play Saint Gut-Free. John C. Reilly could play "The Earl of Slander". Some rising babe of the month could play "Miss America". Throw Julianne Moore and Lance Henrickson in there (Mrs. Clark and mean-old Mr. Whittier) and you got a great little flick on your face.
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This is the only book that I've read of his, and I wasn't impressed. I can't see anyone but a stay-at-home soccer mom being disturbed or shocked by any of the lead character's so-called deviant behavior. This book is the equivalent of Marilyn Manson in the music industry, and of "8mm" in the film industry. All of them desperately try to appear deep, dark, and disturbing, but they're about as dangerous as a bowl of stale Fruit Loops with not-quite-expired milk. And nowhere near as tasty.
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I thought it was fun, a good story, interesting characters... Lullaby also kicked mucho assmar, it would make a great friggin movie. Not one for the kids though...
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Jun 17, 2005 2:03:21 PM CDT
Prozac, I definetly thought Lost (and Oz) while reading Haunted
by chickychow
Love the idea of Lance Henrickson as a 13year old trapped in a creepy-lookin dude's body
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The anal beads. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah you do.
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"This little white floating things in your eyes. That's your retina's detaching. You're going blind." I've actually worked at one of those FIRST-PERSON got to always stay in character types of places, and Chuck nailed just how much it sucks.
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Choke was a masterpiece. By far his most socially relevant story, and held together by one of the most unique plots I've ever seen.
While it wasn't all that "Dark" or "disturbing" I don't think it was meant to be, and if you went in expecting that then you are fools to listening to bulshit reviews by feminist right activists.
Diary on the other hand, was a terrible piece of steaming crap that took me nearly a month to finish(I usually go through a book in a day or two). There was about two cool things in the whole book- one of which was completely irrelevant(The walking statue) and the other which is predictable and a bit of a cop out(the mass suicide). Regardless, it certainly isn't worth the 150 pages before each event to get to them.
Out of all his books so far, Lullaby and Invisable Monsters would probably work best as films. I see Survivor and Choke in similar viens as Fight Club, and both have the potential to be far better, because the books both blow away FC. Haunted would work best as an HBO series, like Lost as some of you said. I don't see it ever being a film- the constant flashbacks for completely different stories would be tedious for a movie. Also, I don't see the subject matter making it to the big screen... HBO has much more, uh, guts to show something that would be fairly "unnacceptable" in a wide release motion picture. -
I loved the Fight Club movie. It was the first I heard of Pahlahniuk. Never had the urge to read the book, but have read all the rest except Choke. Survivor would be a really good movie if the right people are involved. However, I would say Constantine was boring crap and have zero faith in anyone involved with that film. The only way to make a chuck flick is to keep it as crazy as the book. Fight Club did so, flopped in it's day but is now a cult classic. I hope that's what happens with the other books, but I anticipate watered down "meh" movies that don't get under anybody's skin. P.S. I agree that Diary was his weakest effort, rather typical. It wasn't bad, though. Just not as good as his other books. Lullaby and Survivor are both A+, and Invisible Monsters is an A-.
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Nobody fainted in the reading. Though a person's chair broke and fell, creating a false alarm. Palahniuk also went on to mention that producers were really pushing for Meryl Streep to play the mother in "Choke." I personally don't see it....but whatever.
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i thought he said that haunted was going to be the hbo series. its the only one that would really work that way
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Jun 17, 2005 4:15:52 PM CDT
Yes, but are any of those books "Grindhouse Literature?"
by ray garraty #47
Whatever that would be.
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My second favorite of the books of his I've read (all of them except for Diary and Haunted). But dern it, why is Invisible Monsters not being made?! That's my favorite of his books. Invisible Monsters on the big screen would be awesome.
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I was at the Toronto signing as well, and I'm sure that the HBO series that Palahniuk said they are trying to convince Fincher to direct was not Diary, but Haunted (at least that's what I remember). I also remember that Palahniuk said that the people behind Six Feet Under were involved with that project.
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Somebody beat me to it!
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I didn't like Choke a whole lot. I hated Fight Club. I loved Lullaby and Haunted. Diary was fair (I agree that it needs a second read) as was Survivor. Invisible Monsters is going to be a bitch to cast. And how will they keep that plot twist out of a movie? It's curious, if nothing else.
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at least, it seemed very similar to Rosemary's Baby to me in terms of the vaguely satanic cult vibe going on throughout it. i also think it could make a great film. i wonder which starlet will ugly herself up for the role? with David Fincher directing, looks like this one could be a keeper. definately looking foward.
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and it's time to send him to the glue factory. Fight Club and Survivor are both incredibly well-written, socially relevant books because beneath all thd darkness and perversion there were real humans in those stories. Now, after jumping the shark with Invisible Monsters, and descending even further with Choke, Palahinuk is content to just whip out literary pablum that, for a supposedly maverick talent, is all too formulaic. 15-45 little factoids + 1 ominous, pervasive sense of dread + rambling first person narrative + choppy puncation = some horrible act/revelation = Chuck Palahinuk formua. I think he's a legit talent, but that he's gotten lazy and should take a break. Maybe he could actually try and write a fully-realized character for once, or a story without factoids or whatever. Btw, Survivor would make a great movie, done right, i.e. NOT w/the Constantine folks.
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survivor and fight club are the best. assholes who did constanteen damnit! that could be one of the best movies ever and they are going to RUIN IT
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but i liked it anyway. and, the twist caught me totally off guard, and i felt stupid for not noticing it...i guess the baby brains stew was pretty fucked up and made me feel a BIT queesy.
other than guts, the only thing that palahnuiks written that really bugged me was the sequence in survivor about the lobster. it was just evil.
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i mean, re-read it. at the end, the young guy is possessing people long before we're told he is. you know because he's always picking his nose and biting his nails. i picked it up on my first read a bit, but it slaps you in the face the second time. also, lulluby is is best imo and ive read them all, except fugitives and refuges and invisible monsters, which i just couldnt get through, it bored me.
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I caught that right away. Evil little bastard.
I can't wait to see Lullaby on screen, because it will basically be "The Ring" if it were good. Ok, so not really, but it will still be amazing. -
No joke, I've been doing "street team" for Chuck Palahniuk books since Lullaby. I have Diary posters somewhere... eBay! My mom read Diary. I don't know what that means, but it's somehow significant. It's a sign about something.
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for the main character in Survivor, perfect casting.
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SPOILERS FOLLOW.
the nightmare box, who else got that it showed venus? -
Yes, I got that it showed Venus. I also think a Haunted miniseries would be much more interesting than one on Diary, as I thought Lullaby and Diary were his weakest novels.
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really? how, i thought it was his absolute tightest and best, the wrap around story, the social commentary, the genial perversion of the premise, the actual sense of beliveiblity that he brings to even his most absurd work (see his bigfoot story in Haunted for what im talking about). how could you not like it? i mean, specifically.
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I still liked the book. I like everything Palahniuk has done. I just enjoyed it the least. The sex scene on the ceiling was ridiculous, and although it brought up some neat stuff, a lot of it has been touched on in his other books. Had I read Lullaby before anything else he'd done, I'm sure I would have liked it more. I feel that since his books are so similarly themed, which ever one you read first, you'll be more inclined to enjoy, because it's the first time you're experiencing this stuff, as opposed to seeing it again and again. The same applies to Woody Allen's movies I think.
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and Pahlaniuk is basically that -- a neo-pulp writer. i mean, do you really want to read a sensitve, even-handed, character driven melodramatic novel of manners from Pahlahniuk? yeah, me neither. writers should stick to what they know -- and Pahlahniuk is exceptionally good at what he does. gritty, sardonic, paranoid, pulp pieces. is he a "great" writer? no. but i haven't been disapointed in any of his books i've read so far. i read his books for a specific type of feeling and he usually delivers what i want from him. file under guilty pleasure. scratch that, file under entertaining, minimalist, neo-pulp nihilism.
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and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Probably my favorite so far in my quest to read all his novels this summer. And like I said before, Choke was so-so in my opinion my least favorite so far.
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For the main character in Choke, Victor Mancini. Thats what i thought at the time, anyway.
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...I have read all of chuck's books.Im great.
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i was reading survivor, but once it got to the point where he was hosting his own show, i lost all interest. the book did a complete 180 on me and everything i liked about it was tossed out the window. my friend keeps telling me to go back and finish it off, but i'm just not feeling it.
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Banky the Hack you've got to read Choke and Lullaby. Choke is one of the best books written in the past 10 years. The guy with the rock obsession is worth the price of admission alone. Lullaby is a very cool supernatural story.
evolvingsensblty I think Seared was based on the book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain.
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Seared was based on the book Kitchen Confidential. Fincher was gonna do the black dahlia too i believe. he's had more potential projects than tarantino...
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Here are some of my thoughts on the Survivor film, being a fan of the novel and all... The issue of the Constantine guys doing it worrys me a little, I suppose, but I have some faith in the project as a whole. Supposing they get a strong Tender... and a fertile fertility of course. Constantine guys'd better spend some good time casting this puppy. How would I do it? I'd get a versitile actor to play Tender, cuz he has to be able to play Adam too. The fact that Tender has to also be able to play Adam means that the actor has to also be a badass at times. I'd cast Cillian Murphy. He could play a versitile triumvurite Fat Houseboy Tender/ Thin Godly Tender/ and Evil Adam. I'd also consider someone like Jonny Lee Miller or Jason Schwartzman. The Tender I would cast must put on about 20 pounds however to pull off Fat Houseboy Tender.
I remember hearing things about Gweneth Paltrow as Fertility when her brother was going to make this, but I can't see it so much. I'd cast somebody like Shannyn Sossamon or Sarah Polley (who I pictured as Fertility when I read it) or even Natalie Portman would be cool, imo. Fertility needs to be someone who can show off the ennui of someone who's bored with the present. She can predict the future, the all knowing Fertility can.
The guys who did the screenplay for Constantine look kind of boring to me. They could do a smash up job, though, if they follow the Fight Club playbook and stick rather closely to the source material.
The structure is easy.
Act 1 - Start with the airplane. Flashback to the old Creedish Death Cult. Flash forward to Tender as a houseboy talking to his caseworker. Talking to Trevor and the other crazies on the hotline. Then he meets Fertility at the Mausoleum.
Act 2 - Case worker dies. Tender meets with Fertility. Becomes mythic religious icon who gets skinny and does Superbowl half-time.
Act 3 - Tender on the run. Accused of case worker's death with Adam holding a gun to their head. Land fill scene, bye Adam. Then the plane.
I'd keep some of the voiceover, a Palahniuk staple, but not too much. The structure of the screenplay should be a breeze. They'll probably change the ending for clarity, but I don't want to see Tender and Fertility making out in front of a smoking airplane in the Australian Outback. That would look kind of stupid...
I like Phillipe Rousselot who shot Constantine. He has an impressive filmography.
The guys doing the music look okay, I guess. I remember listening to a lot of Radiohead's Kid A and Amnesiac, as well as Fatboy Slim's You've Come A Long Way Baby when I first read Survivor so I have my own predispositions about the soundtrack. I'd compile a kickass soundtrack that could include some Sigur Ros or even some Portishead. I'd pull out some old Brian Eno. I'd try to talk to Jeff Tweedy, too. His work on the Chelsea Walls soundtrack was impressive. Wayne Coyne might have some ideas too. They did something for Spongebob, after all. Of course, there's always the traditional method of an original score. Look up the Kronos quartet or something. An original score by Sigur Ros would also be cool, or even Radiohead.
Actually, Constantine guys, you should just cast Thom Yorke as Tender Branson and Johnny Greenwood as Adam. They could even play The National Anthem at the Superbowl where Tender makes his final prediction :) -
I'm also sort of scared that they will change/clarfiy the ending, but really, short of showing a black screen with the last minute or so of voice over, I can't see it maintaining the same sort of wink wink nudge nudge holy shit end that it had.
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Wasn't there a rumour on this site a while back that Jessica Biel was to star in an Invisible Monsters adaptation? Or did i dream this?
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I've read Invisible Monsters, Choke, and Survivor. And, let's face it, when you've read those three, you don't really have to have read Fight Club. Cynical, sarcastic, brooding characters in me-against-the-world situations. Funny how each one has a hook, too (like "I am Jack's..." in Fight Club). It becomes repetitive after a while. Now, I've never read Lullaby, but I wouldn't waste my time.
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