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| Choke | 
| Author: Chuck Palahniuk
Publisher: Anchor
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $7.25
You Save: $7.70 (52%)
New (53) Collectible (3) from $7.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  465 reviews
Sales Rank: 862
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.2
ISBN: 0385720920
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780385720922
ASIN: 0385720920
Publication Date: June 11, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 I don't get it. October 5, 2008
Like others, I saw the film Fight Club but had not read any of Palahniuk's books before. This book had been sitting on my TBR shelf for a while, and with the upcoming release of the movie I figured it was time to give it a try.
The word "sick" seems to occur frequently in reviews of Palahniuk's work. After reading this book I understand why. Many of the images in the book are quite disgusting, but "sick" is also a good word to describe the world as Palahniuk portrays it. Despite the high gross-out factor, this book is at times laugh out loud funny - indeed I could not decide if some of the scenes were for shock value or attempts at dark humor.
The protagonist Victor behaves in an appalling manner, but because the book is written in first person we can almost understand why and feel sympathetic towards him. However, whenever Victor starts to become likable, Palahniuk quickly does something to make us gag or laugh again. What a strange book.
Love (or maybe oblivion) and how to get it October 2, 2008
Like Fight Club, Choke is kind of a short, biographical (and in parts sad, very sad) micro-history of the weird, their weirdnesses, and the world outside of our peripheral vision. Palahniuk turns up things that make me both jealous and glad that I'm not the subject of his work.
And it makes me want to read more of his books.
 disapointing September 26, 2008
This poor mans version of Fight Club is surprising ineffective. It seems that Palahniuk is a one trick pony, or maybe this is just the sophomore curse, it's unlikely that I'll trouble to find out, that's how disappointed I was. The characters, instead of representing everyman, seem to be faker than those on a TV sitcom. The story, instead of giving voice to the existential angst of a generation, is simply flaccid nonsense. There is nothing here but a feeble attempt to shock. Very disappointing
Viscosity and Vitality September 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Chuck Palahniuk is in love with viscosity, but that's just an affectation. Among the puddles, piles, and globules are some beautifully crafted sentences. He just dares you to wade through the ear wax, phlegm, ejaculate, and other human effluvium to get to them. What he seems to be doing is reminding us, on the most basic level, what it means to be alive. That actually works. His fluid exaggeration isn't, as some have accused him, a gross-out contest, the man simply embraces magic realism on a viscous level. He does a beautiful job of creating a compelling story that pulls you along and never turns out as you predict it will. The plot twists are well set up and frankly the whole book was redeemed for me by the point made on its very last page. So you need to read that far, and then if you're like me, you'll love what Palahniuk says about life. I have no doubt this guy lives it to the fullest, and despite his desire to try to create a reprehensible character crafted from birth to be as effed up as he is, this is still a book about hope, optimism, and the celebration of the fact that we get one chance at this life, however slimy, and we should all make the best of that chance.
 twisted & delicious. September 16, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
After reading the novel once, I knew I had to own it. It's a must for any Chuck Palahniuk fan, or to those who haven't had the pleasure to enjoy his work, for anyone who likes things a little on the darker side. I couldn't live without a Palahniuk fix every day.
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