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Most Helpful Reviews
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Liked It “This was a fun one! Not my fave of his works though. I'm just not one for the lower age level.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It4 of 4 members found this review helpful “First, if you've never read a Palahniuk, I don't recommend starting here. |
Newest Reviews
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“Not a fan... although it's intriguing and written from the perspective of a totalitarian spy, it just didn't really draw me in and became more of a book I just wanted to get done with, rather than an enjoyable read”
Kyle W wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I was really disappointed with this book. I felt it was written very immaturely and a lot of the content was for shock factor only. I know that a lot of Palahniuk work is based on a bit of shock factor, but his earlier works (Lullaby, Survivor, Choke, Fight Club) are written with a lot more intelligence than his recent works (namely Pigmy and Snuff). I'm slightly concerned that one of my favourite authors is running low on intelligent ideas and filling the gap with immaturity.”
Chris Wilson wrote this review Saturday, October 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This was a fun one! Not my fave of his works though. I'm just not one for the lower age level.”
Amanda H wrote this review Thursday, October 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A young Chinese boy comes to America as part of a plot to destroy the capitalist pigs. Set in "Anytown" in the Midwestern US, Pygmy gets his nickname from the redneck youth he meets after he joins white, Christian exchange family. Written completely in broken English.
Jennifer S wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Chuck Palahniuk succeeds again in creating a completely creepy scenario that makes you consider things you never wanted to consider in the first place. Not one I'd recommend to my mother-- but an interesting read if you are slightly twisted and dark. ”“I'm really excited about this book. The plot is unlike any other I've read and I can't wait.”
Dylan S wrote this review Tuesday, October 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I didn't really like this book, but I didn't really dislike it, either. It was an interesting story, but it was so difficult to read because of the deliberately convoluted syntax -- some sentences, I had to read three or four times before I really understood them, and that annoys me. Also, I feel like Chuck Palahniuk, in general, is sometimes graphic just to uphold his reputation, and there was a lot of that in here.”
Monica J wrote this review Tuesday, September 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not his best work. Ending was kinda cheesy, but I still liked it. Would probably one of the last of his books I would recommend to someone”
Josh J wrote this review Thursday, September 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It is probably a good thing that I listened to this book on audio. I am not sure I would have been able to make it through Pygmy's hilarious verbal syntax otherwise. The book was at once bitingly satirical, wildly funny and terribly horrific. I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the lukewarm ending. It was hard for me to tell whether the author is critiquing American culture or celebrating it. ”
Greg O wrote this review Friday, September 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoyed this book and would say it is my favorite Chuck Palahniuk book alongside Fight Club.
moik wrote this review Thursday, September 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
When I first started it I nearly quit, especially after a brutal anal rape scene that occurs early in the book, that I initially felt was gratuitous, but turned out to be an important plot element. Once you get past that one scene the book was very funny.
I read through the Amazon reviews and noticed many of the reviewers complained about the language that the narrator used throughout the book. Well, the language is English, but the syntax is unique. At first I felt it was a bit overwrought but after a while I realized the language was the most interesting aspect of the book.
If the book had been written in standard English would it be as interesting or funny? No.
The language feels like a foreign language translated directly into English. (Chinese?) The verbs are mostly used in the infinitive form (but the word "to" is absent), articles are mostly excluded (except for "the" deity), and there are no contractions or possessive apostrophes. Also the verb "to be" and it's various forms is not used very often.
There is an irony in that Pygmy and his fellow agents totally dominate a spelling bee and even correct the teacher's pronunciation of difficult English words most people have never heard of; yet he calls his brain "thinking machine" and his adam's apple id "apple of adam" and so on.
Plus, his English vocabulary doesn't improve as he spends time in the US.
This book is very funny and the plot was captivating. The narrator started out as a truly unlikable character but he grew on me as the book continued, and he does indeed change as the story proceeded. The way the narrator's world view influenced the way common American phenomenon were described was hilarious. The language reminded me of other books with a synthetic language such as Clockwork Orange or Riddley Walker. Highly recommended.”
