Reviews

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

abigailhall's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

omnilegentstories's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

laurgrggs's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

4.5

Some men take this seriously. Surface level and seriously. They commit to it. They miss the point. 

I know this because Tyler knows this. 

And I think that’s hilarious. 

writermaguire's review

dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

noahjmack's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

besnovaniye's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

neensobeens1's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Weird and kind of disturbing, but a good Chuck palahniuk book

millagreenpurple's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lexi6's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

adperfectamconsilium's review

dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

'You don't say anything because fight club exists only in the hours between when fight club starts and when fight club ends.'

This darkly satirical novel was published in the 90s and was Chuck's debut. A short, bleakly funny and suspenseful tale about the disenchanted generation bored with the 9 to 5 tedium and consumer culture aspirations.
Before the film adaptation came and helped the novel become such a huge influence with THOSE rules, THAT twist (one that's been copied but never bettered and if you've managed to avoid it then reading the book and experiencing it as intended will be amazing), endless quotes from Tyler Durden and all kinds of merchandise, there was just this whip-smart literary experience.

The narrator is a young man bored with his job, stuck in a rut, suffering from insomnia and gatecrashing support groups as a form of self-therapy.
Marla also attends some of the same groups (neither of them have the problems the support is for) and they bond over their mutual fakery.

And then he meets Tyler. Tyler Durden. Part time projectionist, waiter and anarchist who one night asks our narrator to hit him. As hard as he can. Fight Club is born. A movement appealing to the young men of generation X takes off across America in basements and parking lots. 
The violence is cathartic,  the rules are simple, the pain is life-affirming.

I am Joe's pugilistic protagonist.

Soon, Tyler is living with our narrator and in a love triangle with Marla. Tyler is also busy making soap. Bars and bars, using any materials to hand including the fat from liposuction. Maybe it's so Tyler can make money but maybe it provides cover for his plans to make explosives.
Because the success of Fight Club is just the start. The anarchy of Project Mayhem awaits and the first rule of Project Mayhem is that you don't ask questions about Project Mayhem.