Rant

Title: Rant

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Pages: 320

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Buster "Rant" Casey is a serial killer who relies on totally unorthodox methods. He starts an urban demolition derby where drivers and teams roam the city looking to hit and mark other cars involved in the derby (mixed in with the general public).  This weekend event, known as "party crashing," becomes quite a dangerous pastime.

My Review: While I generally enjoyed the book, I spent large chunks of it having no idea of what was actually going on.  This may be one of those books where more and more of it would make sense if you read it a few times but I don't plan on doing that...

Fight Club

Title: Fight Club

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Pages: 224 pages

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: An unnamed narrator works as a recall specialist for an auto company.  The extended stress and travel takes its toll and he finds himself suffering from insomnia.  When he brings up this issue with the doctor, the doctor sends him to a support group for testicular cancer to "see what real suffering is like." The narrator finds that listening to and sharing the problems of others alleviates his insomnia.  While on a nude beach, the narrator meets Tyler Durden, a charismatic extremist and the two get in a confrontation that becomes the beginning of fight club.  The first rule of fight club: You don't talk about fight club.  The second rule of fight club: You don't talk about fight club.

My Review: I found that I really enjoyed this book.  It was a little bit hard to follow at times, so it is one that I wouldn't mind reading again.  Unfortunately, I don't remember much more than that as I finished this book a couple of months ago.  I do know that I would love to see the movie (with Brad Pitt and Edward Norton), but I'd be interested in an edited version...

Disclaimer: There is a lot of fighting (surprise!) as well as a bunch of other violent acts, with some language.