Choke

"Entertaining" isn't the right word, but it's the first word that comes to mind.Although I thought Fight Club, the novel, was much more edgy, entertaining, and compelling, I still believe Choke is worth reading especially for ANY fan of Palahniuk's style.Chuck Palahniuk has a style that captivated many through his novel Fight Club. Choke, like Fight Club, deals with the problems of one man. The story is told from his point of view so you get his opinion on everything. Choke, however, is less about physical and mental destruction and more about one mans semi-fight to stay sober as he is a sexaholic.Victor Mancini, the sexaholic, attempts to attend numerous meetings with others that have the same affliction, but he fails as he is usually side tracked in some closet with a female sexaholic. When Victor isn't working at the Colonial Historical Park he uses his spare time to "earn" money in a very unique way. Victor must use this money to pay for his mothers $3000 a month hospital bill as she is somewhat sick and confused.Many twists and turns makes this a good fiction read for most who are looking for something different. On the other hand, Choke is a must for fans of Palahniuk's special style. I'm definitely looking forward to his next novel.Oh yeah, and about Victor being the next coming of the Messiah...

First things first...It takes a long time to read Choke because the laughs slow down one's normal reading speed. So, don't let the novel's size deceive you. Second, this is not a frivolous book. As is true with quality comedy, the obscured underlying "message" is deadly serious. Ostensibly, Victor Mancini is working (Choking) in fine restaurants for the purpose of reaping financial windfalls that will enable him to purchase for his mother, Ida, a feeding tube. In the novel, Victor recounts life with Ida, the "Mommy," and describes himself as the "gullible" or otherwise diminished "kid." Ida is a criminal; her crimes are petty, but intended toward one goal: creating chaos and unpredictability in a world which, she says, suffers from a surplus of organization (everyday a "cruise ship"). She goes to a pharmacy and mixes up hair dyes, placing blonde in the red-hair box and so on. She wants, not to uncomplicate her life, but to uncomplicate herself. She is not alone. Also seeking a meaning in unpredictable and seemingly trivial actions is Denny, the "hey dude" friend of Victor. He collects rocks to celebrate his sobriety. Victor, Ida, Denny, the nursing home "doctor," Paige: all are pilgrims in the new world, trying in their modern way to build Johnathan Winthrop's "city on a hill." Addicted to drugs, sex, delusional, these and other characters in Choke are trying to find direction and meaning in a world that would rather avoid even such discussions. I could not bring myself to find convincing the image of an adult Victor Mancini who remains impressionable after a volatile, unprotected childhood of trailing his wily mother in and out of courts, foster care and the modern legal system generally. A small complaint in the overall scheme of things. Reading Choke and you're in a cool hypnotic state, a self-contained world where you can laugh out loud as you ponder what drives the characters of Choke to their extremes and why, by the way, are we not similarly driven.

Selected this book as there is a debate in Florida on appropriate books for Middle and High Schoolers and this has been removed from School libraries in local County under push back from those who believe that action is censorship.The very people who mock the idea of Banned Books, believe this Choke should be on school shelves.As a fully cooked adult, parent and grandparent, who is an active reader of a wide variety of tomes, Choke falls into the category of cheesy smut for a select group of adults who seek out pornographic reading for solitary thrills. I made it to page 24, trying to sort out the value of reading further and realized that there is none.This book is not worthy of being passed on to a friend, a local library Resale or a freestanding Library House in the neighborhood.It instead wound up in the trash barrel

Very funny and approachable to casuals and veteran readers alike.

Another in an alt-world filled with extremes of unnormality of Chuck Palaniuk. No one acts or reacts as expected. Useless (or useful) facts scattered around. Never a dull moment!