Lullaby

Rating:
Summary: Lullaby
Review: "Lullaby" is a story about a reporter (Carl Streader) who is working on a story for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS.) Through his research for the story, he makes a startling discovery -- a poem that is printed in a children's book, called the "Culling Song," causes death to its listeners. The story follows Carl in his quest to destroy all of the copies of the Culling Song, and he gets mixed up with other characters who share his secret of the poem's power, if not his desire to destroy it.

I was drawn to this book because I really enjoyed the movie "Fight Club," and "Lullaby" possesses alot of the same angry undertones that made Fight Club entertaining. The book started out very strong. Palahniuk seems to have a gift for creating intelligent, edgy, and angry characters who go on rants that feel like they were borne from blast furnaces. Another thing I notice in the book that you can't detect in the movie is his unique way of describing things. Green is not good enough, he describes green as the reflection off of the yellow ball on the pool table rather than the red one. I like that.

This story does bog down a little bit. He spends much too much time on a road trip scene, and he tries to develop a love interest for Carl that feels like a movie where the two love interests are just plain miscast, (i.e., Keanu Reeves and anybody...just kidding.) These parts of the book are slower, but they do not undo all the good that Palahniuk created in the beginning of his story.

This story, though probably one of the author's weaker ones, was very entertaining to a first time reader, and I am excited to read more of his works.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining but not Tight
Review: A journalist researching a story on "crib-death" makes some scary connections between a series of infant deaths and a book of poems from around the world, leading him and a small crew of odd companions on a nationwide quest.

I can't say I really liked Lullaby, but I can't say I didn't either. It was entertaining, and it moved at a good, fast clip. I was always interested. But then there were a few things that just didn't sit well with me. There were times when the characters failed to act in ways we had been taught to expect them to act. Then events start lining up "Hollywood" style; things happen because, well, that's what needs to happen next. It was all too convenient.

Regarding the magic, Palahniuk falls into the ancient trap of letting his magic go unrestricted. All fantasy readers know magic needs to be controlled or it will ruin a good story, so Palahniuk casts his spells then waves his hands to keep us from asking too many questions, which, if he were pressed to answer, would force him to rewrite some chapters and come up with a new ending.

Entertaining, but not very tight.

Rating:
Summary: Vintage Palahniuk, but disappointing
Review: A wise writer once said that if you have a cute idea, turn it into a short story--not a novel. Too bad Chuck Palahniuk didn't take this advice.

It's enjoyable, with his usual weirdness and why-are-they-allowed-out-in-public? characters, but it feels stretched. There's not really enough plot to carry the premise through a whole novel. There are plot holes big enough to accomodate a Winnebago, and enough random weirdness and insane snippets are thrown around that it feels like Palahniuk was desperately trying to plaster them over. "Okay, sure, this character should have been killed right away and wasn't--but look! Necrophilia!"

I'm looking forward to the *next* book, which I hope rides on more than some nifty prose.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great...Palahniuk has done better
Review: After having read "Fight Club," "Survivor," and "Choke," I had been anticipating another great Palahniuk book when I finally received "Lullaby". I have to say I was disappointed; mainly because it wasn't as dark as his other novels seemed to be. It does have it's moments though and they are the edgy, dark humour that I have grown to love. But if you're looking for a laugh out loud novel then try something else of his.

Rating:
Summary: only Chuck can tell stories like this
Review: An audible plague. A book written in "peter tracks" bound with human skin, nipple included. Counting 1, counting 2, counting 3...
"Lullaby" tells the tale of 4 deranged characters (one named Oyster for goodness sake) who travel cross country in attempt to destroy all remaining copies of a culling poem, a poem that if read aloud kills the listener. The journey begins as a quest to save the innocent from unnecesary deaths, but quickly turns into a power struggle between those who know the poem and those who know of the poem. There's a difference, and that difference is the center that "Lullaby" revolves around. Save books by burning books, save lives by killing. All these oxymorons make for an incredible read that won't let you put it down, especially if this is one of your first or second Chuck books. If not...
Chuck's stories are uniquely his own, and while "Lullaby" is filled with plots, observations (television is filled with laughing dead people)and analogies that could only be made by him, "Lullaby" was, well, too Chuck. No one writes like him, but perhaps he should experiment a little and apply his style to characters that don't have so much in common (and I mean all of his characters, not just those in "Lullaby") - the book just didn't seem new.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: And I mean terrible. Really bad. Surprisingly, it reads like an After School special from the 80s. It's almost like a computer wrote this.

Pure drivel.

Rating:
Summary: This book sucks
Review: Being a fan of Chuck Palahniuk's previous works I was looking forward to reading this. The problem with this novel is that it is way too farfetched. Culling songs are not only retarded, but unrealistic. As a previous reviewer noted, this would have been great if it was made into a short story.

Rating:
Summary: Repetitive, but thought-provoking
Review: Carl Streater is a reporter. His job is to focus on the details, and it's slowly driving him mad. Ever since the death of his wife and child, he's felt empty. As he begins to realize that his life has no meaning, rage builds inside him, and it's only a matter of time before he explodes. While researching a story on crib death, Streater discovers a terrible secret. Every dead child was read a lullaby before they died. This lullaby was a culling song, a kind of ancient prayer that killed all who heard it. It was meant to end the pain of the elderly and those suffering from disease, but very few people know this.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. Yeah right.

Helen Hoover Boyle is a real estate agent who's also lost her loved ones. She sells the homes that people are afraid of, the ones that have been host to strange and disturbing happenings. Her pink, gaudy exterior hides her ruthlessness. She has accepted death and she takes advantage of her situation. Helen is dangerous and vulnerable at the same time, and she knows more than meets the eye. Together with Mona, Helen's deeply spiritual secretary, and Oyster, Mona's boyfriend, they go on a desparate mission to destroy all remaining copies of the anthology that contained the culling song.

From there, this novel turns into a critique of mass media and communication and the gradual blending of cultures. Like "Fight Club" this isn't just a casual read. It's difficult, thought-provoking, and extremely disturbing. If you are easily offended, my best advice is to avoid this book. Although there are some controversial topics discussed, you should look below the surface. Don't over-analyze, but don't take things at face value either. The theme of this book is constantly in your face. It's repeated over and over and over again. This can be irritating, but it does force you to think about it.

Overall, this book was definitely worth reading. It wasn't the kind of book that I really enjoyed, but it left me quite disturbed. And honestly, I think that was the point.

Rating:
Summary: A song of horror, fear, and death.
Review: Carl Streator is a journalist working on a story about SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). He is going on emergency calls to the homes of parents who have just lost their children and researching past SIDS cases looking for clues and a story. He arranges to meet Helen Boyle, premier realtor for distressed haunted houses, a parent who lost a child to SIDS almost 20 years ago.

Carl Streators' journey is a twisted maze of supernatural, paranormal, pagan ritual, truth, discovery, and even love.

Chuck Palahnuik begins your journey into 'Lullaby' in a chilling account of paranormal haunting and when your good and scared he taps into your maternal/paternal needs of protecting children by detailing the deaths of infants. I found the prologue and first couple of chapters difficult to read due to the images he evokes.

If your looking for eloquent prose of beauty and light you need to get a different book. 'Lullaby' is full of gritty descriptions, unusual characters, and a very dry dark sense of humor. You will laugh in this book but in the oddest places.

I did enjoy this book but my biggest criticism is he had great insights about the media that was lost in the side plots and characters in this book. The book asks the questions what if you had the power to kill? What if the media told you how to feel, can you control yourself? Does the end justify the means? Does power corrupt?

You will be surprised by the outragous and unusual events that only Chuck Palahnuik could dream up for us. This is a departure from books like 'Choke' and 'Survivor' that were self discoveries and a step toward the genre of Horror. If you like gritty tell it like it is style you'll like this book.

I liked it and would recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: not as good as...
Review: diary by chuck p.

still wonderful though