Rating: 
Summary: Such a mean view of the world
Review: I have the good fortune to say that I have never encountered anyone remotely like the people in this novel. I finally concluded that I was just not the target audience for this novel. Some people thought this was funny?! Compulsive sex adicts throbbing lovelessly away on the bathroom floor? Ugh.
Rating: 
Summary: Outrageous, and surprisingly funny satire!
Review: I had read "Fight Club" and "Survivor" before I read "Choke." I love "Fight Club" and "Survivor" and Chuck Palahniuk was already one of my favorite writers, but "Choke" kind of ultimately verified things.
As you read this book, you have a great sympathy for the narrator, a poor Victor Mancini, whose mother is dying (he's not sure if this saddens him or not). He also works at a Colonial Theme park set in 1734 called Colonial Dusboro where he meets his best friend, Denny. He is however, according to Victor, a frien out of necessity. It is also about his relationship with a docotr caring for his mother named Paige Marshall who says she can save his mother if he has sex with her. Oh, one more thing, he pretends to choke to death on food and gets money from the people who save him.
Like "Survivor" your sympathy is fully engaged from the first page. He starts narrating the book saying "If you're going to read this, don't bother." He is basicaly saying his life isn't important. It is a sad book.
It is also, like "Fight Club" an extremely outrageous novel. It has its share of humor, most of which occur while he cruises his sexaholics meetings.
This is a very funny, very entertaining book. It examines relationships, it examines life, and it is sad, outrageous, funny, and brilliant. It has a realyl awesome twist in the end. It's a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Stop overanalyzing, this book is enjoyable
Review: I have been reading many reviews for this book and I find a common thread in most of the dissatisfied readers: they need a book to seem intellectual and smart for them to read it. Many people are complaining about the writing style being similar to that of a 15 year old. Even if this is true, does it have to distract your attention from the book? I'll admit, this book has questionable narrative, but I still enjoyed it. I don't need to tell my friends I read some over-the-top literary work to be seen as a smart person. I can enjoy any book that has a well thought out plot structure, interesting characters, and a creative writing style. 4 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: All these great reviews make me gag.
Review: It seems that many of the reviews for the book are fantastic. I, for one, was not terribly impressed with the book. I picked it up expecting something new and creative, but instead, I found that there were a lot of similarities betweeen this book and fight club.Though the book was good, I don't think it belongs on my all-time fave list. I recommend you buy a used version and read it for a chuckle.
Rating:
Summary: Good style, short on substance.
Review: Pros: Imagery & style
Cons: Repetitive rhetorical devices & overused Fight Club persona
Rating:
Summary: A truly deep book that is easy to get into
Review: I wish I could have truly given this book 4.5 stars, but that is not an option. The only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 is the fact that when reading book by Chuck Palahniuk, you know to expect the unexpected, so the surprises are not as surprising. That being said, this is one of the deepest novels that Palahnuik has written. In his first three novels, Palahnuik writes about the wickedness of society and ways to obscure and change it, but in this book he looks at someone who is looking for a place in society and their desire to be needed.
This is not a first in Palahniuk's work, but here it is most prevelant. The main character, Vincent Mancini, does everything he can to be wanted and needed, but tries to put off the persona that he could care less. Vincent goes as far as doing things that he knows is wrong, but in the back of his mind he knows he is good person that wants to be liked and needed. He goes as far as taking blame for all possible wrongs and believing things that are improbable, all in the name of being needed. Two-thirds the way through the book, you may begin to have problems believing what is being told and the way things seem to be turning out, but stay true to the book and you will be rewarded. The ending may not be for everyone, but it suits the story and Pakahniuk's writing style well. From reading all of his books, you can definitely see a writer who is growing in his craft. At just under 300 pages, this is a good read and well worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book
Review: That award is not given lightly- I place this book on my favorite list above "Crime and Punishment" and "East of Eden." This tale, easily seen as shallow and vulgar by the ignorant mothers / conservatives of the world has a very deep message in it reguarding how each of us deal with reality; it speaks to our addictions and how we anaesthatize ourselves constantly in our daily lives so as to not face the real world. This book opened my eyes a little bit wider than they had been before reading it.
Rating:
Summary: ^_^
Review: This is my alltime favorite book. The humor, the story, everything is so brilliantly written. All around a wonderful reading experience.
Rating:
Summary: I have found the joy in reading again!
Review: Novels. I hate reading...Haven't been able to pick up a book since those days in high school when we had to read these meaningless rags the called novels. I saw the film "Fight Club" a few years back, and today it remains one of my favourites! I jut happend to pick this book up in a book store and flipped through its pages. What I found on those pages was something I had not expected from a novel. I bought the book, and read it in five days. The same guy that took two months to read "Johnathan Livingston's Seagul". I couldn't put "CHOKE" down....it is disturbing, hilarious, and filled with beautiful sentences. You will laugh out loud on one page...and be angry the next. Buy this book....it is what every kid whose ever thought that society doesn't care about him should read. Bring it on!
Rating:
Summary: Palahniuk is a God
Review: This book, like the three titles that preceeded it, is a master work of sarcasm and darkness. While my least favorite of his four books, Choke stands out as the most shocking and the most real. More than ever, Palahniuk's characters feel as though they could exist in the real world and are forced to deal with society. Through hate, sex, and insanity, he explores the question, "What would Jesus not do?"
Amazing book, certainly a MUST READ.
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