See also: adult
See also: hardcore
See also: pornographic
It’s a book where its author, Chuck Palahniuk is a “genius”. Genius may not be the right word but it’s the first one that comes to mind.
Palahniuk brought us, “Fight Club”, and now has delivered us, in his novel “Choke”, a series of characters either as sane as the insanity of their lives will allow, or as insane as their belief in a normal life deceives them. The hero, Victor Mancini, is born of an immaculate conception, either to a virgin or to a prostitute—it’s never clear, rising above the abounding sin to help those in need of salvation. Victor rises above his addiction to help his invalid mother (virgin or whore) who is locked away in an assisted living center for those with psychological issues. With medical costs of $3,000 per month Victor must find money to pay this bill. After he accidentally begins choking on food as a young boy he realizes that those who rushed to aid, and were successful, become heroes. Once they save your life they want to relive the experience over and over again. Victor exploits this phenomenon by asking for money. He grows this into a fairly lucrative business by repeating the accidental choking over and over again.
Down then we plunge into the seedy underbelly of compulsive addiction only to be lifted up on the other side by those willing to seek restitution in good actions or deeds. Masterfully conceived and told by Palahniuk, we must believe that Victor has overcome the demons of his upbringing, as we all have overcome our own demons in order to live semi-productive lives, as we cheer him on. If he is normal then we must also be normal…even if we are occasionally visited by insanity. In the end, when Palahniuk turns the story on its head, a signature move, we can’t make the same comparison lest we also be cut from the same lunatic cloth. Yet somehow it has a happy ending.
Another perfect novel for Palahniuk…five stars.
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