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2 stars because the oral biography, although hard to read at first, was a good idea. The plot is just bad and makes the whole book uninteresting. If you read a Chuck Palahniuk book do not start with this one. Go the way of Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, or Survivor.
However, it crashes like a dreamliner full of flaming cow crap, and he keeps you going on for another 50 pages to reinforce how bad it really is. It's not hard because he basically hands it to you. When you read Rant, you are in a world of night, with snapping rapid jaws and lowlife celebrants who are too cool for the neon lights that show you their scars and pimples, living out their insignificant social plans of mayhem and stupidity. You can learn a lot from it, if you can just not feel disappointed when the twist comes and invalidates any worth to the whole thing, while simultaneously hinting at the better idea that should've occupied its place. Pros: Okay, so this Chuck Palahniuk fellow is an outstanding author and he plies you with his trade on the first three pages of this novels.
It's insanely bizarre and like other bizarre stupidities, such as Catch 22 or Catcher in the Rye, you're obligated to read it because it's a nouveau concept. It's glorious.Cons: But Chuck, the twists are just getting hokey. Then go sit down and write the same story only better. Seriously, read this book, get upset, and write something better. Somewhere in there is a genuinely good idea, and I really mean that. But alas, it's sinking into the same quagmire as the bad idea, so you just let it go.Summary: I've complained a lot lately about great ideas being squandered by authors who should know better.
When he wants to bring you somewhere, he takes you there and introduces you to real people who walk, talk, think, and care about things you never thought about. This one is hokeyer than Fight Club's fairly smooth alter ego twist, and less believable than Invisible Monster's everyone is related twist. Oddly, this is a poor idea made into something so close to great that it is seductive. It's not the twists of a Palahniuk story that make it so good, it is the tactile reality of his characters and settings that set them apart from the vast majority of anyone writing today. It dodges behind the crap, even the most ham-handed rape scene I've read lately, and almost surfaces. I mean, he could've just omitted explanation, and it might've flown.
And once you have been picked up for this party of automobile accidents known as lives, you can't get out. In a way, it combines both of these with some seriously bad psuedo-science.
Rant Casey's story makes the reader question society, history, and reality. I am a huge Palahniuk fan and this book did not disappoint. The oral authobiography style literally gives every character his/her own voice.
it takes a minute to get used to this style of writing, but i loved it. best book ever. the ending is crazy.
This was a great deal and received it in pleanty of time and in good shape
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