Fight Club: A Novel
Chuck Palahniuk showed himself to be his generation's most visionary satirist in this, his first book. Fight Club's estranged narrator leaves his lackluster job when he comes under the thrall of Tyler Durden, an enigmatic young man who holds secret after-hours boxing matches in the basements of bars. There, two men fight "as long as they have to." This is a gloriously original work that exposes the darkness at the core of our modern world.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I have read this book, clearly knowing and in awe of the film first. I definitely carried to voice of Edward Norton and Brad Pitt in my mind with oddly, Marla pictured and voiced differently in my head than the movie. The author writes the plot similar to how the movie is laid out but with a bit less intensity. This novel's noir satire drama is still great as it plays out. Even with knowing the ending, I liked it to the end as the author gives a bit more insight to the unconscious mind of the protagonist.
This book is pure chaos. I had a little trouble following the narrative, which could have been the product of listening vs. reading. The need to release pent-up frustration about your life through fighting is an interesting idea. I imagine the sporadic and repetitious nature of this story is an honest reflection of what it feels like to be living with a mental disorder. I had watched pieces of the movie before reading the book, so I knew what to expect. I loved the hints about Tyler Durden actually being the main character. The movie adaptation of this book feels incredibly true to the story. I’d recommend watching it if you haven’t.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.