Fight Club

By: Chuck Palahniuk

Narrated by: Jim Colby

Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Internationally best-selling author Chuck Palahniuk's uproarious and irreverent debut novel Fight Club was transformed into an Academy Award-nominated film starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt.

When a listless office employee (the narrator) meets Tyler Durden, his life begins to take on a strange new dimension. Together they form Fight Club - a secretive underground group sponsoring bloody bare-knuckle boxing matches staged in seedy alleys, vacant warehouses, and dive-bar basements. Fight Club lets ordinary men vent their suppressed rage, and it quickly develops a fanatical following. Before long it takes on all the trappings of a quasi-religious cult, replete with a devastating ideological mission to accomplish.

A masterpiece of raw violence and black humor, this exciting novel challenges listeners to see the world through a new - and quite possibly deranged - set of eyes. Acclaimed narrator Jim Colby brings out the dark satire in this tale of modern alienation.

©1996 Chuck Palahniuk (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

It’s been awhile since…

…I watched the movie and I had not read the book before. From what I do remember the Movie adaptation seems quite faithful to the book with one notable exception. It’s always been interesting to me what this book/story is REALLY about: overcoming ennui in a life filled with materialistic banality or something else? Maybe a call to arms for socialism over free enterprise?A panacea for mid life crises by appealing to a baser instinct of physicality free from social order or hierarchy? This is a rather depressing tale honestly.

This is Not the Movie

Chuck Palahniuk will take you on a wild trip in "Fight Club." I am not one for fiction as a rule, but this was a great surprise. You'll want to read more of his work. On the side, I might suggest that listeners try Palahniuk's collection of nonfiction writing, "Stranger than Fiction" before venturing to Fight Club. The is one wild tale, but listeners will gain insight into how the author works and thinks which - for me - made the book even better. After encountering this book you'll never view soap making, support-group meetings, love triangles (of sorts), motivation, mayhem, and consumer culture in general in quite the same way. If you have not read after Palahniuk, this might be the place to start.

Well illustrated downward spiral.

If you could sum up Fight Club in three words, what would they be?

Testosterone. Chaos. Soap.

What did you like best about this story?

The way it was fragmented and echoed on itself. It fit the narrators situation/mood. I didn't feel a certain way because the book said i should. I felt that way because of how the story was presented. Just excellent.

Did Jim Colby do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Not really? there werent alot of characters anyway. So we really dont get to know anyone with a voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and no. Because of the nature of the book it was almost better broken up.

Any additional comments?

Inevitably i have to compare it to the movie. I actually enjoyed the movie more. The little nuances the actors brought to the characters and the way the scenes were directed were just masterful. To ME this story is better told in movie format. The book did a much better job of illustrating the downward spiraling mood but over all as a piece of art and a feeling... the movie takes the cake.

Excellent read.

Generation X and the Nineties Embodied in a Novel

This novel embodies the nineties by magnifying its mistrusting, rule-rejecting, self-reliant characters - all members of Generation X. It is a dark, twisted tale of self loathing and self destructive behavior which culminates in a surprise revelation that makes you want to start the book again. I saw the movie 15 years ago and then promptly forgot the plot (but managed to not forget Brad Pitt) so the movie did not spoil the book for me. I was impressed with the author's quirky writing style and there is no doubt that this style of writing has contributed to the many lines of this book now embedded in pop culture: "The first rule of Fight Club is..."

must read

great movie, great book. I love the build up of anarchy and the big plot twist

Now to see the movie

I haven’t seen the movie yet, so I can’t compare it to that. I did enjoy the narration and the story. I like the pace of reader and his voices for the characters. This is a story that keeps on turning, which I enjoy. I did know what to expect from the end, because of spoilers but I still enjoyed the book. I did like the issues raised and what is the worse way to react to them. I am now curious of Palaniuk’s other books. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY.

So much better than the movie

An absolute thrilling exhilarating twisted journey into the mind of Tyler Durden. The book brings so much depth into the character you don’t understand Tyler until you read this book.

Don’t forget the first rule

Yeah so I totally can’t talk about the book, first rule of fight club you know?

Chuck is the man!

Audible says I need at least 15 words for a review. Almost there. Ahhh, yeah!

Great book.

This is a great book. An instant classic. I can't wait to read the sequel.