Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories (Unabridged Selections)

Upon reading a previous two reviews wherein the listeners expressed dislike for this material, I had to post that I completely disagree. Granted, this isn't for people looking for slapstick comedy or an action-adventure story; but if you like stories about quirky, odd characters, I think you'll find this collection to be fascinating and hilarious -- a lot of it had me and my girlfriend laughing out loud in the car as we listened. It is written and also narrated with excellent style.

I am a big fan of Mr. Palahniuk's fiction, but i have to say this collection of non fiction essays really charmed me. He sees a level of detail and activity in everyday events most don't, and as he is the narrator, there's a certain intimacy to this recording that makes it very pleasant to listen to. This was a great listen - a collection of well told stories that both entertain and provided me with a glimmer of insight into one of my favorite writers.

Chuck Palahniuk has gone nonfiction on us in "Stranger than Fiction: True Stories." Those new to his work will be caught up in the individual chapters right away. Don't skip the Introduction either because he discusses writing and his approach to the book.

This particular volume is a collection of articles previously published in various magazines. For those who listened to "Fight Club," there are insights into how the movie was made. His description of life as a submariner and the basic lesson he reveals at the end of that piece is worth the price of the book.

He will make you laugh, bring you to tears, and make you think. The reading is excellent. I hope that Palahniuk will write more about his work and bring us more nonfiction.

I kinda feel like ive known Chuck for years now....this story had a speed dating kind of feel ...like listning to highlights of an old timers life of way back when...the transitionin from one story to the next has as much of a break as one paragraph to another....when writing of himself.... its like hes reflecting to one of his old friends and brings some of the insights together....i enjoyed it!

I am more than impressed as always with this author. I love it especially when he himself narrates. I loved loved loved this book so much!!!!

Chuck Palahniuk delivers true stories straight in line with his fiction. He delves into an unusual and sometimes darker side of society and history. This book is a must for Chuck Palahnuik fans.

I should get a refund, this isn't true crime. It's a story that I ordered under True Crime. No it's the author of Fight Club talking about stories he's heard or seen, with a bit of his own stuff. I didn't finish it. Can't really rate this as bad, just not what I wanted and mis-filed by Audible.

I really enjoyed these funny/crazy stories. Chuck P. is always a great listen.

Only a few of the stories stand out, of those, one of the most interesting is the first, the Testicle Festival in Montana. I was hoping that the rest of the stories were equally odd, shocking, and of
an unknown subject. The story on castle building in America comes closest. But as for the rest? I enjoyed the interview with Marilyn Manson, but I was disturbed that the author sees fit to breech the trust he?s given to have access to Mr. Manson. If a condition of the interview was to not mention that Mr. Manson rises when women enter the room, an interesting fact that shows Manson?s at least polite if over provocative, why did the author so violate this condition? That?s
not the only time he doesn?t keep his word. The author drops names like rain drops and its clear he enjoys the celebrity milieu, but if I were famous, I wouldn't meet with him. There?s just no telling what he'd try and take from me without permission. As for the other stories, his dabbling with minimalism is interesting, but at other times, his writing is overly self important. He?s at his best when he tells the story rather than list his credentials bragadoccio. I get the point Mr. Palhahnuick: you wrote Fight Club. How many times do you need to hit me over the head with this? Afraid I might forget? Curiously, he notes with seeming lack of interest that people
in different cities are actually starting fight clubs. You know what would have made a hellofa story? Actually going to one of these fight clubs, finding out what goes on, whether they match the movie, and so on. But explaining that the movie is based on a collection of the author?s own experiences just makes me feel kind of sad, taking all the good juice from the topic. I can?t help wondering if this collection of stories is premature. The author is capable, but there?s so much in here that?s doesn?t stand as tall as the best of the stories, that had the poor ones been tossed, the book would proabably been too thin to publish.

No saving grace.

His style sounds like a person who has a smirk on his face.

No.

Annoyance. I was 10 minutes into it when I felt like saying "either shut up or get to the point." People are fascinating but I don't consider their behavior of people in sex clubs in Montana or obsession with demolition derbies particularly interesting and certainly not "stranger than fiction"

We've all seen a scene in a film where an egotistical writer has a group of swooning women sitting around him as he regales stories or waxes his philosophy. This book sounds like what that writer is saying if you listened in.