Choke

By: Chuck Palahniuk

Narrated by: Chuck Palahniuk

Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Victor Mancini, a medical school dropout, is an antihero for our deranged times. Needing to pay elder care for his mother, Victor has devised an ingenious scam: He pretends to choke on pieces of food while dining in upscale restaurants. He then allows himself to be “saved” by fellow patrons who, feeling responsible for Victor’s life, go on to send checks to support him.

When he’s not pulling this stunt, Victor cruises sexual-addiction-recovery workshops for action, visits his addled mom, and spends his days working at a colonial theme park.

His creator, Chuck Palahniuk, is the visionary we need and the satirist we deserve.

©2001 by Chuck Palahniuk
(P)2002 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the freshest, most intriguing voices to appear in a long time. He rearranges Vonnegut's sly humor, DeLillo's mordant social analysis, and Pynchon's antic surrealism (or is it R. Crumb's?) into a gleaming puzzle palace all its own." (Newsday)
"At times very funny. Also sick and perverted....Readers will love it. Readers will hate it and be offended by it. Must listen to figure out what you think." (AudioFile)
"Displays a Swiftian gift for satire, as well as a knack for crafting mesmerizing sentences that loom with stark, prickly prose and repetitive rhythms." (San Francisco Examiner)

Completely mis-understood work of genius

This book has been reviewed by several prudes on this site, and that's cool. But this book contains so much more depth and insight into people's actions and the motivations behind them. It is one of the most insightful and thought provoking books I've ever read, and it's a shame that so many people can't see past the "vulgarity and sex talk". Have an open mind with this one and you might walk away a different person. I know I did.

sobering

I got this book because I really enjoyed the movie "Fight Club." I was a little unnerved by the extensive and raw description of what goes on in the mind of a sex addict. Though this was disturbing, I found the book compelling. In the end I felt that the author's narration set the perfect tone. I enjoyed my little journey in someone else's mind--a reminder that the world is composed of all kinds.

hardcore palahniuk

If you like Palahniuk, you will love this one. It is typically gross and full of creepy facts "the smell of a new car is the smell of death". So bad you can't put it down. If you are uninitiated to the author, I highly recommend picking up "Survivor" or "Lullaby" first. Love it or hate it, this book will stick with you for awhile.

Delivery

Chuck - don't read your own books, hire a professional. Good story by the delivery leaves something to be desired.

Amazing

Chuck creates an amazingly despicable character you cant help but hate and root for. The whole story takes you along for a ride dropping subtle tidbits along the way that build and build to an absolutely stunning pinnacle moment. Many scenes feel both real and surreal simultaneously and the use of motifs mirror the character's struggle through the repetitive nature of addiction/compulsion.

Perfect isnt the right word, but it's the first word that comes to mind.

biased opinion

Maybe biased but Chuck is my favorite author I have almost read all of his books , the story is fantastic and when it's ready by the author it makes it that much richer so having this book read by Chuck was a dream come true.
spoiler alert (not really)
there is bonus content

No more narration for Mr. Palahniuck

While the book was good the performance was so flat and dry that it was difficult to get though.

The view from here

This is a voyeristic look into the oddities of society. The story is told with perfect a perfect combination of sarcasm and intelect.

Darker subjects are covered so be patient

This will be a struggle for some to read who are unfamiliar with Chucks work. Otherwise it's another amazing story.

weird but interesting. 🙃

at the end of the book, the Author shared his reasons behind the wiring of this story that was cool thx