Rant

By: Chuck Palahniuk

Narrated by: various

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Chuck Palahniuk, the author of the New York Times best-sellers Fight Club and Lullaby, is known for his edgy novels, and Rant is no exception. Palahniuk presents this fictional biography of Buster "Rant" Casey in a series of vignettes told by the people who knew him best. As intricate as a spider web, Rant succeeds in recounting the story of one man's life only through the eyes of others. But the question remains, "Who was Rant Casey?"

©2007 Chuck Palahniuk (P)2007 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"This dark religious parable (there's even a resurrection) from the master of grotesque excess may not attract new readers, but it will delight old ones." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Outrageous but not quite over the top, full of energetic humor, Rant...is a memorable portrait of the cults that gather around authentically different people and a portrait of dystopia that feels unsettlingly contemporary." ( Booklist)

History is nothing except monsters or victims.

“History is nothing except monsters or victims. Or witnesses.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Rant

HE was close. He was so damn close. He just didn't close it at the end. It was a poem that ended in a whimper. The mixture was nearly perfect, just not flammable. But don't say Chuck didn't try. I imagine Palahniuk had Ballard's 'Crash' and Benford's 'Timescape', several oral histories, and perhaps even Hofstadter's 'Gödel, Escher, Bach' sitting on his shelf as he wrote this.

Reading Rant was like watching a blind guy juggle a bunch of balls, some are on fire, and some you realize are actually burning cats. Palahniuk exists on an edge of grotesque, absurdity and social criticism that sometimes makes you lose sight of the shore. You forget what the normal is. You forget the boundaries. You are caught between a weird night and equally bizarre day. You aren't sure what to do so you just keep digging/reading.

Five major takeaways from this novel (which I might one day delve into deeper if I ever find myself with too much Liminal time or space in-between):

1. Rabies & Bites
2. Hyperosmia/Hypergeusia
3. Time Travel + Incest
4. Party Crashing + Night & Day
5. Oral History/Myth-making/Christianity

Anyway, I enjoyed the novel. It flew. But it just ended meh. No bang. No cliff. Just a strange, absurd, grotesque, incestuous loop.

loved it!!!

What a bizarre listen!!!! Chuck is the best.

Palahniuk's triumphant sci-fi piece.

I've read Rant thrice. The book is even more amazing with narration. Gives more life to each character.

Another amazing story.

This story is a ride you will not forget. You may question reality when finished.

Stuck with it - great story if you make it!

when you realize what is going on and the si-fi world that Chuck has created - it is great!

Give it ten minutes - all will become clear -ish

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I loved this once I got into it a bit. Totally original in the format and delivery. Hard to even describe except to say I was riveted by the story telling and the character development - wow, what characters.

What did you like best about this story?

The performances were interwoven perfectly.

If you could take any character from Rant out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I loved Echo...so damaged, but brave, and confident, and honest.

A must!

this has to be one of the craziest story's if listen to but its amazing and well done! I would recommend it to anyone!

dark and disturbing

If you enjoy a dark sense of sarcasm and can tolerate a certain level of brash honesty regarding human nature, this book is for you.

shivers!

this is my very favorite Chuck Palahniuk book. A redneck messiah, cunnilingus, a pandemic and just a pinch of sci-fi.

Dark Crazy Fun Ride

I read this book back when it first came out, and loved it. So much so, I wanted to listen to the audio reading of it. I have to say it was even MORE enjoyable in this format. The characters were easier to keep track of, and came to life more.
This book is Dark (as your expect from Chuck) but also fun and hilarious at times. It will warp your brain a little, but in a good way.
Highly recommend.