Hi all,

I'm really enjoying this book!

1. I'm finding the way it's written really intriguing. The whole idea of being told not to bother to read it, and the insults about him as a boy make me even more keen to read (which I guess is his intention!)
2. The graphic descriptions do make me feel uncomfortable, but I think that's probably the point. And the gross bits and the sad parts are working together with really funny aspects, which makes it all a very strange and enjoyable read!
3. It occurs to me that Victor is trying to invent a life for himself because he doesn't want to deal with the reality of modern life, or the only way to live is to be a different aspect of yourself to different people - it's just taken to extremes here!
4. I'm in two minds about the choking, although in the end I come down on the side of it being a positive thing, both for Victor and the people who "save" him - I can't wait to see if he gets caught out!

Looking forward to reading the rest of the novel, and finding out what others are making of it. I'm surprised at how funny it is - I hope that continues

I'm really glad you chose this book Pop - I wouldn't have chosen to read it from the title!
I'll make a start on the questions
1. This device enables me to feel that I’m sharing the experiences with Victor from his position, as if we're both looking at the same film of that young Victor’s life. It gives a certain distance which makes it possible to grasp how weird and unstable his life was so I feel engaged but not sunk in it. It also reflects his disconnection between himself and the rest of the world and where this comes from.
2. Although some of the descriptions are gross I think they're written about in such an open way - often hilariously too - that it ends up feeling real and truthful.
Will continue later...

Hi spc and supersocks, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the book. I'm pleased you're enjoying it!

supersocks - it's interesting what you say about the narrative technique giving a certain distance so we can understand Victor's sense of disconnection. He compares his life to acting in a soap opera that is being watched by soap opera people, which gives us this spiralling sense of dislocation.

Perhaps that's part of the reason why he craves the closeness of the choking scene - the physical connection with others.

It also makes me think of your point, spc, about Victor inventing a life for himself. As he doesn't know who his father is, he seems to have no stable point from which to create an identity for himself.

The sex addiction therapy technique of creating an inventory of your life also adds to this sense of understanding your past in order to progress in to the future and change the repetitious cycle in the present.

Looking forward to reading more thoughts on the novel!

3 I find it all really funny – how he pretends to be so many different people – but in a serious way I think it also reflects this disconnection with himself going back to his childhood. The idea of roles and what is dressed up as true - especially in Colonial Dunsboro – is brilliant on so many levels. The tourists know they are seeing a mock-up of something a long time ago, but don’t have any idea of the weird lives the “actors” are leading. I like how Victor describes his need for Denny to be there so his care for Denny when he’s in the stocks is not 100% altruistic!

I also think it's touching that he joins in with his mother's confusion as to his identity. The confusion of the elderly is so well portrayed in the book, with humour and pathos.

I agree supersocks, the balance between humour and pathos is so expertly done. My admiration of Palahniuk has grown hugely because of this book.

Can't wait to discuss the next section with you guys!

I don't think Victor is wrong to fake the choking, as he says it's to keep his mom alive and the way he's found to do it gives someone else a good feeling about themselves. It sort of reflects the sum of his life so far - having trained as a doctor he knows the physiology of it (and knows he has to start breathing before someone actually does do a tracheotomy!), then there's the bit about "like mother like son" - which I don't quite understand - maybe it's to do with the secret codes his mom devised to get him to meet her, and the lies he knew he had to tell her about hating his foster carers. Creating heroes and winning by letting someone else feel strong, gives a win/win situation! I think he's right that people like to send a cheque as a Christmas gesture to those they consider needy - and this is so much more personal than sending a cheque to the latest disaster zone! All of which I think is funny and sadly true. Because often people do this more readily than put this sort of approach into action in their families or daily lives.
I think his words that "It's OK to cry as long as you're faking it" are really sad and perhaps show what he actually gets from this apart from money for his mom.

I'm looking forward to the next section, I agree spc, I want to know if anyone catches on to what he's up to! I really hope more people join in the discussion, it's a great book!

Your comments about the choking really bring out the complexity of it all supersocks, thanks for sharing!