The Pillowman

This is a disturbing story done well. I read The Pillowman in about a day, opting to sit on a bench and fly through Act 2 rather than meet friends at a bar. This play simultaneously gave me chills and heartache and made me feel disgusted, all in the best ways that fiction can accomplish.

Lullaby

This book was my first experience with Chuck Palahniuk. I will say this: the man can invent a disturbing story. However, I was generally underwhelmed, maybe because I was expecting a little too much. As I read, I could feel him trying to be edgy and it grated on my nerves. Statements that read at intriguing social insights on page 5 became redundant and overused by page 30, let alone page 200. He would create a gorgeous phrase and then use it so many times that the writing alone gave me a headache, not to mention the persistent necrophilia, misogyny and general gore. I wouldn't say that I hated it, or even disliked it--just, as I was reading, I couldn't help but think that if I met Chuck P. in real life we really, really, would not get alone.