The poems are a highlight here, along with the A prose poem introduces a character, then An interstitial interlude observes the characters in a group, as 'Haunted' has a formal and fairly straightforward
The effects varyįrom hilarious horror to more straightforward observations of shitty lives Every word is a precisely placed pleasure. Of guilt, shame and embarrassing consequences. Observing with aplomb as they step over the edge and plummet into an abyss Palahniuk buildsĪ rock-solid scaffolding of facts then sends his characters strutting out confidently, (or the depths, depending on how you view them) of 'Guts'. Stories are also excellent, though none achieve quite the heights 'Guts' is clearly a standout and an attention grabber, the rest of the individual It's an accomplished gem of humor, horror and boys-only storytelling. The horrific upshot ofĪll this humiliation spins off a barrage of facts into the realm of urban legend. So much horrifying as humiliating and embarrassing. The Palahniuk twist is that what he describes up front so graphically is not Manages to outdo all the vividly described horror that has preceded it. The reader with graphic descriptions, then literally pulls out a finale that In 'Guts', he uses the classic horror technique of tenderizing Story 'Guts' to the apocalyptic science fiction closer 'Obsolete', PalahniukĮxplores, explodes and creates urban legends to Turns into a quest for control and survival. What should be an experience of artistic exploration and fulfillment To a huge, ornate abandoned theater, where they’re locked in with a limited Instead of an outdoor paradise, they’re driven Men and women answer an ad offering three months away from the world to create Told by the participants of a writing retreat that starts out strange and rapidly Than you're likely to encounter elsewhere. As a novel, 'Haunted' may beĪ bit less than the sum of its parts. You'd prefer not to think about let alone see. Show through, surrounded by bright red scar tissue and oozing bodily fluids That doesn't always hang together as a novel. Offers humiliation as the ultimate horror. 'Haunted' explores the consequences of story control and Is an obvious fix-up of short stories strung together by a creepy battle toĬontrol the story. In this sense both a victor and victim of history. He presented a story told by a psychic who knew every event before it happened, Few writers are asįascinated with storytelling and narration as Chuck Palahniuk. Who write the history, those who control the vision, those who finally, onceĪnd for all tell the story may in so doing seize victory before any conflict History, we are told, is written by the victors. Chuck Palahniuk Haunted Reviewed by Rick Kleffel