Diary by Chuck Palahniuk

Title

Diary: A Novel

Author

Chuck Palahniuk

Copyright

2003

So, first of all, if you knew my reading habits well, you would know that I, until recently (perhaps the last year or two) instinctively shy away from writers like Stephen King and Chuck Palahniuk. Their writing tends to be painfully accurate, describing things that no one wants to know about. After a selection from one of his books was read out loud in one of my reading classes, I swore I would never read a Palahniuk book for the simple reason that I didn't want to upchuck ontop of the book I was trying to read.

That being said, when Say gave me this book and told me to read it, I was a little hesitant, but I trusted her not to steer me wrong. After all, I know where she lives . . . So I sat down and said a prayer to the gods of literature that I wouldn't be utterly freaked out and started reading.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. Although this book has a fixation on shit (as in fecal matter), it is highly entertaining, creating the environment of a small New England island town and casts Misty, the main character, as both savior and outsider.

I highly reccommend this book, although I do so with a warning. This book doesn't wrap all loose ends up nicely and don't expect to finish feeling fufilled. For a horror novel, the ending is both smart and haunting and more than scared it leaves you wondering whether the struggle against our own destinies is even a worthwhile battle.

The themes in this book are a little hard to place since it isn't my usual reading and the themes don't conform with my usual list of interests. Don't look for romance in here, and although the mother/child relationship is active in the book, its barely a theme. Read it to figure out the mystery of what is going on and pay close attention to any quotes, notes, or other writings Misty comes across. Another great way to read the book is to look at the writing style, specifically the point of view. It is both first and third person at the same time, narrated by Misty, although often she talks about herself as if she were a character in the story. Sometimes she talks to "you", the reader as if you were her comatose husband. Enjoy!

The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen

Title
The Ninth Life of Louis Drax

Author
Liz Jensen

Copyright
2004



Well, I don't really know where to start on this book. It is a great read, let me assure you and it will definitely mess with your head. I guess the only way to describe this book is that it is a paranormal mystery in which a nine year old comatose patient named Louis Drax is communicating with through doctor's spells of sleep walking, but even so this description falls short. Louis is what you would call an emotionally disturbed child. He is constantly having accidents, and each year he nearly dies. The circumstances that have caused young Louis to be in this coma are unclear, but his life has been anything but interesting.

The narrative style of this particular book is very interesting in that it shifts in first-person semi-"stream of consciousness" writing between both Louis (who is still in his coma) and Dr. Dannachet (who tells what is going on in the "real" world). I would highly highly highly reccommend reading this one, and I have delayed posting it until Sayshana finished reading it. Odds are we'll get some commentary on it from her, as well.

The main focuses of this novel are on the parent/child relationship as well as on what is paranormal versus psychological. I warn you when you read this novel, that nothing is really exactly what it seems so be prepared to be shocked.

Oh, and there is also recent information about a movie planned for 2008. Here's the link to imdb about it: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422829/