Book Review: Chuck Palahniuk - Non-Fiction (2004)

Rating: ****

Don’t you just love it when the publisher decides to release a book under two different titles? For those in the UK and Australia, this book is call ‘Non-Fiction’. Everywhere else – it’s ‘Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories’. I can’t help but wonder if I should be personally offended by this – as if to say the US publisher believes Brits and Aussies will drop their jaws in dumbfoundedness, not being able to decipher the complex elaboration of more than one word. Reminds me of how when the first Harry Potter came out in the US, they called it ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.’ Did they think the Americans wouldn’t know what a philosopher was?

Since I live in Australia, I’m calling it Non Fiction for the rest of this review, and frankly, I think that’s a better title for it. Better to keep things to the point, and simple. Chuck’s name is an advertisement for the book enough.

I am now pleased to report that Non Fiction is a darn good read. Way, way better than the other nonfiction piece, ‘Fugitives and Refugees.’ That was a complete misfire. Non Fiction on the other hand, now holds an outright position as my favorite Chuck Palahniuk novel. Yes, I even this is better than Fight Club.

I had no idea whether or not this book would work, being a compilation of essays / articles / memoirs written in random sequence by Chuck, and according to chronology he hadn’t written a decent book since Choke in 2001. Lullaby was okay, but got silly in the second half, Fugitives and Refugees was incomprehensibly irrelevant, and Diary was just plain bad. Thank God then for this book, coming along, and pushing Chuck right back into form.

Being a compilation that we have here, you can judge each chapter / article on individual merit. A fair portion of the articles are actually mediocre, not bad, just random and uninteresting. After knocking it out of the park with a few early pieces, I wondered if the book would then subside into the same ambiguous territory as Fugitives, where Chuck hides behind his arty-farty wordsmithing, instead of being open and honest, and giving us a little insight about life.

This was the case, for some of the time, but Non-Fiction is a stand out book for the Palahniuk catalogue, in that it is the only one of his books that gets noticeably better as it goes along. Fight Club, also, I think had a strong finish, but Non Fiction does it much better.

It’s weird how he pulled this off, being these are out of order articles, that don’t really relate to one another, but the whole way through Non Fiction we are being built a subliminal picture of Chuck’s vision of the world, how it was formed and what the consequences are going to come of it. This really becomes evident when things really come to the boil in the last, shortest, and best part of the book, titled ‘Personal’. These are his autobiographical extracts.

When reading this book, I felt that Chuck began, as always, with his huge shield up, not wanting to let people in. And along the way this oh-so-subtlety breaks down, until the very end where he’s left sitting alone in a room with all his deductions he’s made from all the previous encounters in the book. Hanging out with a friend who owns a castle, wrestling fanatics, a party in a haunted house, dressing up as a dog for a day just to see people’s reactions… Then all the interviews with high profile celebrities including Juliette Lewis and Marilyn Manson, to his own ascent into fame, and the relentless nostalgia of Fight Club the movie.

We really arrive here with the author, and it’s a damn dark place to be, when he doesn’t seem to know whether his life is worth anything – how anyone’s life could be worth anything…

The only way to pull this off better would be to actually write a proper autobiography, but to pull out something so powerful, from a combination of standalone articles is a rare achievement.

And now a special mention to the third article in the book, ‘You are here’, which scores an easy ten out of ten for me. That one is about how everyone now sees their life as a movie, reducing their days into scenes, their past into prequels, and themselves into any famous actor or actress of their choosing.

DIARY (2003) *

FUGITIVES AND REFUGEES (2003) **

LULLABY (2002) **

CHOKE (2001) ***

SURVIVOR (1999) ***

INVISIBLE MONSTERS REMIX (2012) **

FIGHT CLUB (1996) ***

Shane's Top 20 Songs: #2 - 1979 (The Smashing Pumpkins, 1995)

Who?

The Smashing Pumpkins are an alternative rock band most famous for their nineties albums Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Siamese Dream, and their prolific singer / songwriter Billy Corgan. They originated in the grunge scene alongside Pearl Jam and Nirvana, but eventually spread out and broadened their range of music. The original lineup disbanded at the end of 2000, but in 2007 Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin reformed the band and released a comeback album, Zeitgeist. In 2009 Chamberlin left the band and was replaced by Mike Byrne. The current line up also includes Jeff Schroder who joined in 2007 after Zeitgeist’s release, and Nicole Fiorentino on bass. They followed Zeitgeist up with the Pumpkins most recent release, 2012’s Oceania.

What?

1979 is a single from 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, the Pumpkins’ best selling album. It is, probably, their most recognized song.

When?

The first time I’d ever heard of Smashing Pumpkins, was when I was eleven years old in 1997, and they were finishing up their wave of popularity. Although I can’t personally attest to it, Corgan has claimed that in 1996, they were the biggest band in the world. I think around that time I was familiar with 1979, having heard it on the radio numerous times. In 1999 when I first got into the band, I also recognized Disarm, but couldn’t tell you from where. All I knew, was that I loved both songs.

Where?

Pumpkins are one of the few bands that constantly changes a song’s sound whenever they play it live. Going through my Pumpkins concert catalogue, I can hear 1979 in amoungst the heavy rock years of its, I can hear a very bizarre Adore version, a commercialized version from 2008. It goes on and on and on. Even the acoustic versions sound worlds apart from year to year. And that’s just one song of course – The Pumpkins always did this. Smashing Pumpkins were my first alternative band, the first band I bothered to listened to live shows of, and I was always disappointed and surprised to find out they were almost alone in this effort.

Of all the live versions of 1979, I have an absolute, no doubt about it, favorite.

In the Pumpkins final two shows of 2000, the band took drastic measures to lift certain songs in their setlist, above and beyond the norm.

So there it is – the best live version of 1979 is the final song they played in 2000’s four hour farewell concert, heartbreaking, all encompassing, and beyond this world.

Why?

For so long indeed, I’ve been using the 1979 from their second last show, the United Center, as my definitive version. Crazy to say, it’d been a while since I heard the original.

Then I listened to it. And it blew me away.

Again.

The Smashing Pumpkins are my favorite band of all time. Before them, as I’ve said, my favorite bands / artists were Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi and Cyndi Lauper. When I listened to Adore in 1999, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was a new sound. A unique sound. It taught me to fall in love with music all over again. And from there I went to the Pumpkins' other albums, and then to other rock bands like Pearl Jam and Radiohead. And while I still love all that old music, I can’t deny it’s been upstaged.

I don’t know how well you know The Pumpkins, but let me tell you, it was HARD trying to find what their best song is. I mean, there’s so many to choose from. And I have a different favorite all the time. In some part I was tempted to select Gossamer, which is the very opposite of 1979. A 30 minute obscure live-only song from 2007 and on, as opposed to 1979 which is their best known, most liked piece from the casual listener.

But whether I like it or not, it all comes back 1979. Not only was this rare in that it was an alternative song I liked before I liked alternative music, but also it has so many other memories attached to it. Like it’s place on Mellon Collie’s superior second disc, Twilight To Starlight, which could carry the same acclaim on its own. And then there are all the other times, of listening to this songs with friends. People who don’t even really like The Smashing Pumpkins.

But they like this one song.

So then, 1979 for the second greatest song of all time. I feel like it’s always watching me, updating the story of my life, with each new time I listen to it. It really does take me to a place of healing and acceptance. Really. All the good things in this world, I can find in that song.

And in a strange way, just like the Pumpkins when they’re playing live, this song is different every time I listen to it.

Smashing Pumpkins Runner Up: Gossamer

#3 - LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (Bon Jovi, 1986)

#4 - VOYAGE 34 PHASE II (Porcupine Tree, 1992)

#5 - FIRST LIGHT (Ancestors, 2012)

#6 - TAKE (John Butler Trio, 2001)

#7 - YOU'RE THE VOICE (John Farnham, 1986)

#8 - UNTITLED 8 (Sigur Ros, 2002)

#9 - 10,000 DAYS (Tool, 2006)

#10 - ACHILLES LAST STAND (Led Zeppelin, 1976)

#11 - BAT OUT OF HELL (Meat Loaf, 1977)

#12 - NO CARS GO (Arcade Fire, 2007)

#13 - IN THE AIR TONIGHT (Phil Collins, 1981)

 

#14 - GREAT BIG WHITE WORLD (Marilyn Manson, 1998)

#15 - R.I.P. (MILLIE) (Noiseworks, 1991)

 

#16 - ZOOROPA (U2, 1993)

 

#17 - OUTLAW PETE (Bruce Springsteen, 2009)

#18 - ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD (Pearl Jam, Live)

#19 - SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND (Pink Floyd, 1975)

#20 - CRIME OF THE CENTURY (Supertramp, 1974)

 
Honorable Mention: FREEBIRD (Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973)

Shane's Top 20 Songs: #3 LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (Bon Jovi, 1986)

Who?

Bon Jovi are a hugely successful and famous rock band, who were at their most influential in the eighties. Despite keeping productive and releasing six albums since 2000, they are best known for their old school hits.

What?

Livin’ On A Prayer is their best known hit, originally appearing on their third album, Slippery When Wet. It’s widely regarded as a rock anthem classic.

When?

Way before I was into alternative music, I mostly listened to the radio and whatever my Dad played for me. The first ‘album’ I probably got into was Bryan Adams’ Waking Up The Neighbors, but not long after that, I was a serious Bon Jovi fan. Back in those days it was all about cassette tapes, so wherever my Dad taped Livin’ On A Prayer from, I’m not sure. But eventually that cassette tape made its way to me.

Where?

Just weeks before I heard my first Smashing Pumpkins album (Adore), I bought my very first album. I was thirteen years old and the year was 1999. The album wasn’t an album, but I didn’t know that back then. It was called Crossroads, and was Bon Jovi’s best of. Livin’ On A Prayer was the first song and that album, and I doubt that then or before I’d liked any other Bon Jovi song better. In 2013, more than twenty years after I first heard it, I’m still coming back for more.

Why?

Most of the music I listen to falls into two categories – alternative music, and music I’m a tad embarrassed to be into. Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Alanis Morrisette, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, John Farnham, Noiseworks, Hunters and Collectors, Crowded House, Phil Collins. They’re all golden oldies, and they’re all a little dorky to some extent. What can I say? In some ways these guys come nowhere near the musical genius of bands like Tool, Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, Smashing Pumpkins. But, and this is hard to explain, they have another quality about their music that isn’t about guitar riffs or sound layer build ups. It hits you on another level. I don’t know. Maybe I’m a kid at heart.

But as dumb as it might sound to some people, I listen to Livin’ On A Prayer, and I’m listening to one of the greatest songs of all time. I mean, this song defined music for me. Eight or nine years old, and I’d be playing it on my cassette player full blast, in the morning before school. Thirteen years old and I’m playing the same damn song, this time on CD, in the morning, and before school.

Now Livin’ On A Prayer is an MP3, located in my personal Bon Jovi Best of folder, played late at night when I’m drunk and celebrating. Or maybe just wanting a little of the past back.

But Living On A Prayer isn’t a song about the past.

It’s a song of the future. In ten years maybe I’ll be thinking about myself right now listening to this song when I hear it, but right now I’m thinking about how things are going to be in ten years. I’m seeing myself still listening to this song.

And for me to be talking about this song like I’m not sick of it after twenty something years, and it’s the third greatest song of all time, well, shit.

I may have been born in the wrong era for a lot reasons, but bad music wasn’t one of them.

Bon Jovi Runner Up: Always

#4 - VOYAGE 34 PHASE II (Porcupine Tree, 1992)

#5 - FIRST LIGHT (Ancestors, 2012)

#6 - TAKE (John Butler Trio, 2001)

#7 - YOU'RE THE VOICE (John Farnham, 1986)

#8 - UNTITLED 8 (Sigur Ros, 2002)

#9 - 10,000 DAYS (Tool, 2006)

#10 - ACHILLES LAST STAND (Led Zeppelin, 1976)

#11 - BAT OUT OF HELL (Meat Loaf, 1977)

#12 - NO CARS GO (Arcade Fire, 2007)

#13 - IN THE AIR TONIGHT (Phil Collins, 1981)

 

#14 - GREAT BIG WHITE WORLD (Marilyn Manson, 1998)

#15 - R.I.P. (MILLIE) (Noiseworks, 1991)

 

#16 - ZOOROPA (U2, 1993)

 

#17 - OUTLAW PETE (Bruce Springsteen, 2009)

#18 - ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD (Pearl Jam, Live)

#19 - SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND (Pink Floyd, 1975)

#20 - CRIME OF THE CENTURY (Supertramp, 1974)

 
Honorable Mention: FREEBIRD (Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973)

Book Review: Chuck Palahniuk - Diary (2003)

Rating: *

So our quest into Chuck Palahniuk’s Bibliography continues, with 2003’s Diary. OK. Well, as you can see by the star rating, I did not like this book. Diary is like that movie you’ve been meaning to see for the last five years, and when you finally get round to it, it turns out to be a big waste of time.

What really stood out to me the whole way through, was that Diary had a way of making the reader believe there was something wrong with them, for not understanding the story. Quite often I may drift off through reading something, and need to go back and reread certain paragraphs I may have missed. With Diary, I may just need to go back and reread the whole book.

But I won’t be doing that. If I had been reading for pleasure alone, I would have stopped after three or four chapters. Unlike Chuck’s previous books, Diary doesn’t start out with a bang. There is no hook at all to get the reader in. I found that the best parts of the book were individual chapters in the second half, maybe only two or three of them. These chapters dealt with the philosophy (or psychology) of everything about a person represents them, like an open book. The way you walk. Your hand writing. Your comments about suggested imagery. It seems a lot of Palahniuk’s books find a way of pushing these types of left wing, on edge thinking. But where Fight Club and Choke came at it from every direction, the good parts of Diary seem to spill out accidently as if someone bumped Palaniuk’s wine glass.

You might think that because it’s called ‘Diary’, it might read like a Diary. Which it is supposed to.

But even Chuck’s own random scatterings in Fugitives and Refugees hold more clarity and relevance. I mean, for most of the novel, the narrator doesn’t even refer to themselves in first person. What we get is this weird third person set up, in which everything happens out of order, at the same time. And it’s supposedly addressed to one character (who is incidentally in a coma and will never read it) whom the narrator hates, so whenever you’re being addressed as a reader, you feel like the writer is annoyed with you.

Way to alienate the readers. I mean, we’re hated so much the narrator won’t even tell us what’s going on.

So day to day entries are meaningless. It’s just as weird and choppy as Invisible Monsters, oh, and nothing much happens. By the end of it, every secondary character feels made up, pointless, and … Well, I’m just glad I didn’t have to read this for a subject in school.

Because if the teacher asked me to write a book report, I’d be just as well off if I hadn’t read it.

FUGITIVES AND REFUGEES (2003) **

LULLABY (2002) **

CHOKE (2001) ***

SURVIVOR (1999) ***

INVISIBLE MONSTERS REMIX (2012) **

FIGHT CLUB (1996) ***

Shane's Top 20 Songs: #4 - VOYAGE 34 PHASE II (Porcupine Tree, 1992)

Who?

Porcupine Tree are my second favorite band, but I didn’t find out about them until 2011. Yep, you guessed it, from thepumpkins.net (smashing pumpkins fansite). Being brought up on Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead as the divine three best bands, I know I sure would have loved to find out about them when I was a teenager. I remember when John Butler came along that was a huge deal, because I’d never heard anything like it. Those masterpiece exercises in 8 minute, 12 minute, 18 minute songs hadn’t been heard of. Porcupine Tree broke similar ground.

Even though I’d been listening to Pink Floyd for years, Porcupine Tree was the first time I came to appreciate the term ‘progressive rock’. Sounds a lot better than alternative music. With prog-rock, it’s all about layers to the music, build ups and explosions, often experimental, going into unchartered waters.

 What?

There were other reasons why I was surprised it took me so long to find them, besides the fact they were so goddamn good. Porcupine Tree have a giant discography. Ten albums, tones of EPs and compilations – their diverse range goes from Pink Floyd to electronic to Radiohead ballads and a Tool metal sound. Oh my God!

And in true Porcupine Tree fashion, it was about nine or ten months after listening to them, that I finally found their best song of all – Voyage 34 Phase II, buried beneath an obscure EP from one of their earliest releases. It’s an 18 minute journey of explosive rock and mindnumbing soundscapes. It doesn’t even have proper vocals, though it’s not strictly an instrumental.

When?

Well, you know when I got into it, and you know when it was released. But, When, you say? When is right now. For me, for you, for anyone who is serious about music. Listen to this beast and you might find yourself in another time and place.

Where?

I love making best ofs of every band / artist I get into, and Voyage 34 Phase II sits right at the end of my PT best of. Where it should. In general though I prefer to listen to it in conjunction with Phase I, because it sets up Phase II for a better pay off. Initially, I thought Phase I was the better track, but since I’ve come to appreciate Phase II a hell of a lot more, as it advances the song further and expands on all the best guitar parts.

Why?

Well, there was always going to be a Porcupine Tree song in my Top 20, as their my second favorite band. And really I could have easily put Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, Anesthetize, or Time Flies in here. Not to mention all the outstanding No-Man and Steven Wilson solo songs which I excluded on the one song per artist rule. But in the end I don’t feel bad about leaving all those other classics out.

Because Voyage 34 encompasses all.

I remember one of the first times I was listening to it, in the background, while I was sitting at my desk, presumably working on something. I remember thinking … Jesus Christ. What the hell is that? It sounded like some ancient classic song, like Stairway To Heaven, Bat Out Of Hell, or Comfortably Numb. Instead this wasn’t a song that had millions of fans across the world screaming for it, it had a very narrow and selected audience. I felt literally honored to be listening to it, at the same time as being amazed it wasn’t well known.

I’ve already listed some of the best all time rock epics on this list. 10,000 Days, Untitled 8, Take, First Light – these are all phenomenal pinnacles of music. But when it comes down to lining them up and asking myself which I like the best, Voyage 34 Phase II exceeds all these previous entries.

Absolutely one hundred percent overwhelming, and spine chilling music experience.

Porcupine Tree Runner Up: Arriving Somewhere But Not Here

#5 - FIRST LIGHT (Ancestors, 2012)

#6 - TAKE (John Butler Trio, 2001)

#7 - YOU'RE THE VOICE (John Farnham, 1986)

#8 - UNTITLED 8 (Sigur Ros, 2002)

#9 - 10,000 DAYS (Tool, 2006)

#10 - ACHILLES LAST STAND (Led Zeppelin, 1976)

#11 - BAT OUT OF HELL (Meat Loaf, 1977)

#12 - NO CARS GO (Arcade Fire, 2007)

#13 - IN THE AIR TONIGHT (Phil Collins, 1981)

 

#14 - GREAT BIG WHITE WORLD (Marilyn Manson, 1998)

#15 - R.I.P. (MILLIE) (Noiseworks, 1991)

 

#16 - ZOOROPA (U2, 1993)

 

#17 - OUTLAW PETE (Bruce Springsteen, 2009)

#18 - ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD (Pearl Jam, Live)

#19 - SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND (Pink Floyd, 1975)

#20 - CRIME OF THE CENTURY (Supertramp, 1974)

 
Honorable Mention: FREEBIRD (Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973)

Shane's Top 20 Songs: #5 - FIRST LIGHT (Ancestors, 2012)

Who?

Who are Ancestors? Well, I don’t blame you if you don’t know. I’ve barely heard of them myself.

Just kidding.

They’re a heavy metal band on a small label, trying to branch out with their three studio albums and live performances. In fact, they even had to use Kickstarter to fund their last tour. How I was introduced to them was through a guy on thepumpkins.net, my favorite Smashing Pumpkins fan site. I can’t even begin to imagine how many struggling bands there are out there, but I never thought someone this good would have such a low profile.

What?

First Light is the last song on Ancestors’ 2012 album, In Dreams and Time. It’s a fantastic album, I recommend getting. First Light was the first song I heard by Ancestors – submitted by ‘epitome’ to thepumpkins.net Music Taste Championships, and it absolutely blew my mind. It’s a twenty minute epic that exceeds even my first submission to the Championships (John Butler’s Take), and that was my favorite song at that time.

When?

Ancestors are the kind of band you really hope doesn’t go away, so now is the time to get on board. Their three albums are all brilliant, full of heavy in depth recordings, intelligently constructed, and done in a very unique way. They haven’t hit big yet, and they haven’t gotten old, so the time to get into them is now, now, now.

Where?

Coming in at number five, you must know First Light is one of my all time favorite songs. So this can finish me off for the night. I usually save these big ones for the end as you know, encore after encore after encore. It took about seven or eight months of listening to it repeatedly before it got retired, but I know when I’m good and ready, I’ll get addicted again.

Why?

It’s songs like First Light that really make you question why you like music. Why you care about it. Not in the ‘oh that’s something nice to put on while I clean my room way’. But why we worship them. Why we go back to same song again, and again and again. What makes a good song good?

To some degree, I think all songs aim for some kind of greatness. Some songs try harder than others, but it’s rare to really get a song that makes your jaw drop. Exceeds expectations. Creates the perfect song by the thirteen minute mark, and then still has seven minutes of the best music you’ve never heard to go. That is a rare feat.

In terms of genius musicians, I think about John Butler, Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and Maynard (Tool, Perfect Circle). I’m sure there’s plenty of others. Whoever the guy is behind Ancestors, he belongs in this genius group. But, back to First Light.

By 2012, I would have thought I’d heard the best music the world had to offer. You assume things will decline. Your favorite bands are broken up, or their work isn’t as good any more, or the new bands aren’t as good. It is so amazing, to have Ancestors come along and blow that notion right out of the water. This song is beyond good. Beyond great.

Simply put, First Light is one of the most original, surprising, epic and enjoyable music experiences I’ve ever had in my life.

And believe me, I’ve had a lot.

Ancestors Runner Up: Orcus’ Avarice

#6 - TAKE (John Butler Trio, 2001)

#7 - YOU'RE THE VOICE (John Farnham, 1986)

#8 - UNTITLED 8 (Sigur Ros, 2002)

#9 - 10,000 DAYS (Tool, 2006)

#10 - ACHILLES LAST STAND (Led Zeppelin, 1976)

#11 - BAT OUT OF HELL (Meat Loaf, 1977)

#12 - NO CARS GO (Arcade Fire, 2007)

#13 - IN THE AIR TONIGHT (Phil Collins, 1981)

 

#14 - GREAT BIG WHITE WORLD (Marilyn Manson, 1998)

#15 - R.I.P. (MILLIE) (Noiseworks, 1991)

 

#16 - ZOOROPA (U2, 1993)

 

#17 - OUTLAW PETE (Bruce Springsteen, 2009)

#18 - ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD (Pearl Jam, Live)

#19 - SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND (Pink Floyd, 1975)

#20 - CRIME OF THE CENTURY (Supertramp, 1974)

 
Honorable Mention: FREEBIRD (Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973)