audio fiction (8hrs, 25 min)
November2023 bingo: airplane on cover
CW/TW: suicidal thoughts/ideation; growing up in a cult (and experiencing all the traumatic abuse that may entail); violence, sexual content, unwanted pregnancy

I hadn't actually read any Palahniuk before, so even though I'd been told his stuff was good, I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this was. Definite similarities with Fight Club but still a totally separate and distinct story on its own, plenty of dark humor and unexpected curves thrown in, though you could argue that Tender's love interest is flat and only serves to further his storyline. The one part that really felt iffy was the ending where Fertility/Gwen ends up pregnant and acts as though she's got no choice but to raise the child--true, she is fatalistic in all she does, having been cursed to know the future her whole life, and it's also true that she doesn't always reveal the truth of what she knows or will do, but the situation and her attitude rubs the wrong way in view of current (2023) events. ( )

This is the most depressing book I have ever read. I don't know if it could push someone who wasn't considering it to suicide, but it could certainly push someone considering suicide TO suicide. This is all they'd need.

I have never been so depressed while reading a book in my life. It was all the more noticeable because I immediately read one of the "Ender's Shadow" books and I was astonished to find myself feeling happy. It was REALLY creepy.

If you feel really depressed or even if you're a little blue, DO NOT READ THIS! Wait until you're a little up, I suppose, for a cushion. ( )

Oramai è prassi: inizio un libro di Palahniuk, all'inizio mi sembra così-così, poi mi prende e alla fine mi piace.
Questo non spicca particolarmente, ma ne è comunque valsa la pena leggerlo.
Come al solito la trama rende davvero poco di quello che troverete. Se vi piace Palahniuk leggetelo, altrimenti lasciate stare. Funziona sempre così. ( )

Tender Branson, último superviviente de la llamada "secta suicida del Credo", dicta su vida a la caja negra del vuelo 2039, que surca los cielos en piloto automático a unos 39.000 sobre el océano Pacífico. Está solo en el avión que se estrllará en breve el el vasto desierto australiano. Pero antes de que eso suceda, quiere dejar constancia de su travesía personal, de cómo paso de niño creyente y humilde criado a abogado mesías mediatico atiborrado de colágeno y esteroides.

Brilliant from start to finish. There was never a dull moment. It was enchanting, really, and artistically disturbing. Only Chuck Palahniuk can do that: disturb you while still keeping you interested. I liked this slightly more than I liked 'Fight Club', and both deserve the 5-star rating. ( )