Palahniuk, Chuck - Haunted

Chuck Palahniuk’s writing has always been visceral and dark, an apropos voice for Portland’s most prominent author. He is known for his dark and straight-faced humor, and his knowledge of little known facts (the various scents that hospitals use to cloak the smell of vomit or feces, for instance). In recent years, Palahniuk has forayed more into writing horror, and he’s pretty good at it. His stories are not particularly terrifying in a Texas Chainsaw Massacre-fashion, but Diary built suspense nicely.

Palahniuk’s career hasn’t been flawless. Fight Club and Survivor are his most brilliant books, and his off-beat guide of Portland’s darker past, Fugitives and Refugees, was a fascinating study of what history books ignore. The rest of Palahniuk’s work has been good, but not great.

So, this brings me to Palahniuk’s newest release, Haunted, a collection of short stories written around the central story line of a writer’s retreat. Haunted is his deepest dive into the horror/gross-out genre yet.

I heard about the stories from Haunted a while ago while viewing Chuck’s website, and rumors began to spread that people were fainting at Palahniuk’s readings. Now, Chuck Palahniuk fans are not the type of people easily sickened or shocked, but the rumors grew. Palahniuk claims that 67 people have fainted during his readings. Sixty-seven people knocked out cold from mere words. Palahniuk’s publisher has been using the rumor as a valuable PR tool.

Needless to say, I wanted to read this story.

I picked Haunted up off the shelf of Barnes and Noble and began perusing. Unsure of where the story was located, I scanned through the stories until a couple of words caught my eye, so I read a few paragraphs.

First, let me say that I am not easily shocked. Maybe it’s from being in the Army or maybe it’s even from reading too much Chuck Palahniuk, but his wicked writing makes me laugh where others might be offended. I’m not sure that this is a good thing.

The point is, I put Haunted back on the shelf and I wish I’d never picked it up after reading what I read. I realize that saying this may just make you want to read it more. Other critics have panned Haunted for it’s over-the-top nastiness, saying that it seems that Palahniuk is just trying to top himself with each release. My stomach turned. I didn’t faint, but I felt weird and dirty.

On one level, it’s nice to know that there are still things out there that can disturb me that much. On the other, I don’t like knowing that one of my favorite authors has written stories that I am bothered to read. There is a quote that goes something like this,”Writing should disturb the comforted and comfort the disturbed”. Maybe I’m too comforted, but I can’t help that think that Haunted proves that quote wrong.

Chuck Palahniuk, Haunted: Not recommended, but incomplete

For other great Palahniuk reading, check out “Fugitives and Refugees”, the aforementioned tour guide of Portland. It will make you want to visit. Jordan Green guarantees this.

Posted on June 9, 2005 4:10 PM