Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk
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Book Reviews of Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey
Book Review: Mind Blowing
Summary: 5 Stars
Rant is a fictional oral biography surrounding the history and life of Buster "Rant" Casey in which a wide variety of characters talk about Buster "Rant" Casey. The author allows the story to unfold through narratives from various characters but never allowing Rant himself to narrate.
Buster Rant Casey grew up in a small town was a rebel as a teen and was far from being ordinary. He leaves his hometown for Middleton and arrives in the big city where he joins a demolition derby called Party Crashing and becomes the leader. Casey is killed and so the unleashing of the oral biography occurs.
The pages of the story are filled with some very wild if not truly weird accounts. Be prepared for one mind blowing and mind boggling experience. Trust me when I say you are not prepared for what is about to be unleashed on these pages and in your mind as you read RANT.
Rant is not for the faint of heart; there is sexual content, language, cults, murder, and some gruesome accounts contained within the book, so prepare yourself now.
I finished reading this a couple of weeks ago and can still hardly unwrap the information contained in this mind blowing read. This is a very challenging read at least for myself, which I enjoyed immensely, I like stories that boggle the mind and this one did. I have added Chuck Palahniuk to my favorite authors and must pick up his earlier releases and wait with much anticipation of his future releases.
Book Review: Ignore the Critics
Summary: 5 Stars
So, I've taken the time to read many of the criticisms leveled at this book. "Chuck is losing his touch." "Chuck is repeating himself." "The third act sucks." "The book is about Rabies!" Blah Blah Blah. I quite liked "Rant" and I appreciate its unique style and presentation, even though the themes have "been done before." Show me something that hasn't been repeated and I'll give you a rabies-coated gold star. Yes, Chuck is revisiting themes that have been addressed in his other works... that's what he does... and he does it well.
I do think that this book is a challenge and a mind-bender. It's a gutsy novel that, in the end, is making fun of the format in which it's presented... a sort of muddled oral history where no one opinion can necessarily be trusted. Anarchism is abound, and the book itself does pose many intriguing moral questions involving lineage, segregation by class, and disease... be it physical or mental. Anyway, I'm not going to give away the plot... but I will boost the amazon star count and recommend this book to anyone who has taken a novel with "Oprah's Book Club" embossed on the front, and burned it just to watch it die ;)
Book Review: Rant-Rabies-Re-Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read all of Chuck's books, this is in the top 4 (Fight Club, Choke, Haunted). I actually liked the allusions to topics covered in other novels, and I think they were combined in a story that only Palahniuk could create.
I found the oral history narrative interesting, if not totally inventive (at first it reminded me of the history of SNL). Once you got to know the main characters, it really helped paint the story from each person's perspective, and provided the reader the opportunity to choose who/what to believe.
Throughout the novel, from chewin' tar, the tampon and rubber fence and the drive-by traffic reports, the author manages to create the visual images that I've come to expect/hope for, and doesn't tread old ground. Although it explores many issues as described by other reviewers, I didn't feel Chuck was pushing or preaching, he just used the issues and magnified them to craft a good story.
I did re-read the ending, basically just because I wanted to make sure I had read what I thought I was reading. But that is Chuck! If it is not somewhat challenging/thought provoking, then it is just another novel.
Book Review: Palahniuk in top form
Summary: 5 Stars
At first, I was a little apprehensive about "Rant," the new novel from satirist Chuck Palahniuk. I wanted him to write in a more conventional style after the extremely offbeat experiment "Haunted," but here he was writing in this "oral biography" format with several characters piecing together a story. Let me tell you, if that's holding you back from getting this book, don't let that happen. Get this book! It's a little hard to get into right at the beginning, but pretty soon it becomes completely entertaining and engaging (and of course hilarious).
Rant is a wonderful character and I love the way it is slowly revealed that the story takes place in the near future. The futuristic elements were believable and kept me riveted. That's what makes it so good, the feeling of realism in an unfamiliar setting. Already, this is one of my favorite Chuck Palahniuk novels. I can't see him gaining any new fans with "Rant," but anyone who gave up on Palahniuk recently should give him another try. I really enjoyed this book!
Book Review: Love it or leave it
Summary: 5 Stars
Chuck might not be your favorite writer, so don't read him. I thought this was one of his stronger books, and I love them. It's so refreshing to see a novelist WAY outside the box, and the culture. These themes are not for everyone. If you like your violence served up with intelligence and very black humor, if you want to stretch your mind in unaccustomed ways, and if you are happy to see someone writing that is overtly critical of our consumerist and anesthetized culture, then step up to reading Chuck. If you like formulaic novels with plot points and plot reversals and clever tricks, then read elsewhere.
That being said, this novel is so innovative and so unique, that it deserves its share of accolades and awards for sheer audacity and stylistic flare. Chuck is one of a kind and we are lucky to have him so dedicated to stretching our minds in such darkly twisted directions. Chuck may have some agendas. So who doesn't? I applaud him for his brilliance and creativity and spirit and literary aplomb.