The Manchurian Candidate meets South Park—Chuck Palahniuk’s finest novel since the generation-defining Fight Club. “Begins here first account of operative me, agent number 67 on arrival Midwestern American airport greater _____ area. Flight _____. Date _____. Priority mission top success to complete. Code name: Operation Havoc.” Thus speaks Pygmy, one of a handful of young adults from a totalitarian state sent to the United States, disguised as exchange students, to live with typical American families and blend in, all the while planning an unspecified act of massive terrorism. Palahniuk depicts Midwestern life through the eyes of this thoroughly indoctrinated little killer, who hates us with a passion, in this cunning double-edged satire of an American xenophobia that might, in fact, be completely justified. For Pygmy and his fellow operatives are cooking up something big, something truly awful, that will bring this big dumb country and its fat dumb inhabitants to their knees. It’s a comedy. And a romance.
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"The language and style of narration takes a little getting used to but I found it nonetheless clear and easy to read. Apart from some awful scenes of a sexual nature the book is highly entertaining, exciting and meaningful. I was gripped right to the very end."
— Tom (4 out of 5 stars)
" Not my cup of tea. Did not finish. "
— Janet, 2/10/2014" By far the worst book by this author. It seems like he is just writing short stories so he can make money now. I want the old Palahniuk back! "
— Katie, 2/9/2014" This is my first book by Palahniuk. I wanted to read Fight Club (what else?), but it was not available from the library. This bizarre book is very democratic in that it contains something that will offend almost any reader. It is written in first person-stream of consciousness-pidgin English-pornography and makes the reader feel like he took a couple of shots on Nyquil before starting on it. I'm not going to recommend this because I don't want people looking at me strangely in the hallway, but I felt obsessively compelled to finish this once I got going. "
— Pat, 2/9/2014" despite what others say, i found the invented language usage interesting. overall, though, nothing surprising. same ol' chuck. "
— Randy, 1/19/2014" Not bad, getting through the dialog is like chewing though a piece of fatty meat, but worth it. I was worried that Palanuik would make another made for Hollywood novel, but I think this would warrant a movie much more than "choke" "
— Pavelitoc, 1/19/2014" Odie el final. "
— Public, 1/17/2014" Liked it for the most part. The story is an interesting, fantastical concept. Could have do without the graphic bathroom encounter passage though. "
— Mark, 1/12/2014" I love Chuck Palahniuk, but this book is simply impossible to be read in the Italian translation. "
— Massimiliano, 12/28/2013" Bizarre and at times disturbing book involving pedophilia, rape, sleeper cells, dirty bombs, and domestic terrorism. Oh, and as the inside cover says, "it's a comedy, it's a love story" "
— Tom, 12/28/2013" Another fantastic book by Palahniuk. It takes a while to get used to the broken English the book is written in, but it's definitely worth while. "
— Lindsay, 12/12/2013" I love Chuck, as you can see from my other ratings. I had to quit Pygmy early because Palahniuk's twistedness, which I usually adore, was a bit too much this time. Didn't think that was possible but the graphic and detailed description of anal rape was enough to make me set it aside. "
— Paula, 11/24/2013" If u understood this book, good for u "
— Chris, 10/25/2013" Not for the faint of heart. I enjoyed it but be warned, in the first 20 pages there is an event that makes anything Chuck has written look like a kids book. Loved it but read on an empty stomach. "
— Parker, 10/16/2013" America's finest continues to impress. "
— Oliver, 5/27/2013" A little frustrating to read in its broken English, but it must have been 10x more frustrating to edit. Another great experiment in writing from Palahniuk. "
— Andrew, 3/24/2013" It was hard to read since Palahniuk wrote it in a very complex way. It's full of morbid images about the American society. "
— Gielizza, 1/28/2013" Kind of hard to read and get into but I'm definitely glad I finished it. Check Palahniuk is an genius, and I enjoyed it. "
— Isabel, 11/2/2012" The worst Palahniuk ever! Could not get through the first chapter. Too difficult to read the broken English writing. Ugh! "
— Keir, 9/12/2012" The first.. Three or so Palahniuk books I read where really good. Now they're just becoming really repetetive, there are no surprises and no shock. "
— Linn, 1/14/2012" One of the things that drew me to the book was the writing, the sentence construction. I guess it spoke to the translator in me. "
— Tarmen, 10/15/2011" My rate might be not really valid because actually, I stopped in the middle since I had a VERY hard time understanding his way of story-telling in this piece. For those who happen to have grammar OCD, I don't recommend this book at all. Go figure why. "
— Rizal, 6/21/2011" Amazing, dark, and full of humor! It's not Haunted, but will do! "
— Catherine, 6/16/2011" My least favorite Palahniuk book so far, but it has its moments. "
— Kirsti, 6/6/2011" Sick and twisted yet very endearing just like me haha. Once you can get past the difficult language it's really hilarious! "
— Leanne, 5/17/2011Chuck Palahniuk has been a nationally bestselling author since his first novel, 1996’s Fight Club, was made into the acclaimed David Fincher film of the same name. Twelve of his works have made the New York Times bestsellers list, and his work has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Nick Walther is a NYC-based audiobook narrator, voice actor, and stage actor. Nick is a dynamic narrator with a particular knack for crafting compelling first-person narrations and character voices, especially in YA fiction. When he’s not narrating audiobooks, he’s working as a voice actor on cartoons, video games, film dubs, and as an actor for theater projects.