Tom Lynch

An effortless one-trick pony, Palahniuk has always been the literary equivalent to a radio shock-jock. You can't really call him a satirist--though much of his work is very satirical, biting and mean--but he's always been a well-researched author, informative to the brink, often making the reader ask if what he says is really true or if he's just jerking us off. His most famous, "Fight Club," is still probably his best, though novels "Survivor" and "Choke" were pretty lucid and disturbing ("Choke" is being refitted for the screen, with the perfectly cast Sam Rockwell as the sex-craving narrator). His nonfiction work has been relatively bland, while novels "Lullaby," "Diary" and "Haunted" all bounced off his previous books and turned out rather putrid. His latest, however, "Rant," while being another dark look at a social apocalypse, finds the author returning to form, kind of, relying on his acidic wit much more than his ability to nauseate. The future looks better for Palahniuk, though that thought might, of course, make him unpublishable.

Chuck Palahniuk reads from "Rant" May 16 at Borders, 830 North Michigan, (312)573-0564, at 7pm. Free.

(2007-05-08)

Also by Tom Lynch

Tip of the Week
Detroit's top electro-punk duo Adult. takes its paranoia to a whole new level with "Why Bother?"
(2007-05-01)

Tip of the Week
Smart if imperfect, "The Raw Shark Tests" by newcomer Steven Hall has that devastating ability to bring back bad, bad memories you've squashed for years
(2007-05-01)

Another Trans-formation
"Sex Change" is a return to Trans Am's past form, synthesizer-heavy, pounding at times and straight-up muddy rock `n' roll at others
(2007-04-24)

Tip of the Week
Now that the New York-born band has effectively lodged itself into Chicago hearts and minds since it moved here, the music all comes together on "Black Glitter" (Cobra Music), a mash of thunderous rock `n' roll
(2007-04-24)

Truth Be Told
(2007-04-17)

Tip of the Week
(2007-04-17)

Tip of the Week
(2007-04-10)

The Story of a Band
(2007-04-03)

Tip of the Week
(2007-04-03)

Better Men
(2007-03-27)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-27)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-27)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment