I’m reading it right now and am three stories in. Break on Through. Wow. I love the part where he is completely alone setting the mine after all of his fellow Rangers have been shot down and then how it leaves the heightened tension on pause by cutting over to this intricate flashback of his days with his grandmother working at the grocery store. It’s such a perfect way of keeping me on the edge of my seat as a reader while also building authority through such detailing of his past. So many of these little details he puts in about the store and their relationship make it so believable. And then Jones cuts back to his character in the jungle running for his life, and then he later brings it back to the crackers and has his grandmother’s voice comes back through in conversation as he’s eating his rations. I love how he subtly sprinkles that in, so briefly, to contrast a memory of comfort in safety with a moment of comfort in peril. I can only hope some day I can get to that level in my own writing.
Start with the story 'Unchain My Heart.' It wasn't included in the omnibus 'Night Train' but it's maybe my favorite. It's so tough to choose a favorite in this book. Thank you for reading it.
For a similar trick ending (I'll call it doubling down) read the Dorothy Parker story 'The Standard of Living.' An easy read but with a similar escalation at the end.
First impressions: "Cursing, he drops his weight belt like a ton of bricks on the platform" Now, ton of bricks is a bit of a cliche, and if I were writing this I'd probably stop myself and dwell on it. But reading on, the opening paragraph (and I'm sure the rest of the story) is fantastic, powerfully written. So, minor lesson to myself: don't get hung up on something so trivial, and keep going.
Ouch, I would've dinged Thom for the cliche. Gordon Lish's term for cliches was "Received Text" and we avoid it in our effort to not write "writerly" stuff.
Will try to get my eyes (and hands, if able) on Thom soon! A comment on goodreads claimed he was a janitor prior to being classified as a writer. Definitely something romantic about writers with working class roots.
(I'm the guy who donated early for the Pixie Project)
I just received your pixie project gift and it was a delight from start to finish. I haven't had as much fun opening a present in a very very long time. It quickly became a family project with my wife and kids as we carefully cut the ribbons on the bottom so that we could retape them. Now the box - with the skull and bells - is on display in my study as a permanent Halloween feature. (Right next to my samurai sword, crystal ball, and Viking helmet - I like to collect/display fun things). The ransom note motif was cool. (Who knows the names of so many stones? Indiana Jones?) We shared the whole experience with our niece in NYC via face-time. (She sells online jewelry on the side.) She was in awe of the detail in the bookmark. She is excited to see it in person. The bookmark is almost too good to use, but I will use it, but only for the most worthy of books. It definitely increases the reading experience. As a bonus, it arrived a day or so before my 55th birthday so I treated it as a combo gift with Halloween. I hope everything is well with you and that you were able to raise lots of money for the Pixie Project.
Now I'm _completely_ jealous and hope that one day I too can donate to the Pixie Project and perhaps receive a Palahniuk gift too :) (I didn't have the money when asked, to be honest.)
I just made a $50 donation for you with Pixie Project. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it in your name- no line on the form to do so, but know that you made it happen in the universe. Take care.
Hello Kari -- Just to fulfill Rob's kind gesture, please email Dennis at the Cult site your mailing address (in the U.S. I pray). I have a couple extra packages, and I'll send you one. chuck
I wish that meant I’d get a pixie project gift, however I feel that time has come and gone. 😊 Thank you for donating for me though — you really did just make my day 😊
Rob - I feel the same way about mine. My favorite part may be the bell that ting-alings when you carry the box around. Sometimes I hear it when it’s sitting still on the shelf.
CP--This whole "Plot Spoiler" experience the past month or so has been amazing! :::Chef's kiss::: I ended up watching "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" three times--once via your link on YouTube, once with director's commentary on the Blu ray, and once with cast commentary--I recommend listening to the commentaries; they're insightful and a great companion to the movie and to the storytelling lessons you presented. Wanted to thank you for the very thoughtful surprise you mailed me The St. Christopher key is doing its best to keep me safe and out of trouble. After reading your post today, I ordered a copy of The Pugilist. Please keep the book recommendations coming, sir. Your substack is becoming the ultimate masterclass for storytelling (and the ultimate CP experience). Thank you for everything and good luck on Joe Rogan!--JJ
The guy at the UPS Store tried to say your name again and again. Welcome to my world of mispronunciation. And you've got a Pixie Package on its way since Monday. Enjoy!
I will happily buy and read, I love shopping for books, but I do have to say.... Mr. Palahniuk? I took your advice about Amy Hempel and bought her entire short story collection, and I'm ashamed to admit that I only made it halfway through. I just didn't get those stories. Maybe I'm not intelligent enough for that kind of literature, or maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way. Is Thom Jones more accessible than Amy Hempel?
Let's say that Thom is more plot-focused than Amy. Try to read Amy in smaller doses and for the beauty of her sentences. She demonstrates how loose a story can be, how the writer doesn't need to depict every single moment.
I'll continue to ply you with book suggestions. Mostly short story collections.
Sincerely, thank you Mr. Palahniuk for recommending this book. Your friend was a genius. A real one. Can't remember being more affected by a writer's words. The world lost a special one when this man passed.
Thank you -- I bought the ebook. Will read it. What's your favorite story?
See above, he says to start with Unchain My Heart, which I just read and was blown away by.
I’m reading it right now and am three stories in. Break on Through. Wow. I love the part where he is completely alone setting the mine after all of his fellow Rangers have been shot down and then how it leaves the heightened tension on pause by cutting over to this intricate flashback of his days with his grandmother working at the grocery store. It’s such a perfect way of keeping me on the edge of my seat as a reader while also building authority through such detailing of his past. So many of these little details he puts in about the store and their relationship make it so believable. And then Jones cuts back to his character in the jungle running for his life, and then he later brings it back to the crackers and has his grandmother’s voice comes back through in conversation as he’s eating his rations. I love how he subtly sprinkles that in, so briefly, to contrast a memory of comfort in safety with a moment of comfort in peril. I can only hope some day I can get to that level in my own writing.
When a work of fiction excites you to write... that is the highest compliment to a writer. Thom would be thrilled.
Start with the story 'Unchain My Heart.' It wasn't included in the omnibus 'Night Train' but it's maybe my favorite. It's so tough to choose a favorite in this book. Thank you for reading it.
It's shameless how many books I read in a month. And yeah, Thom was a school janitor for most of his life.
I'm truly sorry for your loss, Chuck. But I'm glad you've decided to share your friend with us.
Thanks. And Thom was a sweet guy, and he'd be thrilled to hear you were reading the book.
For a similar trick ending (I'll call it doubling down) read the Dorothy Parker story 'The Standard of Living.' An easy read but with a similar escalation at the end.
Found at archive.org.
First impressions: "Cursing, he drops his weight belt like a ton of bricks on the platform" Now, ton of bricks is a bit of a cliche, and if I were writing this I'd probably stop myself and dwell on it. But reading on, the opening paragraph (and I'm sure the rest of the story) is fantastic, powerfully written. So, minor lesson to myself: don't get hung up on something so trivial, and keep going.
Wow. Incredible story. Going to read more from him.
Ouch, I would've dinged Thom for the cliche. Gordon Lish's term for cliches was "Received Text" and we avoid it in our effort to not write "writerly" stuff.
Night Train wasn't comprehensive? I guess I owe you more books.
Just don't throw up in my house.
Is Dan the one coming to the party. Will I need to hold his hair back?
Will try to get my eyes (and hands, if able) on Thom soon! A comment on goodreads claimed he was a janitor prior to being classified as a writer. Definitely something romantic about writers with working class roots.
Bought the ebook and just read Unchain My Heart.
Fuck me, that's the good shit. The pacing is insane. Feel like I've been manhandled by Bocassio. What a man he is!
Right? Just nailed the whole concept of a natural Alpha.
I think I developed ovaries.
Hi Chuck
(I'm the guy who donated early for the Pixie Project)
I just received your pixie project gift and it was a delight from start to finish. I haven't had as much fun opening a present in a very very long time. It quickly became a family project with my wife and kids as we carefully cut the ribbons on the bottom so that we could retape them. Now the box - with the skull and bells - is on display in my study as a permanent Halloween feature. (Right next to my samurai sword, crystal ball, and Viking helmet - I like to collect/display fun things). The ransom note motif was cool. (Who knows the names of so many stones? Indiana Jones?) We shared the whole experience with our niece in NYC via face-time. (She sells online jewelry on the side.) She was in awe of the detail in the bookmark. She is excited to see it in person. The bookmark is almost too good to use, but I will use it, but only for the most worthy of books. It definitely increases the reading experience. As a bonus, it arrived a day or so before my 55th birthday so I treated it as a combo gift with Halloween. I hope everything is well with you and that you were able to raise lots of money for the Pixie Project.
Happy trails.
Rob
Hah! Thank you. The balls look great but I worry they're a choking hazard. Although cats love them. Be careful with them around small kids, please.
Now I'm _completely_ jealous and hope that one day I too can donate to the Pixie Project and perhaps receive a Palahniuk gift too :) (I didn't have the money when asked, to be honest.)
I just made a $50 donation for you with Pixie Project. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it in your name- no line on the form to do so, but know that you made it happen in the universe. Take care.
Transaction Id 287883036106
And that, I think, made my day. Thank you!!
Hello Kari -- Just to fulfill Rob's kind gesture, please email Dennis at the Cult site your mailing address (in the U.S. I pray). I have a couple extra packages, and I'll send you one. chuck
Chuck, you and Rob both are too kind. I'll send my address to him (yes, I'm in the U.S.). Thank you so, so much!
Is that through the contact us form on the chuckpalahniuk.net website? Just not sure where to send the address :)
I wish that meant I’d get a pixie project gift, however I feel that time has come and gone. 😊 Thank you for donating for me though — you really did just make my day 😊
Rob - I feel the same way about mine. My favorite part may be the bell that ting-alings when you carry the box around. Sometimes I hear it when it’s sitting still on the shelf.
I'm going to get this book. Looking forward to reading, thank you! I am sorry for your loss
CP--This whole "Plot Spoiler" experience the past month or so has been amazing! :::Chef's kiss::: I ended up watching "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" three times--once via your link on YouTube, once with director's commentary on the Blu ray, and once with cast commentary--I recommend listening to the commentaries; they're insightful and a great companion to the movie and to the storytelling lessons you presented. Wanted to thank you for the very thoughtful surprise you mailed me The St. Christopher key is doing its best to keep me safe and out of trouble. After reading your post today, I ordered a copy of The Pugilist. Please keep the book recommendations coming, sir. Your substack is becoming the ultimate masterclass for storytelling (and the ultimate CP experience). Thank you for everything and good luck on Joe Rogan!--JJ
The guy at the UPS Store tried to say your name again and again. Welcome to my world of mispronunciation. And you've got a Pixie Package on its way since Monday. Enjoy!
I will happily buy and read, I love shopping for books, but I do have to say.... Mr. Palahniuk? I took your advice about Amy Hempel and bought her entire short story collection, and I'm ashamed to admit that I only made it halfway through. I just didn't get those stories. Maybe I'm not intelligent enough for that kind of literature, or maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way. Is Thom Jones more accessible than Amy Hempel?
Let's say that Thom is more plot-focused than Amy. Try to read Amy in smaller doses and for the beauty of her sentences. She demonstrates how loose a story can be, how the writer doesn't need to depict every single moment.
I'll continue to ply you with book suggestions. Mostly short story collections.
Hi Damian - did you buy physical copies of Hempel’s work? I might be happy to take them off your hands for other writers/students.
I already donated them to my public library, I'm sorry. . . . .
No problem. The right person will find them. 😊
Sincerely, thank you Mr. Palahniuk for recommending this book. Your friend was a genius. A real one. Can't remember being more affected by a writer's words. The world lost a special one when this man passed.