Anyone read this book (non-fiction) by Jon Krakauer? A very interesting, but sad, story. As a male 2 years out of college, I can identify with Chris McCandless in some ways, and I'm sure many others out there can as well. Though we will never know exactly what was going on inside, when I finished the book I was torn between feeling respect for living his life the way he wanted, while feeling sadness for his family and friends. Will be interesting to see how Sean Penn's movie portrays Chris.
Into the Wild is a great book (one of my favorites), and I look forward to seeing the movie.
It was a decent book. Nothing too great about it. I actually didn't care too much for his character and his views about the American society as a whole. Not to mention that he was totally out of his mind....AND element. (obviously)
But...I will defiantly go and see the movie. If you liked Into the Wild and want to read another book...read "Wild At Heart." Very inspiring.
Aside from that, if you haven't read all of Chuck Palahniuk's books, you're wasting your time with recent American literature.
Palahniuk is the worst sort of author. He is a sensationalist, someone with characters who perform great acts of violence without any sort of truly "deep" emotional reasons. In short, he is the problem with writing today. He does not develop characters, he develops situations. He's Stephen King for the younger set. He's awful.
Not exactly sure which direction you are heading down when you throw out "sensationalist," but if it's sensation that he causes those to that read his book, than I'd say that he's a very gifted writer.
I would say that you obviously have:
A.)Never read his books.
B.)Have very poor reading comprehension.
C.)Just may not like his style or niche of writing.
To me it's flawless, genius and very creative. Very few authors are able to create a story line with as detailed dialog as Palahniuk, IMO.
A GREAT example would be his book, "Lullaby," where the main character SPECIFICALLY states over, and over, and over again why he continues to kill. Besides...it's FICTION.
Please tell me who is such a great author now-a-days...PLEASE don't tell me Dan Brown. I think I just threw up in my mouth thinking about it.
actually you are wrong wrote:
He does not develop characters, he develops situations.
And I just caught this as well. Wow. What a VERY idiotic statement.
I can hardly think of a character as developed as the "unnamed" character & Tyler Durden in Fight Club. I know that that book is very obvious choice and most popular book, but geeze...how in world can you say that those characters are "undeveloped?!?"
Chuck Palahniuk is NOT a great author. In fact, he's only marginally better than Dan Browne. In no way does he compare to Coetzee, Banville, McEwan, Franzen and other contemporary authors.
Sean Penn is an anti American prick...I will never go see another movie with him in it.
Read the book, saw the movie, looking forward to it coming out on DVD so friends and family can see it. Saw it in spite of Sean Commie Penn being the director.
way to revive a terrible thread.
I think the main character of Chuck's book Survivor is also very well developed.
sean penn loves this country. don't be ignorant cuz he sees its flaws
Yeah I have to agree with "pomp." As a matter of fact, "Into The Wild" is the one 2007 movie that people who claim to love their country ought to see. It has enormous affection for the US of A
People automatically assume that someone hates the USA just because they see problems with it and say something about it. That's like saying a parent, who yells at their perfectly capable child for bringing home Cs and Ds on their report card, doesn't love their child. Whatever.
Read the book years ago and I can't say I felt very sorry for McClandless. He was a delusional idiot.
Maybe more lefties and neo-hippies will go see the movie and realize that dropping out and going to "live off the land" is something best left to those that are well prepared, and that railing against "the man" is a waste of time and energy.
I saw the movie but have not read the book. My friends took me out to it at the cheap-o theather for my birthday. One of the better movies that I have seen regardless even though the ending made me want to go take a prozac.
EZ10Miler wrote:
Read the book years ago and I can't say I felt very sorry for McClandless. He was a delusional idiot.
Maybe more lefties and neo-hippies will go see the movie and realize that dropping out and going to "live off the land" is something best left to those that are well prepared, and that railing against "the man" is a waste of time and energy.
At least he lived. More than most can say.
This is true. I think that after I die I would rather people look back on my life and say "that guy was crazy and did some ridiculous shit" than "eh, he played it safe, behaved rationally, very normal dude. I mean, I wouldn't wanna invite him out for drinks with the guys, but he made logical decisions". Obviously there is a balance but....
Pope T-Bag II wrote:
At least he lived. More than most can say.
Well if you define "living" as sitting out in a bus in the middle of nowhere eating berries, starving and hating people then sure. By that measure, so did Ted Kasczinsky
Mostly, I'd say, he died