by Meghan Harvey

Created on: June 02, 2008   Last Updated: June 06, 2008

Snuff is the latest from cult writer, Chuck Palahniuk. As always with Chuck Palahniuk's books, the subject matter is controversial, a little sick, and totally distasteful. Yet as always, it remains utterly irresistible. Chuck's latest is impossible to put down. Set in the green room of a set of a porn film, Snuff takes you into the dark, dirty, and very messy world of pornography.

Cassie Wright, an aging porn queen, is filming her porno swan song by breaking the world record for serial fornication. On film. With 600 hundred guys. The story is told from the perspective of three of the guys, No. 72, No. 137, and No. 600. Chuck takes these,beyond flawed, men as well as Cassie and her assistant, Sheila and makes you actually get them. Not only get them but throughout the book, Chuck gets you to feel for them and understand what it is that's brought them to the dirty set of this porn film.

Chuck serves up twist after twist as he switches from character to character. He also peppers the book with pieces of dark Hollywood urban legends (true or not, you be the judge) such as the one about legendary Hollywood legend, Tallulah Bankhead, and how she used to grind up eggshells into a powder, mix it with water, and drink it. The concoction damaged her throat just enough to give her that sexy sultry voice she was known for. You can't help but get sucked right into the dark underbelly of these Hollywood tales.

Chuck like to take on darker subject matter, make it funny, and then find a way to make it relatable. It's a true testament to the authors ability as a writer, when he is able to make such outrageous subject matter, such as this, relatable to the common reader. It's in the way he delivers, and creates such a frailty in the characters. Human frailty is something everyone can relate to.

With the movie version of Chuck's novel, Choke, about to hit the theaters this summer, and continuing cult success of Fight Club, Snuff couldn't have come out at a better time. An author who deserves the exposure he's getting and a whole lot more. Could Snuff be the next of Chuck's novels to be made into a film? Probably not.

Chuck delivers, yet again with Snuff. His compelling style leaves you turning page after page, in spite of how offended you may or may not be by porn. Chuck's ability to grab the reader and keep him captivated, leaves me figuring that he'd probably make stereo instructions enthralling. Offensive? Yes. Disturbing? Definitely. A must read? For sure.

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