Choke (novel): Difference between revisions
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==Plot summary== |
==Plot summary== |
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''Choke'' follows Victor Mancini and his friend Denny through a few months of their lives with frequent flashbacks to the days when Victor was a child.<ref>{{cite book|last=Palahniuk|first=Chuck|authorlink=Chuck Palahniuk|title=Choke|publisher=Anchor|date=June 11, 2002|isbn=0-385-72092-0}} |
''Choke'' follows Victor Mancini and his friend Denny through a few months of their lives with frequent flashbacks to the days when Victor was a child.<ref>{{cite book|last=Palahniuk|first=Chuck|authorlink=Chuck Palahniuk|title=Choke|publisher=Anchor|date=June 11, 2002|isbn=0-385-72092-0}} |
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</ref> Victor grew up moving from one foster home to another, as his mother was found to be unfit to raise him. Several times after his removal from his mother, Ida's care; she would come back for him from his various foster parents. However, every time, she would be caught, and he would again be remanded to the local (wherever that may be) child welfare agency. |
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In the present day setting of the book, Victor is now a man in his mid-twenties |
In the present day setting of the book, Victor is now a man in his mid-twenties. He left medical school in order to find work to support his feeble mother who is now in a mental health facility. He cannot afford the care that his mother requires so he resorts to being a con-man. He consistently goes to restaurants and purposely causes himself to choke midway through his meal, luring a "[good Samaritan]" into saving his life. He is vividly aware of what is happening and comes close to death several times during his episodes. Until someone, some beautiful, entrancing woman recognizes from another of his "episodes". |
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While growing up, Victor's mother taught him numerous [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]] and obscure medical facts which both confused and frightened him. This and his constant moves from one home to another have left Victor unable to form lasting and stable relationships with women. Victor, as a result, finds himself getting sexual gratification from women on a solely superficial level (using sex anonymous meetings to find many of his sexual partners). Later on, he starts talking to his mother again for the first time in years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bluerectangle.com/book_reviews/view_one_review/1955 |title= ''Choke'' (review) |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2011-10-10}}</ref> |
While growing up, Victor's mother taught him numerous [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]] and obscure medical facts which both confused and frightened him. This and his constant moves from one home to another have left Victor unable to form lasting and stable relationships with women. Victor, as a result, finds himself getting sexual gratification from women on a solely superficial level (using sex anonymous meetings to find many of his sexual partners). Later on, he starts talking to his mother again for the first time in years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bluerectangle.com/book_reviews/view_one_review/1955 |title= ''Choke'' (review) |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2011-10-10}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 16:17, 21 January 2018
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Chuck Palahniuk |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Rodrigo Corral Bob Larkin |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Satire, Black comedy |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | May 22, 2001 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 0-385-50156-0 |
| OCLC | 44905122 |
| 813/.54 21 | |
| LC Class | PS3566.A4554 C47 2001 |
| Preceded by | Invisible Monsters |
| Followed by | Lullaby |
Choke is a 2001 novel by American author Chuck Palahniuk. The story focuses on Victor, a sex addict, who must find work in order to afford the care that his mother is receiving in her nursing home. Victor first resorts to being a con man, then after receiving money from various "good Samaritans", gets a job at a colonial reenactment museum before building a dream home for himself. The novel was later adapted for film by Clark Gregg.
Plot summary
Choke follows Victor Mancini and his friend Denny through a few months of their lives with frequent flashbacks to the days when Victor was a child.[1] Victor grew up moving from one foster home to another, as his mother was found to be unfit to raise him. Several times after his removal from his mother, Ida's care; she would come back for him from his various foster parents. However, every time, she would be caught, and he would again be remanded to the local (wherever that may be) child welfare agency.
In the present day setting of the book, Victor is now a man in his mid-twenties. He left medical school in order to find work to support his feeble mother who is now in a mental health facility. He cannot afford the care that his mother requires so he resorts to being a con-man. He consistently goes to restaurants and purposely causes himself to choke midway through his meal, luring a "[good Samaritan]" into saving his life. He is vividly aware of what is happening and comes close to death several times during his episodes. Until someone, some beautiful, entrancing woman recognizes from another of his "episodes".
While growing up, Victor's mother taught him numerous conspiracy theories and obscure medical facts which both confused and frightened him. This and his constant moves from one home to another have left Victor unable to form lasting and stable relationships with women. Victor, as a result, finds himself getting sexual gratification from women on a solely superficial level (using sex anonymous meetings to find many of his sexual partners). Later on, he starts talking to his mother again for the first time in years.[2]
The narrative is episodic, and is presented out of chronological order, a style common to the author's books.
Film adaptation
A film adaptation directed by Clark Gregg, starring Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston, was released commercially on September 26, 2008. Palahniuk makes a cameo appearance in the film.
Editions
- ISBN 0-385-50156-0 (hardcover; New York: Doubleday, 2001)
- ISBN 1-58945-971-7 (e-book, 2001)
- ISBN 0-385-72092-0 (paperback; New York: Anchor, 2002)
Trivia
- Much of Palahniuk’s research on Choke was conducted with total strangers at the gym and sexual addiction groups.[3]
- A song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro is titled Joy.Discovery.Invention. after a line in the novel.
References
- ^ Palahniuk, Chuck (June 11, 2002). Choke. Anchor. ISBN 0-385-72092-0.
- ^ "Choke (review)". Retrieved October 10, 2011.
- ^ "The Unexpected Romantic: An Interview with Chuck Palahniuk". Tamara Straus's interview with Chuck Palahniuk. June 19, 2001.