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“Diary” Chuck Palahniuk

“Misty Wilmont has had it. Once a promising young artist, she’s drinking too much and working as a waitress in a hotel. Her husband, a contractor, is in a coma after a suicide attempt, and his clients are threatening Misty with lawsuits over a series of vile messages they’ve discovered on the walls of houses he remodeled.

Suddenly, Misty’s artistic talent returns. Inspired but confused by a burst of creativity, she soon finds herself a pawn in a larger conspiracy that threatens to cost hundreds of lives. What unfolds is a dark, hilarious story from America’s most inventive nihilist, and Palahniuk’s most impressive work to date.”

I love Chuck. I’ve been enthralled by his stories since the first time I read his short story, “Guts.” I’ve haven’t read everything he’s written, but I’ve read a solid handful and always been satisfied.

This was not one of those times. At most, I can call Diary interesting.

The story sort of drags on in a way that, if the ending had been satisfactory, could’ve made it all worth it. I read it all in two sittings. It wasn’t the kind of reading I couldn’t put down because I was enjoying it so much; I couldn’t put it down because I was intrigued by where it would lead. When it came down to it, it just ended up being exactly what you’d already figured out. Completely unsatisfying.

For me, there were too many things left up in the air as completely random. I can handle unexplained, but not when it comes to things that just felt out of nowhere in the first place. The biggest one for me was her daughter–her state of mind and her actions–there was never any explanation as to what put her there, and I think she was too young to have gotten that way on her own.

If you’ve never read Chuck or are just getting into him, I wouldn’t recommend Diary. I’m glad I read it. The story was interesting, but I know it’s definitely affected my desire to grab another Chuck book off my shelf. (I own a few I haven’t read yet.)

I’d love to hear other opinions if anyone disagrees. I’m more than happy to hear that I’ve overlooked something that would make it all make more sense to me and thus be more enjoyable.