books review

Chuck Palahniuk

Edinburgh International Book Festival

What would you least expect to happen at a literary event? The distribution of blow-up sex toys among the audience would be top of the list. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why Palahniuk is described as a 'literary provocateur'. After the initial mischief, Palahniuk demonstrated that his sense of physicality is not limited to his writing; his anecdotes can also make people squirm and he knows it, indeed, relishes it. In his fascinating discussion of minimalist writing, Palahniuk explained his preference for physical descriptions as a way of suggesting emotions to the reader, which has made novels such as 'Fight Club' so successful. A talk with a difference, this was brilliantly entertaining with some captivating points thrown in.

RBS Main Theatre, 16 Aug, 8.00pm, fpp n/a

published: Aug-2008

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