Pygmy

Chuck rarely "just writes a book." This is one of those times. The novel is written though the perspective of a non-English speaking foreign exchange student. At first, it is a little confusing, but once you get into it, it doesn't seem to be that jarring.

It is an interesting story and a good read. I would not recommend this to, say--- my parents-- who read mostly supermarket paperbacks once or twice a year on their vacation.

Personally, though I enjoyed the book, it was not one of my favorites (that would be SURVIVOR and HAUNTED).

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." -- Ephesians 2:19

Can you see yourself as others see you? Surely not. Chuck Palahniuk draws on that eternal truth to give Americans a picture of their culture from the point-of-view of totalitarian terrorists masquerading as exchange students. Not since Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" in which the satirist suggested that the starving Irish eat their children has a culture taken such a beating as Americans do in Pygmy.

To be fair, Mr. Palahniuk also takes many potshots at the unidentified foreign nation that so blatantly convinces its people that Americans are vermin. But those shots don't strike home with the same venom.

The book portrays Americans as sex- and materialism-obsessed people who are clueless about what's going on around them. Is that a new finding for you? I doubt it. That's one problem with the book.

Another problem is that the narrator's language is hard to follow. And when you do get it, it hardly seems worth the effort in most cases.

The third problem is that the "exchange students" are exaggerated in their superiority in ways that just seem silly. For instance, Pygmy can discern with perfect accuracy what chemicals are in or on a person's body by smelling them. This leads to a lot of stage setting for scenes based on odor. It was too much for me . . . more gross than funny. Similar sequences push the same gags until they are threadbare, such as the unending searches for new batteries.

I give this book a five for originality of concept and a one for execution.

Unless you have taken a pledge to read all books by Mr. Palahniuk, give this one a pass. The message and humor don't warrant plowing through the writing problems.

...or listen to, actually, since I was dealing with the audiobook version, and I have to ask: Is it worth trying another of his novels? Because I was so completely turned off by the writing style and content of this book, I don't know if it's worth trying another one. I gave it a good try for about 20 minutes, hoping the nonsense would eventually stop or at least become passably coherent, but no luck. Then I fast forwarded a bit to see if it got any better at all, and again, no luck. I've always heard good things about Palahniuk's work, but wow, if this is an actual example of it, I think I'll pass on the rest.

While Chuck Palahniuk's PYGMY clocks in at 241 pages in the hardback edition, it reads like a short story, launching the reader directly into its world without warning, careening rapidly towards its conclusion and ending abruptly. It is richly detailed with linguistic tricks, that often read like poetry, to amuse the reader. It's pages are blotted with black censorship scars which, while superficial, still amuse. It has been rounded out with chapters that include the back story and training of the narrator, while an action-packed drama with martial arts and espionage is played out in linear time.

An observant American reader, having completed this book, is left with the glow of a new terrorist fantasy to worry about and the acute paranoid question, "Do they really think Americans are like that?". While most reviews have centered upon this story as a cynical portrayal of America, it should probably be better viewed as a cynical portrayal of the "perception of America by the outside world", which is a very timely subject and, not surprisingly, territory for GREAT humor. This is a paranoid, self-conscious American nightmare deeply rooted in the American image problem.

PYGMY is a brilliant modern work of humor that is a darkly cynical narrative of American paranoia, wrapped in the most unlikely "coming of age" story you will ever read. It is written entirely in minimalistic "Chinglish" sentences by a (probably North Korean) teenaged boy who has been transplanted to an unspecified mid-western American city to perform grass-roots acts of terrorism and topple the American way of life. With his head-full of anti-American propaganda, memorized quotations of histories greatest tyrants, communists and subversives, his brainwashed perceptions of traditional American high school culture, and his scientific understanding (or lack of understanding) of sex and sexuality, the youthful PYGMY embarks on the ill-fated mission he has trained for his entire life.

And it is totally hysterical.

Over the years I've read every Palahniuk novel, some of them several times and Invisible Monsters is still my favorite, and I look forward to each new work. PYGMY surprised me. It is the most compact/minimalistic prose and funniest book that CP has written to date. The Palaniuk hallmarks of a modern fantasy with sexual absurdity, anti-commercialism, obsessive-compulsive technical details, blatant disregard for social sensitivity, violence, and grotesquery are all employed in this book. It comes up short on including detailed human dynamics and the evolution of human emotions that are other hallmarks of Palaniuk stories, but the reader has to remember that the book only consists of the missives (called "dispatches") sent back to the homeland by "agent number 67" following military directives. And that is why this book works and what makes it so different. The literary trick of the novel being only "letters" written home by a exchange student frees the author to use colloquial language exclusively - a daring stunt executed gloriously. The Chinglish language is very popular humor right now and the author's choice of using Chinglish exclusively is to be commended. Palahniuk proves once again that he has his finger firmly on the pulse of pop culture. In past Palaniuk novels, pop culture issues have been at the core of his character's anxieties and modern dilemnas, but this time, the pop culture is in the presentation! It's clever and fun to read.

Take your time with this book, it is rich with bold humor that jumps off the page if you just have fun with it. Once you are familiar with its cadence it is a quick read, and a page turner, but if you slow down and appreciate the generosity of the author for taking the time to create this unique and funny book, you will enjoy it all the more. Admittedly, some passages had to be reread because it is just too foreign of a literary concept at moments and I got lost in a sentence, but that's ok, because it's like a roller-coaster ride for your brain - it's just fun. And some passages needed to be reread because they are just so much fun to read or I couldn't believe what I "thought" I just read and had to reread to be sure. For more fun, read passages aloud. Read them aloud to yourself or to your friends or family. When the prose is spoken aloud, the absurdity of it is outrageous and even funnier. You won't get far before your laughing and will have to stop.

I am giving PYGMY 5 stars because of its unique qualities and cutting edge story, but mostly because it's just so damn funny. This review was written after just finishing the novel this morning and I intend to immediatly read it again for a second time. I anticipate it will be even funnier and more enjoyable the second time around.

I'm not here to complain about the writing style, because I didn't find it tedious or difficult. In fact, I found it to be a fresh, rather clever approach to this kind of concept. I also had no problem with how over-the-top it was, because this is Palahniuk, of course it's going to be over-the-top.

My gripes with Pygmy lie primarily in how similar the themes and plot elements are to most of Palahniuk's other works. The cynicism, the nihilism, the terrorism, the biting social commentary - he's done this before, multiple times. Now, don't get me wrong, I've read most of Palahniuk's work, and it's safe to say that he's a very, very talented writer with a head full of great ideas. But he really needs to try something new, because in the case of Pygmy, the recycling of these tired themes and elements killed an otherwise great read.

In a way, I liken Palahniuk to the band Green Day. I absolutely love some of their songs, but I certainly can't call myself a fan of them. I might be a fan, however, if they retired from their repetetive cynical bantering every now and then for some other field. For me, Palahniuk is the same way. He's got obvious talent, and he's cranked out some winners, but I'd be a lot more enthusiastic if he gave himself some range. Back in the 90s, he very well created his own genre of writing with some of his earlier work, but it's about time he emerges from that little niche of his, because it's starting to get a bit stale.

(2.5/5)

After reading many of the reviews I tend to think that maybe too many people either over hyped this novel in their minds or, as Chuck is pointing out in a very clever medium, people are stooping down to the product of our "instant gratification society" by wanting it all explained for them without putting in the mental work.

Pygmy is a fantastic book and I feel it's one of Chuck's most interesting and challenging to date.I give credit to most, the vernacular can be a tad on the complicated side, however just like clock work orange previously referenced, one can figure it out in no time. I see one of the biggest complaints is that readers have a hard time understanding how if the main character pygmy is so intelligent, why is the language then so erratic and doesn't make sense? Spending time abroad I have encountered many people from other cultures where language barriers and ideas are not translated correctly. I have a feeling that is what Chuck was trying to convey with the format, to get the reader involved in the idea he is not from our country and can't grasp the ideals we embrace or he is so forward thinking we couldn't understand.

With that being said here is the low down, If you are just starting to read Chuck, don't start with this, I suggest Fight Club then Survivor then hit your way up and down from there. I give Pygmy 4 out of 5 because of the ending, I believe it seemed almost "defeatist" in nature and hastily thrown together, however it doesn't detract from the whole story. IF you are a reader that enjoys reading the message from between the lines and have recently gotten into Chuck, then you'll want to give this book a try.

This book is farcical, and satirical, in the best vein of classics like Catch-22. Yes, it has outlandish plot twists, and characters who are "cartoonish" as some reviewers complain, but satire often does, at its best. It's a reflection on American culture, and the main character, Pygmy, is both compelling and sympathetic. The language is tough at first, but you get used to it, and if you stick with it you will laugh out loud. Pygmy's utterances are funny because they are utterly honest, and his interactions with the characters lovingly drawn. For fans of satire, and people with a love/hate relationship with American culture, you will be satisfied immensely.

Took me two shots to read this book. Very difficult to read as it's written as if a Russian boy learns English as he goes. The first time was a fail, I made it only a few pages. The second time I read it and finished on a flight from Louisiana to South Dakota and back. One of my favorite Chuck P. Books ever.

First off, like many have previously said, you should already be aquainted with Palahniuk's work before reading this book. If you are not, I would not start with Pygmy. That being said, not his best and not his worst. The psuedo-English for me, was not an issue. As one reviewer said, if you have decent deduction skills, you can figure it out, and after a while, it is almost like reading a regular dialect. My complaint with the speaking/writing style is that someone who was so educated by his home country as an operative would have been educated better.
As far as the multiple listings of slang terms for breasts, and the non-stop vibrator talk...well that is Palahniuk. I do agree that he takes it a bit over the top here. The fact that the sister would even be allowed to enter her science project is silly to me. Also, I know the point is that sometimes American culture is well...stupid. But come on.....about 10 people die by the 2/3 mark of the book in this town. Nobody figures out it was something to do with the exchange students? We might not be the smartest people on the planet, but we are not that stupid either. Also, the repressed gay guy character has been done to death...move on. All said, not his best, but he deserves 3 starts for a great concept. I would rather an author that takes chances than 20 books that are churned out by a cookie cutter.

For official record, this caucasoid Agent make laugh when read Operative Palahniuk book. Comedy turn pages - flip, flip - make eye water, side pain, read like addiction. Complete fast. No risk full stomach while enjoy prose, this Agent possible expel fluids of digestive tract.

Pigdog, Cat, Chicken family members hilarious. Broken ruminations of Operatives clever. All details necessary. Demented actions brilliant. Details of lethal fighting styles, Leaping Hyena, Punching Panda - bam, pow - assist plotline. Mouth, This Agent, drop open, allow disbelief, display enjoyment at bizarre mission objectives of totalitarian Agents, infiltrators of America. Compare pygmy speech, foreign national, origination China, make easy understand.

This Agent express remorse at novel completion, end of overjoyous pasttime, last page of processed tree pulp. Write review, five star, on screen of computer; type Dell, version 630, memory 2 Gigabyte. Within site the store, on spider domocile in planet elongated.

Hands making claps of applause - pop, pop - Operation Chaos successful, style of most esteemed Agent Palahnuik maintaining allure.

Great helmsman, beloved ruthless tyrant unspecified glorious totalitarian state appreciate much actions capitalist propaganda distributor the store.com. Erase electronic reading device anti-communist propaganda enemy of state bourgeois lackey George Orwell, most indebted. Order this operative me construct favorable review "Pygmy" pain of death.

Five stars exclusive state-sanctioned rating. Western critics rating lower nest decadent bourgeois vipers squirm at anus literary history. Victims inferior American education system, attention span fish of gold, succumb in forced spelling battle to word "engrish". Read only religion propaganda leaflets, deport camp of re-education. This operative me execute Dragon Dump manoeuvre, leap swish, place feet on shoulders, grip ears, rip off head. Quick mercyful death, defacate hole.

State orders outline plot:
Onset puberty spontaneous turgid weapon threaten cut off connection collective hive mind highly trained operative. Esteemed agent ensnared worthy adversary cat woman, fails execute clandestine Operation Havoc glorious unprovoked brave insidious genocidal attack throbbing heart US of A foreign devils.
Lost struggle against personality, thus glorious instruction teaching operatives warning avoid autonomy thought self keep ideology pure.

Next assignment this operative me construct favourable review hog of resource, liability of security Windows 8 digital abomination. Five stars only state-sanctioned rating pain of death. Glorious state appreciate much granting access computing device unsuspecting decadent naive capitalist consumer. Appreciate much actions esteemed taskmaster exploiter force of work mr Ballmer. Full-bodied most accomplished devourer whizz of cheese, burger of ham, nut of dough, intestine destroy self. Voluntarily submit censorship self, hand over traitors lackeys of imperialism look up democracy on Bing torture demise.

This is the second Palhaniuk book I picked up after Fight Club. The narrative style is incredibly challenging to read. Very entertaining, but I had to put the book down between chapters to gird myself for the next one.

That said, its a highly entertaining story, albeit a bizarre one. Palhaniuk reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut Jr. in some ways, at least in that he picks very bizarre subject matter.

If you are particularly sensitive, you might want to pass on this one as it contains some very racy material in parts.

Overall, I feel that this is an excellent novel and personally like it better than some of Chuck's other more well-known novels. I found it to be an extremely funny, albeit cutting portrait of American culture from the perspective of an outsider. That being said, there are a few things people should know, as this is not a book for everyone.

First, the writing style: I had no problem with it but others did, in fact I found that the misconceptions about American culture to be extremely humorous, but the reveresed syntax throws grammar on the ground and stomps it to death. So if you like grammatically correct novels for you.

Second, I'm sure some will be offended by the violence in this book. For most of Chuck's fans, if not all, this shouldn't be a problem, but for the unindoctrinated the violence will probably be a problem, especially because in this book the graphic violence deals with children, including one scene of rape.

Third, this is an issue for Palahniuk fans. The ending... I didn't mind it, but I can see how some fans might take issue.

If you feel that neither of those is a big deal then this will be an amazing ride. Funny, snide, and satirical, one of the best satires in recent times, Pygmy will leave you wanting more.

I bought this book while deployed to Kuwait. It was the first Palahniuk book I had read, and it was amazing. Everyone here is saying the book is hard to read, I'm not sure why. The book takes about five minutes flat to fully understand how to read. Once you get it down, you'll be on a roll. It is a heavily entertaining book, the protagonist is a complete maniac. Awesome book.

Frankly, those who couldn't find the humor in this book and those who couldn't decipher it should work on their language skills and/or ability to understand words as independent snippets of a mental process, not only as block ideas when arranged in a familiar fashion.

This book was hilarious. The most revered bald toothless ninja corpse had me practically rolling on the floor and crying into my Kindle.

The ending did suck; the endings suck in most books. Most writers, even the good ones, just can't seem to end books well. This one is no exception. Still, Pygmy is funny. It is an easy read, despite the unusual word order; I read it in just two days. Really no reason not to read it.

I listened to the book--rather than read it myself--and I think it works better that way. The text is the systematically distorted syntax of the main character, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of English and America, except for lots of important details, which he garbles or simply confuses. Listening to the text, it's hard sometimes to keep up--as you decode phrases and sentences to grok their meaning--but it becomes a fun game, and one you get better at over time (b/c the author's carefully consistent in the syntax errors of the main character--kudos for that).

As to the plot, well, I won't be recommending this book to many people on account of a few of the author's sophomoric choices. Forgiven those--and they are at least plot-relevant, mostly, the book's pretty darn entertaining, and lean enough to not wear out its welcome.

Whatever its demerits, I give this book a top rating because it is bold. Original. Damn odd. And in the multiverse of over-published America, that's saying something.

Within pages is an extremely dark, completely ironic story. I happened to pick up this book on a trip into Israel, and must say the voice contained within is a suprisingly extradordinary depiction of humourous yet true voicing. Although it does seem to be mainly satiring broken, Arab English (geniusly), this fact is offset by many socialist quotes veering into a propogandish sector. The opening quote is the book is one by Adolf Hitler, a fact I am certain will veer many potential buyers away from this product; a fact I'm certain the author enjoys (A certain quote from dispatch 15: "When news is concerned, nobody in the press is a friend --they are all enemies.")

Truethfully I had a hard time getting through snuff. Reminded me too much of one Dirk Diggler but in a horrific graphic novel form. However, this novel seems to be quite a bit more graphic in some areas, so much so I stayed away pondering what I had just experienced after the 10 hour plane ride (stayed up as to read more, haha).

But really, the 3 star average (with a TON of reviews) makes this reviewer so happy. I believe the quote "Stupid American..." would be justified about this point in my review.

At about page 8, I was surprised and overwhelmed when I realized the entire book was written from the 1st-person perspective of an exchange student with fragmented English. BUT the style was consistent, and once I understood the structure, it was a fun read, and it went quick. It's darkly hilarious, but you really need to be a cynic to enjoy the story. This isn't the kind of book you fall asleep to. Takes concentration and commitment, but worth the effort.

Palahniuk's entertainment value has varied for me over the years. There are novels I've loved: Fight Club and Haunted, and novels I have found less entertaining: Snuff. Either way, when I see a new Palahniuk book come out, I usually buy it. Pygmy's jacket art was fascinating and I bought the book without cracking the cover.
Pygmy is a 13 yr. old agent from an unnamed country who comes to the US under the guise of a foreign exchange student. He has no name, he refers to himself as "Operative me." "Pygmy" is bestowed upon him by his host peers in reference to his diminutive stature. He is accompanied by a group of similar agents: all teenagers culled from his home country as the best and brightest and most likely to bring their nation to its rightful glory. They're all finely honed killing machines full of enthusiastic socialistic ideology. They're also here to avenge their country by committing an act of terrorism so grand in scope, it will forever humble the Evil Empire.
This story, told from Pygmy's point of view, is comical and thought-provoking. Taking the two excesses that seem to be the catalysts for much of the world's strife and wrapping them up within the hormonal-driven 13 year old mind results in the exposure of the ironies regarding egoism and ridiculousness of the jr. high school gymnasium as well as power war rooms. Pygmy's home country's youth indoctrination methods are outdated and absurdist in its methodology. Pygmy's host country's youthful, and often brutal, rites of passage and cultural mixed messages of overt sexuality and fundamentalist religious redemption are equally insane. Face it, many of us were picked last for dodgeball.
The prose is difficult at first; however, I was able to cut loose a little with the grammatical constraints of my own mind and follow along. It also helps to remember what it was like being a teenager trying to make sense of the world around you. About a quarter of the way through, the syntax was no longer a distraction and I was really able to dig into Pygmy's tale. That said, the book merits a reread in order to better appreciate this tale without the distraction of the novelty of the language.

I recommend it.

The idea is great, the writing is great and interesting, but it's a style that is hell on the reader to get all the way through. Told in a very choppy, kung fu-movie patois, it takes time and serious investment to even follow the action. Once you can, there's not much to the story and it feels like a unique way in to narrate the story that was probably better in Palahniuk's brain that it is on paper after shuffling through the first hundred pages or so. Even the best joke isn't funny after the thousandth time.

We love Chuck. Heard him do a reading from Lullaby at Powell's in Portland years ago. So far, Choke has been my favorite, Invisable Monsters my wife's. I say that to provide a context. We both really enjoyed Pygmy. It's been a couple years since we read it, and we both still bring it up from time to time in conversations.

[SPOILER ALERT]: This book's not about a Pygmy. The foreign-exhange student, see, who's staying with his American host family, they just start CALLING him that -- y'know, 'cause they feel like it.

Or something.

About five chapters ("Dispatches") in, he refers to this fact (i.e., something like: "They have started calling me 'Pygmy.' I am not a 'Pygmy.'").

Okay, now: look at the cover again ...

Right.

So, like, THAT'S what we dealing with here, alright?

Just so you know ...

Among other things -- Palahniuk's brilliant limning of the grossest Capitalist excesses as contrasted with the most soul-crushing Totalitarianist practices, for maximum satirical-and-empathetic effect(s); his spot-on delineation of precisely how, where, and why "values" gone awry necessarily take on other, grossly-displaced but pathetically-human & clung-to sites, in the face of & in defiance of all external logic; his peculiarly-attuned sense of the appeal of both the "coziness" of hiding in monoliths like Wal-Mart and/or the "crowd" of marchers for The Cause -- his use of the "voice" of the unnamed, non-named, and re-named narrator cleverly forces the reader to "de-code" what's happening: you read along, in his "view" of the goings-on, and the effect of "Wait a minute ... THAT'S what's happening???" is heightened, skillfully, in a fashion that a more "straight" telling would leave, perhaps, comparatively flat.

As it is, though ... the imagery & events become -- how shall I put this? -- more "shaped" in the reader's mind, more vivid, more of a "lived-through event" and less of something "scanned" from a comparatively-safe, readerly distance.

This is a brilliant tactic, and only heightens the more heart-breaking scenes (the flashback w/the teddy bear), the more jolting ones (the school pageant, various goings-on at the local church, the finale), and the uproarious juxtapositions (i.e., "O.k, so thisishappening ... thisishappening ... thisis--WHAT???" [INSERT ABRUPT BURST OF LAUGHTER, HERE!]).

BE FOREWARNED: As with reading Jim Knipfel, people might look at you funny, if you can't quite control yourself (like, in a coffee shop, or study hall, or airport lounge, or something), bursting into laughter like you're watching an "S.N.L." skit on your laptop's "YouTube" window. Just so you know ...

This review is for the audiobook version.

I've heard great things about Chuck Palahniuk and I've recently started listening to audiobooks on the commute to and from work. I'm willing to give him another chance on another book, someday, in the future, perhaps far in the future, but for now I'm just going to back slowly away from Pygmy and never speak of it again after submitting this review.

Even with the non-conventional and "challenging" (as I've heard it called time and time again) writing style I told myself I could stick with it, because the premise was interesting even if the stereotypes made me wince a little bit. The thing is, the entire scene of (this isn't a spoiler as it's mentioned above in the description of the book) the 13-year old protagonist raping another kid in the restroom of a Walmart was something that would have been fairly uncomfortable to read, and was downright painful to listen to. Not only was the concept repulsive, but it didn't make any sense to me in relation to the character. I can read some pretty salty stuff but I felt it was gimmicky and made no sense other than shock value on the part of the author.

Now, I don't know, maybe if I stuck with the book I would find casual public rape and assault to fit in with Pygmy's character, but to be perfectly honest the chapter or two I listened to after that scene still wasn't compelling enough to encourage me to find out. Two discs in I find that I don't really care about any of the characters, or the story, and so ultimately the book. The other issue is that the narrator's voice really grates on my nerves. Mix that with the jangling grammar and this book was a big huge stinker for me. I wonder if I can get my dollar back from the library.

Chuck Palahniuk really shows off his talent with Pygmy. I really respect the way he wrote this, it couldn't have been easy. It's like he taught himself a new language before he could write the way he did here. It's a little tough to get into at first because the style is so unique, but I think that's what ultimately makes it so amazing. For example, "Next now, feet of operative me take initial stride forward, direction mourning and death." Whoa! I suppose it helps if your already a Palahniuk fan. This book certainly isn't for everyone, but I love it. Enjoy!

First Chuck Palahniuk novel I've ever read. In fact, I had never heard of him until I picked up this book. Loved it from cover to cover. The use of language is different, but you'll acclimate in a page or two. If necessary, read the first two pages twice--you'll be fine. The greater difficulty is in having to stop reading while you're laughing. This book is rude, base, completely inappropriate for any audience, and entirely funny.

It's about a foreign exchange student who lives with an american family. He's been trained as a terrorist from early childhood. The difficulty with the language is this: he speaks and thinks in literal translation from some other language. His word order is non-standard and his choice of words is unusual. He and a group of other foreign exchange students have been sent to the US wreak havoc.

Additionally, the females need anchor babies, and the males must impregnate american females.

I'm sure you'll love it.

Excellent book. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because I didn't particularly appreciate the ending, although it was fitting with what he was trying to put across, I think. As usual, Palahniuk is nothing if not unique. I listened to this book on CD, and that may have made a significant difference, with all the redacted info and the crazy stylizing.

This is my first sampling of Chuck Palahniuk novels and I was incredibly impressed with it. The story was entertaining enough, but the creativity in the way that it is written is completely unique. It took me a chapter to get used to the odd writing style and the broken English, but I quickly adapted and breezed right through this book. For the other reviewers who suggest reading some of Chuck's other works first, I ask: Why? This is my first Palahniuk novel and it's just made me want to read more. I can only hope that his other works make me think as much as this one did. It is much too easy to find mind-numbing drivel out there. Kudos to Mr. Palahniuk for writing something so unique and making me think while reading!

Firstly, this is definitely not the best Palahniuk to start; if you've never read Palahniuk before, go first for Fight Club, Diary, Lullaby, Invisible Monsters, Choke, or even Rant.
If you're a hardcore Palahniuk fan, chances are you'll like Pygmy anyway.
If not, be aware that Chuck pushes in Pygmy to its bare limit the minimalist technique dubbed "the burnt tongue", as he depicts it in its known essay -that can be easily found online- "not chasing Amy": Syntax is distorted so as to force the reader to really fathom the contents of the sentence. In Pygmy, the narrator speaks english gibberish that would result from badly translating another language -check the first page, the whole book is like that.
Not difficult to read, even for the non-english native, -you get used to it after the first chapter-, but unnecessarily artificial. It conveys the impression that the story is shallow, and further highlights some of "the horses" -another minimalist elementary fixture-, like "Begins here account"; "For official record"; "Could be [insert here description of killer martial arts technique]...".
Chuck may enjoy praising minimalism, but I need a good long and dense novel to read in between two works of minimalism, and, as Tom Wolfe said, minimalism is only lack of nerve.
So, Pygmy's worth reading, brilliantly funny at times -definitely not for the faint-hearted though- and better than the last ones, but far from the first novels...

Let me begin by saying that Chuck Palahniuk is by far my favorite author. I've read each of his books at least twice (with the exceptions of "Fight Club" and "Snuff"), racking up close to seven re-reads of "Haunted" and four of "Rant." My favorites are "Haunted," "Survivor," and "Choke," each of which I recommend fully to anyone who likes to read.

I admire the more experimental turn Chuck's writing has taken lately. Instead of wondering how he's going to shock me next, I begin new books of his wondering which conventions he's going to shatter. I especially admire his dissection of "genre writing," revealing formerly despised genres like horror and sci-fi as archetypal forms of storytelling embedded in our literature and mindset, and feel that he's THE author for the twenty-first century.

The most rewarding part of "Pygmy" for me is what seems to be the most controversial aspect of it: the language. I thought it was interesting to read and fun to pick out the conventions Chuck set up while writing the book. While it does seem, at times, to be more of a writer's workshop experiment, the language of this book accomplishes one of the major themes in "Rant." By sabotaging conventional, everyday things (like food in "Rant") with harmful elements, the sabotaged item must be mulled over carefully and appreciated, rather than glossed over and forgotten. The language in "Pygmy" gets the reader to slow down, piece together, and dissect the very language he/she uses every day without thinking about it. In reading "Pygmy," I got a very strong sense of the care Chuck uses when crafting a novel, right down to the very elements of the meanings of the words he uses.

The most important parts of this book are those chapters in which Pygmy gives us a glimpse into his training. We get to see the person he was before he became a mindless tool of his government. He becomes less a monster and more a relatable character, much in the way Victor does in "Choke," through the history sections in that book. This kind of character development, though not entirely fluid in "Pygmy," kept the book from being a Bret Easton Ellis-style gore-fest with a big moral at the end that is only covered up with more horror.

As far as shock value goes, yes, "Pygmy" managed to shock me more by the second chapter than anything I've previously read by Chuck.

As far as the story goes, i felt like it was a bit too much of a criticism of two cultures and mindsets. The horrors of the lives of Pygmy and his comrades, as well as the Americans around them, seemed a bit too hyperbolic, too big, too easy. The social commentary seems to beat the reader over the head to the point of rejecting all of it. I felt like all the characters were giant balls of over-exaggerated political satire and I just couldn't find a foothold to truly connect with any of the messages.

By the end of the novel, the big fork-in-the-road decision, I found myself being disappointed with either of the potential outcomes: if Pygmy destroys America, there would be no way for him to write the posthumous last chapter, telling us how it all went down. If he doesn't, the ending would be too "Hollywood" to accept and I would feel like Chuck was under pressure from censors to contain his satire. (On a side note, I noticed that "Pygmy" is no longer sold in my local Target store the way it was during the release week. Perhaps someone up at corporate actually read the book and deemed it too foul to sell at their stores.)

This book is enjoyable mostly as a glimpse into Chuck Palahniuk's evolution as a writer. All his normal conventions are there: the catch phrases repeated in every chapter, the set up of themes that are repeated and dissected every which-way... Chuck is nothing if not a master of formalities. But as a stand alone book, I feel like "Pygmy" is more about form than function and strands its storyline, characters, themes and messages in favor of an exploration of the English language.

Yes, the writing style in this is somewhat convoluted - it's a bit stream of consciousness from the standpoint of a brainwashed teenager sent from some overseas place as part of a group of ostensible refugees to be fostered in the US, but really here to commit terrorist acts.

I couldn't put it down. It's often hilarious and laugh-out-loud funny in a subversive way that makes one take a look at typical American perspectives and how cluttered they can sometimes be compared to the clear, direct, completely amoral viewpoints exposed herein.

Broken "engrish" narration will either draw you in (me) or irritate the hell out of you, but the payoff is worth it either way. The social commentary is excellent - a fantastically humorous look at [stereo]typical American/capitalist culture as compared to a socialist totalitarian "paradise." It's neither rah-rah USA or anti-capitalist droning; there's no agenda here regardless of how sensitive you might be to politicization. I'd rank it in the top three of Palahniuk's, alongside Invisible Monsters and and Fight Club (tied with Lullaby).

Writer of Portland camp give detail regarding Operation: Havoc. Will unleash Zombie Lotus Quick Kill Kick. Pow Pow. Dead in half-second. Sun burned flesh. Lie gutter. Book written amphetamine glow. Burning truth ashes collide on pages form words of golden snake writer. Incorrect verbage. Agent 67 not known at time of write book mimic ee cummings intake of LSD or thorazine. Poor television man speak of book in candid unfunny fashion not amused by terrorist threat read Operation:Havoc. Prepare enemies for quick instant death decay moves. Chimpanzee man President of sick nation of capitalists thrown to budgetary decline. Will feel wrath of Raging Swan Army and fall to fat sordid sick self. Auto manufacturers decline in production due to lazy fat pig men smoking death rolls on work interlude. Manufacturer of lie words write other book Choke describing sexual play with many warm vaginas and manufacturer of capitalist rich fat American lie words write book Lullaby telling of man digging into dead womb. Writer insane from frequent habitual drug use and love man of own sex. Recommend other books Introduction to Communist Theory and Thought containing words not manipulated by money hungry capitalists.

I just finished Pygmy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have read all of his works to this point, and I actually felt that Pygmy was much better than a few of his other recent efforts (Snuff, particularly).

I have read through a lot of the reviews on this site, and I can't help but wonder if some of the more negative/scathing entries were submitted by people who have really read his other novels. Beyond that, I have to question the level of intelligence of some of these people. If you honestly cannot 'figure out' the flow of the narrative after a few chapters, then I would suggest you select your next book from the 'Teen' section of Barnes & Noble. Once you become accustomed to Pygmy's vocabulary and syntax (shouldn't take you more then 20 pages), you are 'in on the joke', and will be treated to another brilliant Palahniuk dissection of American culture.

My first thought after Chapter One was that the writing style in Pygmy was indeed akin to 'A Clockwork Orange', in that the narrator forces you over the course of the book to become more and more a part of their world (via context, repeated use of slang terms, and odd sentence construction). If that was indeed Palahniuk's intent (it likely wasn't), then Pygmy fell short in this regard. The narrator's unique delivery did not suck you in as a 'friend' or 'partner in crime' as with Alex in ACO, but it was still a very interesting and amusing device, overall. I feel that Palahniuk should be applauded for this brave and interesting choice in technique. I am trying to imagine enjoying this book as much if Pygmy 'spoke' perfect English...not possible

I would have awarded the book five stars, but I felt that the ending was a bit too abrupt. I was also not a big fan of this novel's iteration of Palahniuk's 'signature' repetitive motif. In this case, Pygmy keeps his focus throughout most of the book by repeating the periodic table of elements (along with some other interesting 'elements'). The use of these motifs, while a bit tired at this point in Palahniuk's works, usually adds something to the text for me. It didn't work so well for me this time. Conversely, I did heartily enjoy the 'deadly attack technique' motif...SWISH-POW!

An interesting experimental novel told from the point of view of an unnamed Asian exchange student (nicknamed Pygmy), visiting from an unnamed totalitarian country and living with a host family in an unnamed Midwestern American state. Pygmy's signature style, and the single most important point every review of this book will mention, is the use of broken English to experience the narrator's fish-out-of-water view of America. The entire book is written this way. I thought it very daring at first, but then I grew tired of deciphering what was going on and gave up.

The book is consistent. A style I have never encountered before Where else are you going to find a book that purposely misuses grammar with a story that divulges into topics of American indulgence, ignorance, puberty, sex, terrorism and so much more. Not my favorite Chuck book, but this book is another piece of evidence proving that Palahniuk is one of the best Creative writers out there. If you can not get through this book because you are unable to decipher sentences that are not grammatically correct, short and sweet, SUCKS TO BE YOU.

With the exception of his nonfiction work, I believe that 'Pygmy' catches me up with everything Palahniuk has written to date. and much like Palahniuk's more recent efforts ('Choke' and 'Snuff' immediately jump to mind) it appears that he is becoming more interested in playing with form than trying to tell a story that is not only compelling but also marginally easy to follow.

While I did find the voice of the story to be interesting - the broken, somewhat literal English of the main character - it also became somewhat irritating that said character would know the spelling of completely obscure English words yet be otherwise oblivious to the meaning of more common ones.
I also found the "subplot" with the activities of the mother of the family to be...well, it just didn't seem to serve much purpose (I'm intentionally being somewhat vague about this as it isn't exactly family fare). I get how it then fits into the end of the book, but that could have easily been handled more deftly by introducing something equally as wacky.

Perhaps my least favorite thing about the book was how each chapter introduced a quote by either a philosopher or (in)famous world leader, which would then be repeated verbatim toward the end of the chapter - often with very little bearing on the events that the chapter might have been focusing on.

I would recommend before buying this book you read the first chapter, which is available on the store. If you can make it through the writing style and have enjoyed other Palahniuk books, you should like Pygmy. Even if reading the first dispatch is hard, you will get used to the style after a couple of chapters. If you have not read Choke, Invisible Monsters or Fight Club; read those before Pygmy.

Like most Palahniuk books, Pygmy is certainly not for everyone. It is rude and crude, but smart, hilarious and very entertaining. I especially liked all the quotes from historical figures, that for the most part, should never be quoted. The typical quotes come from the likes of Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler. All of whom are very offensive, but this book pulls of the quotes leaving you laughing, but slightly offended.

Last point, I have read a few other reviews that say this story is very far fetched. I agree one hundred percent, but it is a fiction novel, read the book and enjoy.

Objectively I think this may be even better than "Fight Club". What he does with language alone is the work of an absolute genius. The content is deep and, in its own bizarre way, even deeply moving. Highly recommended.

The ENTIRE book is written in a stunted, uninteresting, pigeon English. Read the first chapter on the store before you buy it. THAT is how the ENTIRE book is written. In other words, TERRIBLY. This does NOT harken back to great titles like "Trainspotting" or "A Clockwork Orange", it is just annoying and boring, as well as a little tough to read with any kind of flow. Chop. Chop. Chop chop. that is about the same experience as reading this book.

Everyone who says they stopped reading before it was over should be ashamed. This book is a test to whether anyone actually pays attention while they read. It is difficult to follow at first, but you find that with every sentence you're engaging your brain more than you would reading a normal book. I remember specific parts of this book better than other books simply because I was forced to create a picture in my mind, piecing together the strange dialect. That being said, it doesn't get five stars because, as others have mentioned, the ending is completely anticlimactic. But, still, read it. It's highly amusing and definitely page turning.

This book is written in a dialect of broken English that can be difficult to get used to. After I got used to the way the book is written I loved it! It is the story of a 14 year old exchange student from an unnamed third world county who also happens to be a terrorist. This books humor is very dark so beware!

Begins here evaluation of reader me, subject book of fiction story title "Pygmy". Thinking machine of this reader much enjoy processing story this book. First thinking machine of this reader much difficulty process sentence structure. However, thinking machine fast adjust new sentence structure, all gratitude to monumental talent revered author Chuck Palahniuk. Thinking machine this reader even begin think thoughts style this book. Under gentle guiding talented hands revered author Palahniuk, this style result very efficient way convey personality of agent name "Pygmy". This reader particularly feel enjoyment characters cat sister and pig dog brother. Only dissatisfaction this reader termination phase this book small degree abruptness. However, this complaint no diminish enjoyment of this reader. This reader recommend yellow story book "Pygmy" of Palahniuk for enjoyment of other reader. Could be hands of this reader extract decadent American credit card wallet, make whiz-bang Payment Purchase this book at bloated American book store city *******.

Beside a few minor inconsistencies, the narrative is superlative. The story is incisive, thought-provoking, and amusing in a bittersweet fashion. One of the rare stories that tackles head-on actual real world concerns. The length of the story is just right, too.

Pygmy is a haling triumph for American literature and is truly through and through American. If you are looking in to reading this I highly recommend it but only if you can keep up. If you start reading the book and you realize you don't know what's going on, this book isn't for you. I've come across people who have tried reading this book but they ended up hating it and had to quit reading it because they got lost.

If you ARE smart enough to read this, it comes with my highest recommendations.

Enough said.

Having read all of Chuck's prior novels, I cannot express how disappointed I am in Pygmy. When reading Chuck, I expect a fun, demented, sometimes gross and rude, but always entertaining ride. Not work. Pygmy was too much work. The writing was too stylized in a voice that is inarticulate and whose observations are often incoherent. I get what he's trying to accomplish here, but it is too tedious. And the plot was not even worth struggling through the prose for. He is quick to emphasize the evils of American capitalism and society's flaws through the eyes of terrorist Pygmy, layered with a desensitized public and corrupt youth. But there were never cringe-worthy twists or jaw-dropping shocks that a Chuck fan has come to expect, and I was let down again at the anti-climactic conclusion. Too bad.

Not as good as Choke, Survivor, Rant or Fight Club, but I still liked it.

The language is not hard to understand after a couple of pages and it actually provides a lot of humor and views on American culture that are really interesting.

The book is sick and twisted. This book has its own kind of humor and a crazy story. This book is written by Chuck Palahniuk and should not be so surprising.

I wish it could have been longer or had some more packed into it, but besides that I enjoyed it.

This is not a book to loan out to friends though. This is really just for Palahniuk fans.

I love Chuck Pahlly, and I was really looking forward to this book, especially after reading "snuff" and being disappointed. I will say that this is a good book coming off of "snuff," but some things just didn't work for me.

Basically, the whole book is written in broken English. I struggled to read the first few chapters because it took forever for me to get used to the writing style. I kept hoping that there would be a switch up, and we would see this story from someone else's point of view, but it never happened.

The story is pretty good, not too many shocking revelations, but enough to keep you intrigued. I would say try this book if you are a big Chuck fan, but if not, maybe hold of until his next one.

Chuck Palahniuk is probably one of my favorite authors of all time, I believe he hooked me when I read Invisible monsters years ago and he continues to push the limits of our physical (Guts?) and emotional (Brandy and Shannon anyone?) stability thought his writings. Pygmy is a more gown up Chuck creating an Id and we love him for it. I'd give it five but, I think his best has yet to be written. Definitely worth a read!

I bought this because I greatly enjoy Chuck Palahniuk's writing. That being said, this book is my least favorite of his books. While employing an enjoyable and intriguing story line, the unorthodox method of writing this book takes a few chapters to get into. And if you stop reading and come back later, there is a slight lag in picking back up one's rhythm. As an avid reader of Ellen Hopkins' books, I am completely fine with unorthodox methods of writing which, I feel, assisted in my being able to complete Pygmy.

Aside from the odd grammar and writing method, the story was strong and Palahniuk does not let his readers down. As is his signature style, Pygmy's ending is unexpected and there are many enjoyable twists and turns on the way there.

this is very different...not just for Chuck P... but as a book altogether. Definitely not my favorite Chuck P. book, I have read all of them, but this is so in a class of its own I do not think you can judge it against his previous work. This is a must read just for the experience.

Lovers of Chuck Palahniuk who found Pygmy's butchered English too tiresome to read owe the audio book a try. Paul Michael Garcia is an articulate and intelligent reader who really understands what Palahniuk was trying for. He gives Pygmy's clipped, militaristic propaganda-inspired sentences a cadence that bounce with rhythm, humor and emotion. Lovers of language - English and the slaughtered versions spoken by our bewildered-but-sincere foreign acquaintances - will appreciate the Eastern Block esperanto ear candy Palahniuk has invented for this story. The dialogue is so delicious that it really must be heard to be appreciated.

I'm beginning to think Palahniuk is playing a great big joke on his readers after having pumped out Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, and now Tell-All (which I have yet to read, but it is already getting bad reviews). As an avid Chuck fan, this is hardly what I would expect from him; how can an author that has produced so many brilliant novels suddenly start generating crap? It almost seems like a stint of warped commentary on consumerism that he would have written about in his books. I'm just waiting for him to start poking fun at us in his novels for continuing to read and buy his books.
I have been wholly unimpressed with his last 3 novels, and I was barely able to even finish reading Pygmy. The vernacular makes this an almost impossible read and the story is anticlimactic. If you are looking to start reading Palahniuk, DO NOT START HERE (Or with Rant... or Snuff...) because it will give you a completely false impression of his style. I am in denial that Chuck has been reduced to this sort of contracted crap publishing, but it's looking like that is how the future of Palahniuk is going to play out. For shame, Chuck, for shame.