Tuesday, June 20, 2000
Title: Fight Club
Author: Chuck Palahniuk
Publisher: Vintage
Fight Club was one of those films which was based on a novel, this being that novel. For the most part the novel will have more in it than the film. In some ways that is the case here, and as one would expect there are some differences in the way that things happen; minor characters become even lesser in the film and their actions are attributed to more central characters; while other events are dropped or compressed to move the plot along. Alternatively a film, being visual, can emphasize and play up certain aspects of a story, giving them a greater significance.
The story is of our narrator, an insomniac who finds relief through support groups. Finding release in the tragedies of others until another fake comes along. Then it's back to insomnia and a meeting with the charismatic Tyler Durden. Between them they concoct fight club - the perfect release and hardening for a weakened generation. The role of the person is lost in the conflict, and each member seeks the self-destruction of hitting bottom. Fight Club escalates and suddenly they are everywhere, then one step further into social terrorism.
The intent of Fight Club is to challenge the status quo of the accepted, while at the same time giving us the experience of someone who is part of the culture he is fighting against as he finds his limits - positive and negative. The rate at which it catches on shows the strength of the idea. The prevalence of discontent and support groups provides another level of commentary. Fight Club offers subversion - providing tips on how to make explosives and all sort of other "home cooking" advice.
The ending of Fight Club was in some ways unsatisfactory as a film. But in the book it does actually build a lot better and comes to a stronger conclusion for the most part. In some ways seeing the film a second time benefited its ending, which may in actuality also help the reading of the novel. It is interesting to compare the two and see where they balance ideas differently - at just over 200 pages, it's a quick read - one I read in one night!
RVWR: PTR
June 2000
