Here’s something you can do this week. Go into your local Borders or Barnes & Noble or whatever. Someplace you can take a book off the shelf and read for a little while. Grab a copy of Chuck Palahniuk’s latest book, Haunted, and find a place to sit. Ideally, you’d want to do this in the cafe area; someplace where there will be quite a few people around while you’re reading. Now, open up to the chapter called “Guts” and give it a go. It won’t take very long to read, so you can do this on your way to class or work, or even on your lunch break. Come to think of it, maybe on your lunch break is not the best idea.
It’s a fantastic story, wouldn’t you agree? I was inspired to check it out by a fascinating interview with Mr. Palahniuk that I came across on the web, in which he describes the various audience reactions that have been prompted by his reading of “Guts” on his current promotional tour. And while my experience with the story may not have been as overwhelming as some people’s, I will admit that I did need to pause at several points, while I tried to figure out if I was getting dizzy, or just on the verge of laughing hysterically. And while I finished reading, all the other customers at Borders continued with their shopping, but I wondered… What’s their story?
(Note: While the entire text of this story is available on the web, I’d be very disappointed if you don’t take my advice and read it somewhere public. I mean, come on… Don’t you want to have any fun? =)