"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes."

- Desiderius Erasmus

 

Choke
Author: Chuck Palahniuk
Copyright date: 2001

I think Choke is definitely the most graphic book I have ever read. The main character, Victor, is a recovering sex addict. He goes to the recovery meetings and has sex with the other addicts there. I don't mean to imply, however, that this book was no good because it was graphic. In fact, Choke is one of the best books I have ever read.

To support his dying mother, Victor pretends to choke in various restaurants. The people who "save" him then feel bad for him and send him money sometimes. While trying to pay the increasing hospital bills, Victor begins to learn more and more about his past, and this starts his quest to finally recover from being a sex addict.

The book ended with a great twist and a very valuable lesson. I didn't see it at first, but two days later the revelation hit me and blew my mind in a matter of seconds. It was a genuine intellectual orgasm.

The same as all the other Palahniuk books, Choke is worth the read and can make you see things in a different light. Hopefully at the end you will have the same epiphany I did, and enjoy it just as much.