For my book club we started reading “Choke” this week.  I’m on chapter 8 and I absolutely loathe this book.  While after the first couple of chapters the story kind of picked up, I have zero sympathy for any of the characters.  The main character, Victor, doesn’t seem to know what he wants truly out of the pathetic existence he calls a life and instead has come to rely on conning people in restaurants.  I’m not even all that impressed about the reason why he’s doing this; to keep his unstable mother in a fancy home for the dying?  His mother only speaks to him when he visits her under false pretenses; when he comes as himself she barely gives him the time of day before turning back to her soap operas; in disguise she’ll talk for hours and then complain about how Victor never comes to visit her, or when he does he doesn’t pay attention to her.

The latest (and most tangible) thing that I’ve noticed that drives me insane about this book is the incessant use of the phrase ” (insert any word here) isn’t the right word, but it’s the first word that comes to mind.”  This phrase always seems to hang in the air and completely randomly.  Once or twice it probably wouldn’t have bothered me; but I feel as if I’ve read it way too often in just eight chapters.

I’d heard from a friend that this isn’t one of his better books and I have to agree.  Having read “Lullaby” and “Diary” I was expecting something….better and much  more engrossing.  But I will persevere and see what happens.  Good thing I didn’t buy the book is all I can say at this point though.