Funny, in an interview, Choke author Chuck Palahniuk seems like a nice guy.
Chuck Palahniuk writes things that upset people.
On one notorious book tour he insisted on reading aloud his story “Guts,” a near-clinical look at … ahem … self-abuse. His presentation became legendary for the number of audience members who fainted.
“I quit counting at 71,” Palahniuk (rhymes with “colonic”) said in a phone call from his home in Portland, Ore., “but I bet it capped out at about 120.”
On another tour he handed out hundreds of cheap inflatable sex dolls. It was a great gimmick, until Palahniuk got to Georgia.
“According to Georgia law, any sexual device — including blow-up dolls — must be prescribed by a doctor. We had to bring in lawyers before the reading could go on.
“But you know, some of the people who come to hear me have never been to an author’s event. I want to give them something to remember. I’ve found that odor is a nice way to sneak in under people’s radar. I particularly like bacon-scented air fresheners.
“I’m up for any way you can build up what is basically just a guy sitting and reading.”
Palaniuk, 46, is best known for his novel Fight Club, which was turned into the memorable 1999 film starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. Now he’s represented on the big screen by “Choke.” It opens commercially Friday, but Kansas City audiences got a sneak peek this weekend at the Kansas International Film Festival.
It involves a sex addict named Victor (Sam Rockwell) who, when he isn’t trying to pick up women at 12-step meetings, is deliberately choking on food in restaurants. Victor has found that the people who save him feel responsible for him and end up giving him money.
Victor also learns from his senile mother (Anjelica Huston) that he is the literal son of Jesus Christ. It has something to do with DNA from a petrified relic.
From Palahniuk’s reputation as a big-time agent provocateur, you might expect him to be an eye-rolling, wild-haired, belligerent misanthrope.
So it’s a bit of a surprise (and relief) to discover that he’s a low-key, thoughtful, polite fellow who once did volunteer work with elderly people.
Though our phone interview was set up to publicize the movie version of Choke, Palahniuk said he tried not to put too much emphasis on movies based on his writing.
“Movies are such a crapshoot that I never put any investment or thought into them. In fact, I pretty much give up ownership of the movie. I actually push the filmmakers to change the book so that it becomes an expression of themselves.”
While he makes himself available to filmmakers and loves to hang around movie sets, Palahniuk said he doesn’t impose.
“I encourage them to develop their own vision. If they have concerns about plot points or something, I’m there to hold their hands.”
Palahniuk said that his own life is considerably less volatile than the lives of his characters but that writing about human extremes is fun.
“That’s why I got a degree in journalism. I felt I needed a license to go out into the world and meet people living on the edge. Fiction serves me in the same way. What’s really great is that I can do just about anything and write it off as research.
“You should see the stuff I claim as business deductions on my tax return. A few years ago I spent hours on phone sex chat lines collecting lurid stories. … I was looking for the perfect lewd story that was also heartbreaking.
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To reach Robert Butler call 816-234-4760 or send e-mail to bbutler@kcstar.com
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