Pygmy

By: Chuck Palahniuk

Narrated by: Nick Walther

The Manchurian Candidate meets South Park — Chuck Palahniuk’s finest novel since the generation-defining Fight Club.

“Begins here first account of operative me, agent number 67 on arrival Midwestern American airport greater _____ area. Flight _____. Date _____. Priority mission top success to complete. Code name: Operation Havoc.”

Thus speaks Pygmy, one of a handful of young adults from a totalitarian state sent to the United States, disguised as exchange students, to live with typical American families and blend in, all the while planning an unspecified act of massive terrorism.

Palahniuk depicts Midwestern life through the eyes of this thoroughly indoctrinated little killer, who hates us with a passion, in this cunning double-edged satire of an American xenophobia that might, in fact, be completely justified. For Pygmy and his fellow operatives are cooking up something big, something truly awful, that will bring this big dumb country and its fat dumb inhabitants to their knees.

It’s a comedy. And a romance.

©2009 Chuck Palahniuk (P)2021 Recorded Books

Classic Chuck

Everything about this book is ridiculous in the best way possible. The broken English can make it hard to follow but usually it’s easy to understand.

brilliant and hilarious!

I laughed my way through this listen. the story is a hilarious satire on American culture and lifestyle. it is also a hilarious satire on how fascist and autocratic governments present America to their respective populists. the performance is over the top amazing, with a fabulous Slavic accent throughout the story. I really loved it, and highly recommended. just an awesome work of fiction and satire.

Trigger Warning

Falls short of the high bar set by some of Palahniuk’s earlier work. While the broken English format was amusing, it took away from the story.

Brilliant dissection of language and country.

This is a singular work from a very specific perspective. I loved the broken English and interesting take on our cultural and communication mores. There are a few gut punches here as well which are shocking and sorta satisfying.

Is the whole book like that? (yes)

I've never read (or listened) to a book, deliberately written in terrible English. that was unique. i enjoyed the story. You do eventually get used to the weird wording, once or twice I wanted to say "no he would have said _____"

The accent was a little inconsistent. Usually it sounded Russian, but sometimes Italian, Spanish or Zohan (Adam Sandler).

Just don’t read it if you don’t like church

Gross very descriptive and violent all the stuff Chuck likes to write about in his books. Bland though didn’t feel for characters just waited till the end.

Not for me

I don't care the narrative style of the book. it was funny and entertaining at first, but became annoying after a while. I just did not care what happened to the main character. I have not finished the story yet. I .at go back to it and see how it turns out, but the style of the book is not my taste