Stranger Than Fiction

Here is realism writ large. Or small, but only because this is a book of short stories. In any case, this 4-cassette bundle of energy from the author of FIGHT CLUB is packed with fascinating, real people. Although the author is given a narration credit, and does a fine job, the real star of this book is Dennis Boutsikaris, whose abrupt, unemotional reading style serves the author well. Boutsikaris has a clear, easy voice that punctuates the text with winks and nods, and underscores Palahniuk's tone with a matter-of-fact style. He allows the stories, some of them shocking and unsettling, to take center stage while moving along at a brisk pace. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine