Tell All | Chuck Palahniuk

Tell - All
by Chuck Palahniuk
pub: DoubleDay
Cover: Rodrigo Corral Design

I would never have picked this book up in a shop. I found the cover jacket irritating (without the jacket the book actually looks rather elegant and much more pleasing), the writing style with it's bolded text for the many names being dropped would have been off putting had I flicked through it in store and the idea of a part homage part mockery of "Old Hollywood" would not have appealed anyway. To borrow from Stray "I am not your target demographic".

All that said then, it was a surprising treat of a book. The writing style is slightly disconcerting at first, the book set up in acts that our narrator introduces us to and comments on. Palahniuk trades "blah blah blah" for a series of mocking farmyard noises and general clunkings, skipping chunks of trite dialogue to good affect. Once acclimatised to that I was able to really enjoy the delivery and the series of scenes and acts the reader is lead through.

The story sends up the hidden dramas and personal dealings of Old Hollywood through Hazie Coogan whose life is spent managing and caring for Kathryn Kenton, navigating her through the trials and pitfalls of Hollywood life. Hazie is describing the scenes as they roll out and offers a slightly distanced take on events. It's not an emotional journey, it's a cool, witty, commentary well delivered, delightful, sharp and a little subversive.

There are some moments that stand out either as very funny or as more gentle and slightly sad than the rest of the book, which is often touching on deliberately abrasive reflecting some of the personalities involved. The tinge of sadness and faded glory that permeats Tell All in juxtaposition with the humour and harsh presentation is almost a comment on the time and it's stars in itself, the offensive braying conversation against the desperation not to fade into oblivion for the stars themselves.

Not at all my usual sort of reading material but an enjoyable departure. I'm tempted to go and investigate the back catalogue if the same humour and joyful subversion occurs.

(so much prettier without the jacket to my mind.)