I didn't finish this book. I find child sex abuse and violence difficult to read, even in context. Children committing said abuse and violence upon one another is particularly unappealing to me. It's pretty messed up, standard aberrant writing for sensationalism. Jokes about thalidomide, asbestos, the death of Judy Garland. Har har. Not my favorite book by Palahniuk.

Fans of Palahniuk will eat this book up, but if you’re not already a fan this isn’t likely to make you one. He uses his classic repetitive phrasing to push certain points, pulling the reader along just as Cecil is pulled along in his brother’s shenanigans. If you are looking for something slightly offensive that pushes the boundaries, you should absolutely have a go at this novel. But you might never hear the words Winnie the Pooh or Lady in the lake the same way again….

As a huge Palahniuk fan, this book was just a huge letdown. It was just...weird. And not in a good way. I never fully understood what was going on. I didn't particularly care about the characters. The blurb made it sound like it'd be an interesting tale, and instead we just get weird sexual depravity.

As is always the case with Chuck Palahniuk, the reader is in for something interesting and the use of language is spot-on. I am not always as enraptured by the topics that Palahniuk takes on, but his use of dark humor is unmatched and his use of language is masterful.

This novel will offend a lot of people. I enjoyed it. That’s not to say that it isn’t horrific and completely fucked up. It’s satire and should be read as such. The hardcore Palahniuk fans will enjoy this novel, but the easily offended will be appalled. Tread with caution. If you know, you know.

Are you easily offended?

If so, steer clear.

I think even Chuck Palahniuk himself would likely acknowledge that even at his most accessible he's an acquired taste. When Palahniuk goes to his edgier extremes? Well, you have to be willing to twist right alongside him or you'll likely struggle the entire way.

As someone who still considers Bret Easton Ellis's "American Psycho" one of my favorite books of all-time, I'm certainly not afraid of edgy and even offensive material. However, I will confess that I struggled throughout the relatively short but well-paced "Not Forever, But For Now." I'm far from a Palahniuk devotee, but I've liked several of his titles and, of course, "Fight Club" is a borderline classic.

Like nearly all of Palahniuk's writing, "Not Forever, But For Now" is a satire. If you accept it as satire, it becomes somewhat more palatable. That said, it's entirely graphic nature will be difficult for more sensitive writers and the book itself will have something to say about you that you may not like to read. I personally found it funny.

In this case, the book is a darkly funny horror satire about a family of professional killers responsible for the most atrocious events in history and the young brothers that are destined to take over.

Palahniuk introduces us to Otto and Cecil, two brothers growing up privileged in the Welsh countryside. They enjoy watching nature shows, playing with their pet pony, impersonating their grandfather, and killing the help.

Murder is the family business in ways big and small.

Tasked with growing into the family business, Otto and Cecil struggle with a constant stream of threats and distractions from a constant parade of escaped convicts showing up at their door to a twisted new tutor with a penchant for speaking in Greek and dismembering sex dolls. Mummy has a burgeoning new Opioid addiction and daddy has seemingly just vanished. This leaves grandfather pressuring Otto to really step up (Cecil is a bit of a disappointment). This could end up in a myriad of ways from a nuclear apocalypse to a day in the park.

Palahniuk keeps us guessing the entire time.

If you're easily offended, you will be offended. If, however, you've long appreciated Palahniuk's relentless writing then you'll likely find yourself nervously guffawing at his ballsy, graphic, and fiercely graphic writing. If books could be rated, this would undeniably be an R-rated novel dancing on the edge of an NC-17.

The story's Welsh setting plays prominently, both culturally and in terms of linguistics, and this was a book that drew me in the longer I gave myself to it. I'd dare say it's a book best experienced in a single setting or two. I read the first 20-25% or so over 3-4 nights before reading the rest of it during one sitting while waiting on a brake job.

I kind of felt like a naughty little boy sitting in the mechanic's shop waiting on my car and immersing myself in this bit of a killing spree.

Twisted. Weird. Funny. Human.

Palahniuk.

the say this is one of the weirdest and most uniquely written books i’ve ever read is quite the accomplishment…but i think it is!

let me start by saying this book is gonna be for a VERY NICHE audience. I’m calling it an incestuous Exquisite Corpse with man-baby brothers. it’s hilarious, creepy, and uncomfortable - the fact that these college-aged brothers still have a nanny to bathe them should tell you the tone of the book. Palahniuk uses certain words and phrases very repetitiously, which I can see a lot of readers being annoyed with, but it worked for me in terms of getting you into this narrator’s disgusting psyche.

4.5 stars

As with every Palahniuk book I’ve ever read …
WTF?!? What did I just read.
Only Chuck can do what he does. He is an absolute master at his craft. This is sick and twisted and gross and hilarious all in the same sentence sometimes.
If you haven’t read him yet, be warned but do it! If you have you already know…lol