Choke
by Chuck Palahniuk · first published 2001
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4HN commenters
2008–2022first – last mentioned
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Victor Mancini, a medical-school dropout, is an antihero for our deranged times. Needing to pay elder care for his mother, Victor has devised an ingenious scam: he pretends to choke on pieces of food while dining in upscale restaurants. He then allows himself to be "saved" by fellow patrons who, feeling responsible for Victor's life, go on to send checks to support him. When he's not pulling this stunt, Victor cruises sexual addiction recovery workshops for action, visits his addled mom, and spends his days working at a colonial theme park. His creator, Chuck Palahniuk, is the visionary we nee
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If you liked this short story at all, go buy Choke or Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk.
on “How to Write Stories (and lose weight, clean up the environment, and make a million dollars)” ↗I think Chuck Palahniuk was the first to say life was nothing but one addiction replacing another. It was in "Choke", if I remember correctly...
on “PG: Disconnecting Distraction” ↗Chuck Palahniuk's sole foray into travel literature is called "Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon". This is the author of Fight Club and Choke. http://www.amazon.com/Fugitives-Refugees-Portland-Oregon-Jou...
on “Ask HN: What to do in Portland?” ↗This reminded me a novel by Chuck Palahniuk called 'Choke' which one of the characters is addicted to collecting rocks. He is already in the news and perhaps from now on some sort of 'cult' starts.
on “How can I get my boyfriend to stop digging his tunnel?” ↗