chuck Palahniuk

It's annoying hearing people praise Palahniuk to the skies when I hardly doubt he deserves it at all. That is not to say that I cannot see why Palahniuk has his little fan club. His writing is popular and readable, his plots are smart in a very contemporary way, and he's managed to capture the perfect way of playing to the whims of a society that's desperate to be sick, no thanks to modern psychology. However, his writing hasn't evolved and none of his plots are surprising or intelligent. He's good at churning out cheap gimmicks badly disguised as "good" writing. Shock tactics worked when we were kids so why are reasonably smart adults calling him god? It truly bothers me that there are enough people buying his books to make him commercially successful because that will only motivate him to write more plots according to this idiot-proof formula. Oh, the irony! Anyone can integrate ironic black humour or cynicism within their stories but to do it well or intelligently? That is where he fails to deliver. Smart, check. Talent, no check. Perhaps it's comforting to go back to an author so familiar and recognizable but I hardly think it gives us credit as intelligent, discerning readers. I understand why he is so appreciated but I don't necessarily agree or sympathize.