Not Forever, But For Now by Chuck Palahniuk

Not Forever, but For Now

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Genre: Fiction

Format: Physical ARC via Simon Books

Publish Date: September 2023

Read: September 2023

Story Synopsis: Cecil and Otto - the sons in a wealthy Welsh family - are man-children. They act like toddlers, and require servants to cut their meat, as well as bathe them, despite being well into their twenties.

If that weren’t cringe-worthy enough, they are both deeply delusional and come from a line of fixers and serial-killers. It’s safe to say boundaries and a moral compass didn’t make into Otto and Cecil’s upbringing.

When they both begin to realize they shouldn’t be so dependent on one another, their delusions create a fanciful and deranged world that only they can save.

Why does this book beguile? This was possibly the most depraved book I’ve read in a long time. But I also kinda loved it. Palahniuk (who also wrote Fight Club, Choke, and Lullaby) is not quite a “mainstream” author. Not Forever, But For Now is something like a horror-satire novel. You’re supposed to hate these characters. They are supposed to represent the 0.01% of the detached and rich knowing no boundaries, no right from wrong, and nothing other than their most basic, primal desires.

I also think you’re not really supposed to know what happened at the end. No spoilers, but you can’t tell what’s real and what’s in Cecil’s mind once you finish. And that’s the beauty of it because neither can Cecil.

Rating: 3.5/5

Link*: Not Forever, But For Now by Chuck Palahniuk

If you like this, read*: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk