[.ca] Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon (ISBN 1400047838)

From Amazon.com:
It's rare to find a travel guide and a memoir joined neatly together in a single, highly readable 176-page volume. But Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, Lullaby) is a writer of rare talent and his home of Portland, Oregon, is a city of rare wonders. In Strangers and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon, Palahniuk goes beyond the AAA handbooks to reveal the places, people, and legends of Portland that have long been known only to locals. The reader learns the location of the legendary Self Cleaning House, where to find the restless ghost of the founder of Powell's Books, and why feral cats are such an important part of Portland baseball. Portland, it seems, is also a highly sexual city and Palahniuk dutifully dissects the specialties of each strip joint as well as discussing Mochika, a zoo penguin with a real fetish for black boots. Along the way, he includes "postcards" from his life in the Rose City dating back to 1981 when, as a 19-year-old, he dropped acid and accidentally ate part of a woman's fur coat during a laser show of Pink Floyd's The Wall. As Palahniuk matures, the postcards reveal the author becoming increasingly a part of the city's scene, culminating with a wild and wooly Millennium Eve celebration at the Bagdad Theater that featured a screening of the film version of Fight Club. Fugitives and Refugees is a must for anyone who may, in their lives, go to Portland. But its appeal should reach beyond Oregonians. Palahniuk's love of the city is so great, and his stories so weirdly wonderful, it makes one want to get out of the house, get in the car, and drive to Portland right away. Just remember to pack the book. --John Moe

This book RULES!!!:
This is about as close as you are going to get to a autobiography of Chuck Palahniuk, but hey, it is all good. Fugitives and Refuggees is not your ordinary travel book. This book looks deep into the "other" side of Portland. Most of the book talks about places to eat, see, and also one of my most favorite chapters where you can go for some good strip shows in Portland. I have to say that I love Laurie (Chuck's roomate) and how when she was younger, she would go sneak into her father's bed, and give him "oral pleasure". Some of the thing's that Chuck did when he was younger was strange, but yet I am glad to see that I got to know a little bit more about one of my favorite authors. So if you want to go to Portland, then read this book. There are some strange landmarks there too, and some of the shows there are fun to go to. Some of them are strange, but they still worth checking out.

CHUCK BIO??:
Well, i just love chucks roommate, Little LAURIE! But onto bigger and better things. Chuck i will finance you to live in SAN DIEGO, and find the cool things like you did with Portland. But i don't care if you write a book, just help me go look for this crap. YOU ROCK DUDE! but Santa weed and rum sounds like the best combo. I think the tunnels under POrtland deserve more attention in the national media. some of the fun activities in Portland: STRIP CLUBS! i'm so rude and crass, forgive me, But seriously, Sex is okay right? wanna know what i'm talking about? PLease JUST BUY THE BOOK! and read it. don't just let it collect dust in that old milk box container storage unit called bookshelf number one. NIGHT NIGHT!!

A Walking Tour On The Wild Side:
The main draw of this book for me is Palahniuk's "postcards", his one to two page long memories scattered throughout the book. These are models of economy, which immediately grab the reader's interest and have lots of little surprises (not all of them pleasant). Especially hilarious are his tales of his role in an MTV video, and of a protest stunt by anarchists that ended up looking like a protest against Italy. (Sorry to be vague, but it defies summary.) The rest of the book is a altie travel guide of the _Lonely Planet_ backroads style. Sights range from the scenic to the seedy, emphasis on the off-beat, though there is a welcome, and unexpected, chapter on the city's gardens. His affection for his town shines through most every passage of every section. There may not be much left of the frontier, which a century and a half ago prompted Thoreau to say "I must walk toward Oregon, and not toward Europe", but what's left is wild enough, and still distinctively American.

A Special Case:
While certainly not for everyone, this little book belongs on many a shelf as well as in many a backpack - here's why (or why not, as the case may be): * A fan of Mr. Palahniuk's work? A Must Have. Biographical sketches, funny and sad, poignant and pathetic, give flashbulb glimpses of the man and insight into his writing. As pure entertainment, 4.5 out of 5 stars. * Looking to do something different in Portland, OR? Assuming all of the attractions noted haven't been overrun and wiped-out by rabid Fight Club wannabes, Fugitives and Refugees will lead you to some seriously off-the-map attractions. 5 of 5 stars but, like any travel guide, F & R will become less and less useful over time until it becomes a snapshot of a historical moment, "Chuck's Portland As It Was". * Travel guide fan? Armchair explorer? Love reading about all those places you just know you'll never actually take the time to visit? This is among the oddest guides you'll find. 4 of 5 stars. Point off for its brevity. * Jaded Portland Local? Too hip for your asymmetrical haircut? Got a "been-there-done-it-all-bought-the-ironic-tee-shirt" attitude? Do you now dislike Mr. Palahniuk and his books because of his popularity? 5 of 5 stars for you since this little book will give you more self-righteous "I Told You He Sold Out" proof to drop on your friends over six dollar lattes or twenty-five cent beers than any of his upcoming books and film releases ever possibly will. Over-all grade: 4.625 out of 5 stars (rounded up for Amazon's whole-number system.)

"A fun exploration--not for the un-experienced":
This book is a total break from Chucks novels, which is refreshing. It's easy to see where he has picked up a lot of the material for his other books. I've passed through Portland a couple of times, however, the only thing I've ever done is gas up and stop for some fast-food. Every girl I've met from Portland was hot. It's a place I'd like to explore, especially after reading this book. I did live in Seattle for 6 months, and did some exploring. There is a lot of history in the great northwestern United States. As for the sleazy strip clubs and such; I feel they cheapen an area, and give it an undesirable atmosphere. Chuck never tries to sweeten the pot. He goes for the guts, which I find 'fresh' and compelling. Like another reviewer stated--the Chamber of Commerce wouldn't like potential citizens of Portland to use this book as a guide to the city. I for one would.