"It makes Fight Club look like Little Women." -- Chuck Palahniuk
Lullaby
a novel by Chuck Palahniuk
Written by one of today's best comic nihilists, Lullaby was published by Doubleday in October of 2002. The book possesses several layers and reveals observations its author was able to discover after his own father's death. The circumstances surrounding Fred Palahniuk's death are adequately explained here. Idaho's victim's rights law allowed the surviving Mr. Palahniuk to go before the court to expound on his suffering (physical, mental, emotional or otherwise) caused by the crime. A major part of that statement would concern if Mr. Palahniuk supported the death penalty; thus were the first inklings for Lullaby born.
Lullaby is centered around the actions of newspaper reporter Carl Streator who is assigned by his paper to do an exposé on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Streator discovers a common link in his investigation. In all of the bedrooms where a baby has died there can be found a copy of the anthology Poems and Rhymes Around the World opened to the page containing an African chant refered to as a "culling song." The culling song was once used on the elderly or wounded hunters of a tribe to ease their passing. Streator comes across the shocking realization that the culling song is lethal when spoken, or even thought, in another person's direction. The song becomes lodged in Streator's brain and he seeks out real estate broker Helen Hoover Boyle, who has also lost a child to the culling song. They embark on a cross country journey, accompanied by some minor characters, with the task of removing all copies of the lethal poem before it manages to wipe out human life.1
Palahniuk explores some fresh avenues of thought in this novel. The most pertinent is the main storyline concerning the psychic infection that is the culling song. As the author aptly puts it:
"Imagine a plague you catch through your ears... imagine an idea that occupies your mind like a city." --Lullaby
Palahniuk strikes forth to personify the culling song. In his work, he gives it dimensions, he fleshes it out for the reader. He whispers of the fear that could prosper in a society with so much static and background noise that a weapon such as the culling song would thrive. He sings of the danger in wielding the song. Coupled with his blinding wit, Palahniuk pieces together a very enjoyable read.
Loose ends: Lullaby easily had the most pre-release press of any Palahniuk novel. The spelling of the title changed with each draft; originally "Lullaby" Palahniuk shortly changed it to "Lullabye" to accentuate the darker, deadier part of the book. With the third and final draft the spelling was changed back to "Lullaby" as a concession to editors, who were worried enough about the tenor of the novel's contents. The cover art was decided via a fan contest. Hundreds of art designs were sent in. The American hardcover design featured a dead bird on its back2. Alternative artwork which was not chosen is readily available for viewing at the Official Chuck Palahniuk website.
Lullaby is the fifth fictional novel by Palahniuk and his first attempt at a comedic work.
Also by Chuck Palahniuk
Fight Club Survivor Invisible Monsters Choke Diary Haunted
1Book jacket summary
2illustration by Judy Lanfredi
Sources
http://64.176.54.36/lullaby.htm
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/lullaby/