Remarkably, it seemed as if most folks at the Douglas Coupland/Chuck Palahniuk reading last night were swooning over Palahniuk whereas I could listen to Coupland babble on forever.

The presence of Palahniuk did make the ‘reading’ a literary event unlike any I have been to before, although very similar to the Irvine Welsh/Coupland act a few years back which means I will always attend Coupland readings when he buddies up with other writers. He is a warm and quirky host.

Coupland read from his soon to be released novel JPod (damn - it comes out after my birthday, but in time for summer reading), which is set in a “faraway land called Burnaby” at a company that makes video games. Okay, enough on that, pick up the book. I haven’t read it yet (although some annoying girls near me were going on about their advance copies from Random House and I nearly grabbed them and sprinted out) but it was typically brilliant Coupland so I’ll have it in my collection soon enough.

The cult of Palahniuk is intriguing. About 50% of attendees had never been to a literary event before (they did a show of hands), which is phenomenal. The line was endless for his picture (yes, his picture) and autograph. Being the early bird I am, I had about an hour to study the fans. But I still have no insight into what it is about Palahniuk that leads to web sites like Cult and legions of adoring, young fans. He is a superiorauthor, but I think there is something else going on here. Just can’t put my finger on it yet.

Palahniuk shared stories that he apparently shares on most book tours (which this was not), from the random people who come up to him to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets - hoping he will understand them even if no one else does. It’s a disturbing trend, but a real bounty for a writer.

Each anecdote earned the laughter of much of the crowd and Palahniuk’s story telling skills add to that effect. You can get a summary of the pug story told last night as told at another reading in Seattle. Yes, it’s funny. But the story of a man whose first thought upon hearing he has HIV is of how he fucked up his most noble act in his life through self pleasure is painful. The most distressing moments in life must be funny in order to live through it, but the crowd’s merry response to every tale was curious to me. Maybe they were just giddy from being in close proximity to literary genius.

What I appreciated most about Palahniuk were his views on his craft and his role in creating art that we can’t get in very many places in our society. Popular books, television series and movies tend not to truly express the true depth of human experience in order to appeal to the masses. Palahniuk tells those really bleak stories we all have, but we rarely speak of. Maybe that is why the crowd laughed so often - perhaps the confessions hit too close to home. Or many just hadn’t experienced the real dark side of life yet.

After the year I had last year, to be reminded that I have the ability and freedom to use my stories, instead of letting the stories use me, was priceless. Thanks Chuck. It was a blast. And Douglas, I hope to see (and hear) you soon. Maybe at the airport again?