Invisible Monsters: A Novel

Palahniuk's books are like dangerously wild individuals from the same family. They all have their own quirks and twitches, but you can see the resemblance. Many reviewers of Palahniuk (especially those here) try to judge his writing in comparative terms. ("not as good as Fight Club" or "better than Choke") Palahniuk is, unfortunately, a victim of his own skill, because although his texts are certainly their own stories, they do have remarkably similar tones (e.g. he sprinkles his text with odd/unusual facts as a backdrop for the odd/unusual action). As a result, they polarize the audience quite well. Like one book, and you're likely to enjoy them all. That having been said, let me add my own opinion to the mix: this book is Chuck's best to date (note: I haven't read Diary). All of his books are, to some extent, about identity crises. In this case, it is the identity crisis of ex-model Shannon, whose jaw is blown off in an unusual auto accident. She goes on a soul-quest of sorts with transgendered queen Brandy, and a few other people with similarly odd problems. What follows is a tangled, twisted, and tantalizing tale of drugs, sex, love, loss, and hope. This time, the style of the book is tailored after movie-esqe terms (like "flash forward" and "jump cut"), giving the text a cinematic quality that works well with the subject matter (it also, for you literature fans, makes for a far more subtle metaphor than you'd expect). The flashbacks and the dialogue and the incidents with Shannon's parents and modeling peers are all as well-crafted as an insightful and hilariously filmed movie scene. Some of the reviewers here complain about the "soap opera" quality of the book, to which I say, "go read the funny pages." There are, true, melodramatic moments, but they are well-honed, well-placed, and, by God, necessary. The story's many threads tie together neatly and superbly by the film's violent and firey conclusion, and true to Chuck's form (with the exception of Choke), not a word of the book is extraneous or unnecessary. Other people complain that the novel doesn't answer the question it poses, nor does it rise above the subject matter it scorns. Although I will concede that these statements are half-true, they are simply part of Palahniuk's form, and for his audience, part of his charm. If you want someone to deliver polite and pat answers, then read, I don't know, Danielle Steel. Besides, Palahniuk does offer solutions--he just makes you search for them, makes you assemble them on your own. Neither does he treat his subject matter with wishy-washy ambivalence, but with unflinching honesty and realism (although reading this book, you may find it hard to compare it to any kind of reality with which you're familiar). His spare, brutal, and beautiful writing clarifies the brutal and beautiful nature of his story. So, if you want bite-sized literature with a sweet moral center, go somewhere else. This book is candy, sure, but it's the kind that gets all over you.

What a whacky, whimsical, twisted trip of novel this one was! It was certainly one of the more entertaining reads of the year for me. Palahniuk takes the beauty standard to tasks for dismissing what lies beneath it. The physical deconstruction (in the case of Shannon), reconstruction (in the case of Brandy Alexander) and transformation (in Manus's case) of the key characters in the novel allows for a deeper examination of the internal demons that, left unchecked, will destroy the beauty in anything or anyone it encounters. This is another one of those novels where plot summaries will do it no justice. It's best that you encounter the text without plot details and simply allow the novel to take you where it will; but strap on, I mean in, because this ride lurches back and forth, helter-skelter with the speed of - well probably speed. Too much resistance on behalf of the reader could cause a whiplash of the brain and an immediate dislike of the reading experience. But stick with this one; in the end, Palahniuk pulls it all together and it makes the ride worthwhile. "Invisible Monster" reads like a screen play on steroids creating for this reader a movie theatre in my mind. I can totally see this as a film, Tarantino directing. It's a satisfying experience to encounter a novel with this level of dark humor and poignancy. This is my first read by Palahniuk but after completing the novel realized that I've seen a film base on another of his novels, Choke . Although I certainly know about the film Fight Club (Widescreen Edition) I didn't know it was based on a Palahniuk novel; I'm pretty sure that I'll read the book as I couldn't get into the movie. I'm glad for the introduction to this author and I'm looking forward to the next meeting

Despite the tragedy of the storyline and the callousness of the lead characters, I promise you are going to get several belly laughs from this twisted piece of literature. In a zany prose reminiscent of Candace Bushnell's 'Sex In The City' and the surrealism of Bret Easton Ellis's works, Palahniuk has written a twisted and sick tale of disfigurement, love, hate, and fashion here in Invisible Monsters. Shannon McFarland's career as a picture perfect model was ruined the day her lower jaw was shot off while she was driving down the freeway. Her best friend Evie Cottrell steals all her clothing while she is in the hospital, and her fiancé Manus Kelley leaves her; but during her speech therapy classes she meets the enigma that is Brandy Alexander. Brandy befriends Shannon, and together with friend Seth Thomas they set off on a wild cross country tour, viewing high end estates up for sale and stealing all of the prescription drugs from them. But believe me when I say, nothing is as it seems in this crazy story. You are in for several very big surprises. Invisible Monsters is a book that is not about the plot, it is about the characters, and yet there are twists upon twists upon twists every turn of the page. Who is Brandy Alexander? Who is Shannon McFarland? Who is Seth Thomas? And who is Evie Cottrell? You'll just have to keep reading. Like me, you will probably wind out not caring about any of them, but they are going to make you laugh out loud with their outrageous plans and antics. You'll have tears running down your face when Shannon's parents (in a flashback scene before her disfigurement) give her nothing but condoms for Christmas because her brother died of AIDS. And the conversation around the Thanksgiving table turns to graphic depictions of hinder romping while they cower in unnecessary fear because they support AIDS families. Be thankful these are not your parents. Told oddly in a profusion of scene jumping, using the written word like flash photography, Palahniuk has written a psychotically offbeat tale that nonetheless will have you turning pages as rapidly as Brandy pops vicodin and estrogen. I found it strangely enjoyable and morbidly compelling, and if you like screwy and disgusting stories, you will most likely love Invisible Monsters. Enjoy!

I thought this was another outstanding novel by Palahniuk. I thought the pacing of the story was well and especially liked how a lot of the surprise in the novel came from character's true identities. But not just in the normal sense of a character's motive being different then expected, but due to the fact that many of the characters are addressed by different names throughout the novel, there are moments where we find out that two characters who we think are different are actually the same person. And this keeps the reader on edge and does not allow them to take names for granted throughout the story. I also thought this was one of the better openings of the Palahniuk novels. It really started with a bang, and even though we traveled back in time to grasp exactly what was going on, it did a really fantastic job of giving you a good "juicy" scene to get you interested in the novel from page one. The ending sections of the novel are everything that Palahniuk fans are to expect from him. The events really start to ramp up and surprises and shocking events are around every corner. In this novel in particular we get to see a scene in the first few pages of the novel, then at the end, armed with more information on the situation, view the event very differently, and this is very effective and interesting. At it's core this book feels like a story of many people searching for their identity and place in the world, which is something that at one level or not very relatable. The twists and turns throughout the novel mixed with a quirky narrative and some interesting characters make this a very enjoyable read.

She had it all—modeling career, boyfriend, best friend—until a freak freeway accident left her disfigured and voiceless, suddenly invisible to the world. Then Brandy Alexander shows up, bold and unapologetic, and teaches her that sometimes starting over means letting go of who you were and creating someone entirely new. This book was a wild ride and I honestly felt like I had no idea what was happening until about 60% into the book. I didn't hate it, but I was also very confused. There was not much of a plot throughout the book and I think that is where I struggled, but the character development carried me through. There were so many twists and turns along the way and once everything started tp come together, I started enjoying the book a little more. I enjoyed the humor in the book and the way that the main character was a very unreliable narrator. I also enjoyed the "FLASH" flash photography moments, as some of them were so ridiculous and funny. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't my favorite due to the style that it was written in. I do recommend though since so many others have loved this! Rating: 3/5 Spice: 1/5 Tropes: Unreliable Narrator Found Family LGBTQ+ Rep Twist Ending Road Trip Self Discovery

Read this one quite a few years ago. Remembered the story but could never remember the name of it. Then remembered the author, and bam. Found it again. I forgot a lot of the story lines so I have read it a few times now since purchasing it again a few months ago. Such great writing.

Chuck Palahniuk has a way with words. some say he is gimmiky, but i think hes clever. always taking a somewhat unconventional aproach towards his story telling and especially his prose, Chuck [as I'll choose to call him instead of repeatedly trying to remember how to spell his surname] likes to reveal to you key character develpements long after the reader has already made determinations and decisions about the plot and how it revolves around the protagonist. think of how it is revealed who Tyler Durden really is in his novel "Fight Club" and you have an idea of what im getting at. in this novel the protagonist is a former model that has suffered a terrible deformity. she can no longer speak and communicates by writing questions and phrases on a pad. she also befriends a transvestite with thunderous charm and a [closeted] homosexual addiced to estrogen pills. they travel the country taking advantage of the open house viewings for real estate on the market. they live from well thought, yet dime store, philosophies that center around the abandonment of the past, the stories that make up a person. and i wont divulge anymore. the story is a quick read that, although not as re-readable as "Fight Club," which had a more assured prose and depth to the plot, is a book you immediately want to share with others. a highly enjoyable, satisfying read that is superioir to most paperbacks one would find at the airport book store shelves. Chuck is undoubtedly one of the better fiction novelist alive, and this book further proves that theory.

One of the craziest, most perverse stories I have ever read. Not for the meek, but if your up for it, its incredible...Definitely one of his best books

A rather disturbing book, as I like it. Easy and fun to read

This is one of the more terrifying stories I've read. It's real, too real, and it seeps under your skin and you become. Had to read a bit at a time and then give it a rest. This is nightmare territory, the worst of reality. You have been warned.

brillant mindplay and wordplay i love this strange novel so much

The flashbacks and the constant jumping between moments get into an easily recognisable pattern after a while, but it does its job of being chaotic. The averting expectations can be too on-the-nose for some. Overall, it is an enjoyable mess.

The first time I heard about this book was in a presentation by a woman who applied to be a profssor at my uni. It was a great presentation, but it spoilt the book. This was a good 1 1/2 years ago, and I had forgotten most of what had been told in the presentation about the plot, so it was time for me to finally read it. And I love it. So much bitterness, put together in an amazingly complex narration, it left me being utterly impressed. But it didn't leave me being frustrated with the world's cruelness, but rather gave me hope, that there's always a future awaiting you, no matter how hopeless everything is. Palahniuk is a master of storytelling.