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

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.