Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
W. W. Norton & Company (1999), Edition: Reissue, 304 pages
Description
She's a fashion model who has everything: a boyfriend, a career, a loyal best friend. But when a sudden freeway "accident" leaves her disfigured and incapable of speech, she goes from being the beautiful center of attention to being an invisible monster, so hideous that no one will acknowledge she exists. Enter Brandy Alexander, Queen Supreme, one operation away from becoming a real woman, who will teach her that reinventing yourself means erasing your past and making up something better. And that salvation hides in the last places you'll ever want to look.
User reviews
LibraryThing member FolkeB
Chuck Palahniuk's novel Invisible Monsters initially catches the reader's eye with its unique book cover, but easily ropes one in with a writing style that goes from disturbing to hilarious to thought-provoking, even within a single sentence. The narrator of the novel has been shot in the face,
Laurel C.
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thus destroying her modeling career and leaving her without a jaw or the ability to talk. Through her rehabilitation she meets the queen supreme Brandy Alexander, a transsexual who teaches the narrator that she can simply make up a new life and move on. Brandy and the narrator begin a life on the road along with a man named Seth, paying for their lifestyle by touring mansions for sale and stealing prescription drugs. Palahniuk's novel frequently jumps between different time periods, allowing the reader to piece together the narrator's story, which twists and turns in unexpected ways from beginning to end. While this novel is certainly not for the faint-of-heart, a fan of Palahniuk will see that it is one of his best works to date, and it offers a satisfying ending that is nothing short of jaw-dropping.Laurel C.
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LibraryThing member these_fragments
hmm... I think you get diminishing returns from Palahniuk - recently read Diary and thought it was brilliant, but this was too similar - looking for the most shocking thing.
LibraryThing member ohernaes
What's in an appearance? Scheming characters moving around the theme of appearance and identity, with many twists. Will remember mostly the memorable family scenes (thanksgiving, christmas presents).
LibraryThing member kjarcand
Invisible Monsters opens on our nameless main character standing in the middle of a scene that is ten shades of chaotic. The lavish mansion they are in is on fire, pools of blood are creeping ever closer, and the end is near.
Flashback to the beginning of the entire mess.
The narrator, a former model
While in the hospital, our now mute narrator befriends Ms. Brandy Alexander, a woman with oddly mannish hands and a thing for prescription drugs and gaudy jewelry. The two become three when a young man, Manus, joins them when Brandy take the narrator under he wing. Brandy is a thief. The trio takes on pseudonyms and live in a fantasy world touring mansions that are for sale, stealing everything from Valium to codeine, and fleeing to Canada to sell the drugs and make a profit.
Bits of the main character’s life fall in to place throughout the book; her missing brother who vanished after coming out to the family that he was gay, an estranged ex-boyfriend and the mysteries surrounding his departure, not to mention family facades and the pressures of having to beautiful all the time.
Palahniuk sets up a unique heroin for the reader. Unable to speak, we see everything in honest, dark hues through the thoughts and emotions of the main character. The character development will keep any reader enticed and turning the pages, begging for more. The reader is shown the ugly side of humanity, as is the case in most books by Palahniuk, in a way that will make them think hard about who they are as a person.
The relationships built with the characters and the dark, honest, holds-nothing-back narration will draw in any reader looking for a hero in the less-recognized grotesque. This book twists every time you think you have it figured out. The end and the way Palahniuk weaves together the final pages of his novel will stun.
Favorite Passages/Quotes
“If I can’t be beautiful, I want to be invisible.”
“…no matter how much you think you love somebody, you’ll step back when the pool of their blood edges up too close.”
“Hysteria is impossible without an audience.”
“When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?”
“When we don’t know who to hate we hate ourselves.”
“Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I’ve ever known.”
“First your parents, they give you your life, but then they try to give you their life.”
“All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring.”
“What I really hate is myself, so I pretty much hate everyone.”
“The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person.”
Opinion
This book is an all-time favorite, and will be forever. My copy is underlined, highlighted, dog-eared, and pretty well beaten up. I have referred to this book dramatically as my grotesque bible. The way Palahniuk holds nothing back in his writing is very appealing to me, but I can easily see how some readers might think this haughty of him, and be turned off. All of his works lead down the path of the anti-hero and examine those issues we are far too reserved to speak of ourselves. I was entirely surprised with this book. It was nothing that I expected it to be, and that made me ecstatic. Use this book to look deeply at yourself and what you hold dear and try to see why and how and for what. The things we love the most are often times the things we are trying to run away from.
When I finished this book, I was mad. Mad that I didn’t see it coming, mad that I didn’t figure it out… And mad there wasn’t more to read.
Rating: On a scale of 1-5 stars, this book is a 4.5. If you’re into dark heroes and twist-in-plot novels that examine the human condition, this book is a must read. If you’re a bit squeamish or don’t like suspense, try some Nicholas Sparks. He’s about as opposite of Palahniuk as it gets.
Flashback to the beginning of the entire mess.
The narrator, a former model
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& somewhat actress dependent on her beauty is in a hospital after a horrific accident. The young beauty is informed that half of her jaw is missing after a stray bullet hit her on the freeway, sending her and her car careening into a brutal mess.While in the hospital, our now mute narrator befriends Ms. Brandy Alexander, a woman with oddly mannish hands and a thing for prescription drugs and gaudy jewelry. The two become three when a young man, Manus, joins them when Brandy take the narrator under he wing. Brandy is a thief. The trio takes on pseudonyms and live in a fantasy world touring mansions that are for sale, stealing everything from Valium to codeine, and fleeing to Canada to sell the drugs and make a profit.
Bits of the main character’s life fall in to place throughout the book; her missing brother who vanished after coming out to the family that he was gay, an estranged ex-boyfriend and the mysteries surrounding his departure, not to mention family facades and the pressures of having to beautiful all the time.
Palahniuk sets up a unique heroin for the reader. Unable to speak, we see everything in honest, dark hues through the thoughts and emotions of the main character. The character development will keep any reader enticed and turning the pages, begging for more. The reader is shown the ugly side of humanity, as is the case in most books by Palahniuk, in a way that will make them think hard about who they are as a person.
The relationships built with the characters and the dark, honest, holds-nothing-back narration will draw in any reader looking for a hero in the less-recognized grotesque. This book twists every time you think you have it figured out. The end and the way Palahniuk weaves together the final pages of his novel will stun.
Favorite Passages/Quotes
“If I can’t be beautiful, I want to be invisible.”
“…no matter how much you think you love somebody, you’ll step back when the pool of their blood edges up too close.”
“Hysteria is impossible without an audience.”
“When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?”
“When we don’t know who to hate we hate ourselves.”
“Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I’ve ever known.”
“First your parents, they give you your life, but then they try to give you their life.”
“All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring.”
“What I really hate is myself, so I pretty much hate everyone.”
“The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person.”
Opinion
This book is an all-time favorite, and will be forever. My copy is underlined, highlighted, dog-eared, and pretty well beaten up. I have referred to this book dramatically as my grotesque bible. The way Palahniuk holds nothing back in his writing is very appealing to me, but I can easily see how some readers might think this haughty of him, and be turned off. All of his works lead down the path of the anti-hero and examine those issues we are far too reserved to speak of ourselves. I was entirely surprised with this book. It was nothing that I expected it to be, and that made me ecstatic. Use this book to look deeply at yourself and what you hold dear and try to see why and how and for what. The things we love the most are often times the things we are trying to run away from.
When I finished this book, I was mad. Mad that I didn’t see it coming, mad that I didn’t figure it out… And mad there wasn’t more to read.
Rating: On a scale of 1-5 stars, this book is a 4.5. If you’re into dark heroes and twist-in-plot novels that examine the human condition, this book is a must read. If you’re a bit squeamish or don’t like suspense, try some Nicholas Sparks. He’s about as opposite of Palahniuk as it gets.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLee
Jump way back to my first reading this book.
I don’t know whether it’s our culture’s doing, or if it’s pure human nature, but don’t we just love to see a beautiful, egocentric woman torn to shreds? The irony is enough to make us salivate.
Someone has blown the face off a beautiful model as
I don’t know whether it’s our culture’s doing, or if it’s pure human nature, but don’t we just love to see a beautiful, egocentric woman torn to shreds? The irony is enough to make us salivate.
Someone has blown the face off a beautiful model as
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she is driving on the expressway. Whodunnit? This question is almost ignored throughout this really weird and hilariously offbeat take on contemporary USA, its hidden and revealed horrors and pathos, its commercialized culture and highways, and its plain strangeness. Along this path, we meet individuals who may or may not be transgender, all-American families with really off the wall Christmas celebrations. Think contraceptives in the stockings to Perry Como crooning Christmas carols. Think name changes to match the current predicament. Think feeling shattered and invisible. Show Less
LibraryThing member yougotamber
I have read many of Chuck's books and this one although very good, was my second to least favorite. That isn't saying much since I love every word he puts onto paper. My least favorite is Survivor and I would advise everyone to stay away from that one until you have read his others. Grab those
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tissues, this one is mighty sad in my opinion. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennstarr12
This book is told from the perspective of a former supermodel who is now disfigured due to an accident. The narrator gives a great account of the people in her life and throguh flashbacks, tells us about her life. The book has many shocking moments.
LibraryThing member stillbeing
What can I say? I'm just a sucker for Palahniuk novels - I may be a slow reader, but I can devour them like deep-fried cornflakes . . .
I really liked Invisable Monsters - witty, bizarre, dark yet always glam, I never found myself becoming bored or distracted, just enjoyed the ride (no matter how
I really liked Invisable Monsters - witty, bizarre, dark yet always glam, I never found myself becoming bored or distracted, just enjoyed the ride (no matter how
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strange). Show Less
LibraryThing member yorkjob
This book changed my life. First time a living author actually reached out and made sense beyond the predictable.
LibraryThing member Alera
This, like the other novels by Chuck Palahniuk, is once more making a statement. It's gross. It's beautiful. It's unbelievable. And it's real. It's life. And it's not life. The people out of the spotlight...will go to any length to get the attention they crave. Not because they necessarily want the
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end product...but merely because they want all eyes on them. The people in the spotlight....can be led to do crazy things to get away from it. To get as far from it as possible. Because in the end...they just want to feel something that is real. It's a large generalization but at the same time oddly fitting. Show Less
LibraryThing member arsmith
A huge Palanhiuk fan, I was waiting to read this one for a long time ‘cause I wanted to get it in hardback. Whaddaya know, it’s not available. A good example of his work. One or two “ah hah!” moments.
LibraryThing member HvyMetalMG
Another twisted novel from Chuck. I did enjoy this read - although I got a bit lost - the book does zig zag back and forth, but nonetheless, it was what you come to expect from this author.
LibraryThing member RosesAreRed
This was the most recent chuck book I read, and I wasn't disappointed. This one is full of great quotes, as well as the rest.
LibraryThing member nm.fall07htraum
The book invisible monster is really twisted and kind of messed up and just filled with drama and is just about teens and drugs and how this one girl went from having a perfect life one day than getting in a car crash and her entire life completely changing and it’s actually really sad too. I
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recommend this book to any one who likes reading books about teens and drama but mostly for teenagers. Show Less
LibraryThing member rcooper3589
Every Palahniuk book I've read in the past I've enjoyed, and "Invisible Monsters" fits right into that category. I love Palahniuk's unique voice, his prose and sentence structure. Like in his previous novels, nothing is what it seems in "Invisible Monsters" and everyone is connected. And while
FAVORITE QUOTES: Another thing is no matter how much you think you love somebody, you'll step back when the pool of their blood edges up too close. // She says, "You can't base your life on the past or the present." // People just can't stand not knowing something, she tells me. Especially men can't bear not climbing every mountain, mapping everywhere. Labeling everything. Peeing on every tree and then never calling you back. // And I want Seth dead. Worse than dead, I want him fat and bloated with water and insecure and emotional. // ...he told me that your parents are like G-d because you want to know they're out there and you want them to approve of your life, still you only call them when you're in crisis and need something.
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Palahniuk's characters and stories are, at times, extreme, his ability to satire society is fabulous. FAVORITE QUOTES: Another thing is no matter how much you think you love somebody, you'll step back when the pool of their blood edges up too close. // She says, "You can't base your life on the past or the present." // People just can't stand not knowing something, she tells me. Especially men can't bear not climbing every mountain, mapping everywhere. Labeling everything. Peeing on every tree and then never calling you back. // And I want Seth dead. Worse than dead, I want him fat and bloated with water and insecure and emotional. // ...he told me that your parents are like G-d because you want to know they're out there and you want them to approve of your life, still you only call them when you're in crisis and need something.
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LibraryThing member Djupstrom
This book is a bowl full of crazy! I want to know what Palahniuk was smoking while he was writing this one!
LibraryThing member bookishjoxer
I didn't hate this book, yet I didn't really like it either. I didn't like any of the characters in it. It was trying too hard to have a sort of twist to it.
LibraryThing member ccourtland
Chuck Palahniuk creates an incredibly realistic and twisted story. However, it is a bit overdone and by the end the reader may become a little immune to the extraordinary and by doing so, causes some of the twists and turns to become not necessarily predictable but perhaps not shocking. On the
Every character is fully developed and has a unique back story that out does the other one, creating a vicious cycle of complicated brilliance.
In the style of Palahniuk this novel hits the mark. I would not recommend to everybody, but if you're a fan then check it out. Chuck Palahniuk may appeal to a more specific audience and this book fits within that scope.
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upside, Palahniuk did an amazing job at making a twisted original plot seem believable. Every character is fully developed and has a unique back story that out does the other one, creating a vicious cycle of complicated brilliance.
In the style of Palahniuk this novel hits the mark. I would not recommend to everybody, but if you're a fan then check it out. Chuck Palahniuk may appeal to a more specific audience and this book fits within that scope.
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LibraryThing member chasehimself08
One of Chuck Palahniuk's best novels to date. He tells the story of a beautiful girl that is shot in a tragic accident and has a mutilated face. This turns her world upside down in a series of events that will make you laugh, and shock you at the same time. A great novel and a very fast, easy read.
LibraryThing member psybre
Being my first eye-to-text encounter with Palahnuik, I was pleased. If you are as I was, knowing this author solely through seeing the film "Fight Club" than put aside any worries you have as Palahnuik as a novelist. I thoroughly enjoyed his masterful approach to the non-linear form and to the
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syncopated cadence of the narrative that compelled this reader to march step by step with Shannon through exquisite Pynchonesque frivolities, stop to enjoy the parties; and yet when the shit hits the fan (about every other page), I somehow felt able to stand aloof and ponder the pain and hostility with animal curiosity instead of really feeling with the character. This novel also has great fun with words, with lots of quotable variations, saying in effect in very inventive ways, "life is just ridiculous." The plot, then, being itself ridiculous (and marvelous), then reinforces this point. If the book had been able to deliver a richer, more philosophical message it would definitely earn the fifth point. I recommend and absolutely concur with kjarcand's review. Even more, I recommend reading this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member ravenfire
This book draws you in and makes it really hard for you to put down. I read it over the course of three and a half hours and just couldn't get enough. Envy and pride are the driving forces behind our main characters. The need to be something, anything, other than what they are.
LibraryThing member TakeItOrLeaveIt
another very strange book with all sorts of twists and turns, but for a youngin' of 18 this is exciting stuff!
not his best...
not his best...
LibraryThing member MrBookface
Hideously-scarred woman goes on the run with insane pre-operative transexual. Adventures follow.
Let's face it, Palahniuk doesn't write great female characters. Especially when one of them's a man. Still, this book contains enough energy and imagination to more than make up for it.
Let's face it, Palahniuk doesn't write great female characters. Especially when one of them's a man. Still, this book contains enough energy and imagination to more than make up for it.
LibraryThing member RebeccaAnn
This was my first venture into Chuck Palahniuk and I must say, I was not disappointed. Invisible Monsters is the story of a young woman (the name is never given until the very end) who has just suffered the traumatic experience of having the lower half of her jaw shot off. As she travels the
I loved the language Palahniuk uses in this novel. Yes, it's a bit confusing at times as the story is by no means linear, but I found it to be a very emotional, raw sort of language. He says what he needs to and no more. Palahniuk doesn't need to use any sort of poetic language to get his point across. His simple choice of words makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. It draws you in and holds on tight until the very end.
There were a lot of twists in Invisible Monsters as well. At first, they were breathtaking and amazing, making you see the story in a whole new light. However, after awhile, they got old and semi-predictable (I sort of guessed the last major twist in the story - the one of who's truly responsible for the narrator's accident). It became almost soap operaish near the end. Apart from that small complaint, though, I found the book amazing and I would definitely recommend it!
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country (and a little bit of Canada) with her two friends, Brandy (a transgendered MTF) and an astonishing handsome man, Seth, she simultaneously goes on her own journey of self-discovery. I loved the language Palahniuk uses in this novel. Yes, it's a bit confusing at times as the story is by no means linear, but I found it to be a very emotional, raw sort of language. He says what he needs to and no more. Palahniuk doesn't need to use any sort of poetic language to get his point across. His simple choice of words makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. It draws you in and holds on tight until the very end.
There were a lot of twists in Invisible Monsters as well. At first, they were breathtaking and amazing, making you see the story in a whole new light. However, after awhile, they got old and semi-predictable (I sort of guessed the last major twist in the story - the one of who's truly responsible for the narrator's accident). It became almost soap operaish near the end. Apart from that small complaint, though, I found the book amazing and I would definitely recommend it!
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LibraryThing member sszkutak
Full twists and powerful images, Invisable Monsters was a wonderful novel by Palahniuk. The drama that he portrays through his characters is fantastic and for anyone who enjoys sarcasm and dark humor this is def. a book for you.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999-09
1999
Physical description
8.3 inches
ISBN
0393319296 / 9780393319293