Invisible Monsters (urspr publ 1999; utgåvan 1999)

Invisible Monsters follows the story of a glamorious fashion model who gets into an accident that leaves her horribly disfigured afterwards.

The greatest thing this story has going for it is Palahniuk's terrific ability to make a story simultaneously horrifying and yet also gleafully entertaining. Invisible Monsters doesn't glumly dwell in the vileness, instead it relishes it, mocking our shallowness and stupidity, and it's Palahnuik's ability to do this that maked this novel a worthwhile read.

Unfortunately though, there were other stylistic choices that didn't work so well for me. Palahniuk has always liked to go into surreal and painstaking detail for each of his scenes, as does he love to hop around chronologically, but here it proves more of an annoyance rather than an asset, killing the story's momentum and making it increasing hard to follow.

In short, Invisible Monsters is signature Palahniuk, and for those of you already on his wavelength, this is a must read. If you're new to him however, this may not be the best place to start ( )

This story is narrated by Shannon McFarland, the not-so-mute monster with half-a-face protagonist. She has everything: a great modeling carreer, a fiance, and a loyal best friend. But an "accident" changes everything. Until she met Princess Brandy Alexander, who teaches her to make a new story. This book is about hatred, finding revenge, and the protagonist's desperate ways of finding love.

This is the first Chuck Palahniuk-book I've read. And I love it, I think I'll be reding more of his works.--I just read this because of Panic at the the Disco's song, Time to Dance, which I'm super addicted to.-- I find this book so refreshing, after reading books with monsters, vampires, fairies, etc. well, this is such a new monster read *LOL*. All in all, this is the most insane novel I've ever read. And the characters prove that much. ( )

Weird. Hilarious. Disgusting. Brilliant. Offensive. Unpredictable. Strange. Perfect for those who like to be kept guessing, but not for those who don't appreciate abrasive/crude humor. ( )

This book leaves you in a constant state of "What the hell is going on?" but entirely in a good way. For the entire first half of the book, the plot seems as though it is going nowhere and will never make since. Several times I was even tempted to put the book down entirely. However, when things finally did start coming together, it was mind blowing. The entire book wraps up into a nice, neat little bundle that leaves you extremely satisfied. ( )

This was a trip and a half. I 'read' it as an audiobook, which was partially narrated by the author himself. I'm not sure what it would be like to read it, but listening left me disoriented, lost in the story, but somehow... getting it. Exactly what Palahniuk was trying to do, according to his forward.

I loved it. It was weird. It was absurd. It was ridiculous. It was confusing. And, at the same time, it was completely engaging and engrossing. ( )