Review by
Caroline
Review
The entire experience of reading this book truly began in the bookstore. Everyone understands the value of an utterly life-changing novel-- how your whole body sort-of tingles and how suddenly your perception of the world alters. I was in a book funk, where all the endings were predictable, and the stories were commercialized and empty. It was awful. In blind desperation for a satisfying read, I turned to the understanding woman behind the counter. Graciously, she told me about Chuck Palahniuk, the fabulous writer of the story Fight Club, of which the bulk of us have seen the movie.
I pick up the book, right? I read the back. I didn't used to read the back, I only started after the unfortunate experience of beginning The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice. It was the adult version of sleeping beauty, to say the least. Very awkward. Anyway, I read the summary of books now. Turns out Invisible Monsters is about this gorgeous supermodel who gets her jawbone shot off, consequently becoming rather difficult to look at. The description in the book is far more graphic-- but for now, use your imagination.
And much to my amazement it begins during a wedding. The bride's hand is grazing the trigger of a gun, flames scorch the ceremony, and a dying supermodel is lying on the floor destroying a ridiculously expensive outfit with scarlet blood. It was surprising. Bear in mind, this is in the first pages of the book.
The novel is grossly graphic and slightly grotesque and completely great. With no degree of confidence can I say this is an uplifting story that will make your spirit soar. I can, however, say that it will make you think about the crappiness of life-- how sometimes things really suck and how sometimes they get worse-- and worse and worse and you feel like they will never get better. Those kinds of thoughts. They really put a damper on your day, but then you get over it, and realize your life is a heck of a lot better than hers. So if you read the book and get nothing from it but one thing, please at least get that. There is no way your life is as screwed up as hers. No way.
