The story is told by a nameless narrator: a young woman who used to be beautiful. After a series of bizarre, haunting events involving a freeway, birds and a few other things those days are gone forever. Her face disfigured, her voice gone, the narrator is invisible and a monster in the eyes of most. Desperate for someone to save her, the narrator meets Brandy Alexander at just the right time. Brandy embodies the life that the narrator used to have, except for an important operation that Brandy still needs to have. Riding off with Brandy, the narrator starts fresh. Life is a story. If you don't like the story you have, make up a new one. As the lives Brandy offers up as truth continue to change and the lies threaten to fall apart, it becomes clear that no matter where you run eventually you have to face the facts and really decide what story you want to tell. That's the story. But it's really not even half the story. Stylistically, this novel has a lot going on. It's written in the first person, present tense setting up a tone that is both conspiratorial and conversational. Despite that, the narrator remains aloof, unreliable. Talking to the reader like an old friend, the narrator reveals the smallest details of her past while leaving key plot points to herself until the right moment. There are few male novelists who can write as convincingly in the voice of a woman as Palahniuk. The narration is amazingly authentic even when the story becomes more and more over-the-top. Palahniuk also brings a high level of complexity to the narrative, writing the story in a non-linear format. The novel opens with the final scene as the narrator tries to explain how she got to that point. Along the way flashbacks are interwoven with "the present" and other points in the time line of character's lives. This is the kind of book that requires a lot of attention. Like the modeling world that the narrator comes from, nothing in this novel is exactly what it seems. Characters lie, information given as fact turns out to be false. Palahniuk manages all of these elements impressively well, making it all work despite the bizarreness and absurdity inherent to certain parts of the plot. My first Chuck Palahniuk novel, and I was not disappointed. The twists and turns never seemed to end. I was constantly pulled back and forth. It was emotionally exhausting. I planned for some light afternoon reading and ended up curled in my bed at 2am, questioning what is real. The remixed version was difficult to follow because there are several loops and I got lost after the first round. Found my way in the end, but it was a little off putting. Trying to find the next loop tended to pull me out of the spell of the story, in the way I suppose Palahniuk wanted. He mentions it's meant to be like flipping through a Vogue. In that respect, he fulfilled his goal.Overall, I think it was well written - the book was captivating and exciting enough for me to keep reading, even though it wasn't my regular cup of tea. Aside from the highly sexualised themes and grotesque scenes, the story was intriguing enough to keep me reading.A thrilling ride, for sure. But I think I'll be less naïve the next time I pick up a Palahniuk.
What do You think about Invisible Monsters Remix (1999)?
One messed up tale in the way only Palahniuk can deliver. Brace yourself- this one is unforgettable.
—leolovesyou
The most messed up, weirdest waste of time book I have EVER read in my life
—happyhahn
Good book. New order to the chapters is very interesting
—kez
Turns out we are all some kind of invisible monster.
—JSarje87
