invisible monsters

this is the fifth book of Palahniuk's that i have read. i certainly wasn't disappointed. i read it in one day even, which is a testament to his ability to keep the story moving and interesting to the reader.

the story revolves around our narrator (who remains unnamed [mostly], typical Palahniuk style), an ex-model who has recently been shot in the face while driving her car. as a result from the accident, she is unable to speak and can only communicate by writing things. she gets involved with Brandy, a beautiful woman who helps our narrator begin a new life, with fake names, prescription drugs, plastic surgery, and a whole slew of the fashionable lifestyle.

what we find out, as the story progresses, is the history of our narrator: a brother dead from AIDS. backstabbing friends. a glamorous life now gone. a two-timing fiancee. this past and these people are really all connected in a totally strange way that only Chuck Palahniuk could conjure up.

the storyline jumps between past and present, which can get a bit arduous from time to time. especially when each flashback starts with "Jump back to...", but i guess in all reality this is the easiest way to keep the reader engaged and able to understand the difference.

there are twists that left me wanting to throw the book out of the window, but at the same time i felt compelled to dig deeper and keep the pages turning.

if you are a fan of his work, i would recommend Lullaby, as i could see a lot of similarities between the two, mainly from the research he puts into each book to describe the self-destructive habits and unorthodox things people have to do in life to get what they really want.