I sorted through 25 cent books at another fund-raiser at work. I found a book I was excited about but I didn't
want to buy just one and appear cheap while waiting for 75 cents back from my buck,so I sorted through as many paperbacks as I could during my 15 minute break. I heard a guy say, "He wrote Fight Club ." I looked over to see a woman look at him with a puzzled expression as she put a book back down on the table. She looked like the Danielle Steele type. I was familiar with Fight Cl ub, though I never went to see the movie because there's a bit too much testosterone involved for my taste...but I respect the genre. The cover of the book, Invisible Monsters , was intriguing.Have you ever seen a cartoon that's a face,(usually a clown), and when you turn it upside down it's a different face? These pictures are not what you'd call "fine art." This cover is no exception... so I bought it. I had absolutely no idea what it was about. For this review, I chose "tragi-comedy" because I think it nails the story better than "
thriller". Please , those of you who can't stand thrillers...let me finish. This is a delightfully
surreal journey involving gender, (and the lack thereof), pre-conceived notions, and ideas that you wonder where the hell they came from. This story is Thelma and Louise squared and to the second power. It's a buddies-who-hate-each-other bonding adventure. It's a story of mutilation, stolen Percodan, real estate charades, tacky fashion, and a wedding in a burning house. It's sibling rivalry and boob jobs. Here's the thing, if I had known this book was a strange, violent comedy, I NEVER would have bought it, even for 25 cents. BOY, am I glad I did! After I read this book, I went out and bought some of Palahniuk's other books for FULL PRICE. (Diary is another must read...) I think this book will delight a huge cross-section of literary preferences. I DARE you to read it.