Invisible Monsters
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Invisible Monsters | |
|---|---|
 First edition cover |
|
| Author | Chuck Palahniuk |
| Cover artist | Archie Ferguson Tommy Ewasko |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton |
| Publication date | September 1999 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 297 |
| ISBN | 0-393-31929-6 |
| OCLC Number | 40954244 |
| Dewey Decimal | 813/.54 21 |
| LC Classification | PS3566.A4554 I58 1999 |
| Preceded by | Survivor |
| Followed by | Choke |
Invisible Monsters is a novel by Chuck Palahniuk, published in 1999. It is his third novel to be published, though it was his second written novel (after Insomnia: If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Already). The novel was originally supposed to be Palahniuk's first novel to be published, but it was rejected by the publisher for being too disturbing. After the success of his novel Fight Club, Invisible Monsters was given a second chance, and a revised version of it was published. It is the only Palahniuk book not to be published in hardcover; the first edition is a paperback. It has since been adapted into a graphic novel by comic artist Kissgz, a.k.a. Gabor.
Contents |
[edit] Plot Summary
 |
This plot summary may be too long or overly detailed. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. (September 2009) |
The story concerns a disfigured woman named Shannon, frequently referred to by other names given to her by Brandy Alexander, a transsexual, with whom she spends the majority of the book. The novel opens on the wedding day of Ms. Evie Cottrell, whose house is burning to the ground.
Brandy has been shot, and asks Shannon to tell her life story. Shannon remembers how she first met Brandy, and the story is told in a non-linear sequence of memories.
Shannon was the daughter of a farmer. She felt ignored because her older brother Shane got all of their parents' attention; eventually in pursuit of attention she became a model.
Shannon's best friend in modeling school is Evelyn "Evie" Cottrell. Shannon and Evie participate in an infomercial together and "perform" in front of customers in department store displays. It is about this time that Evie starts a relationship.
While driving down the highway, Shannon is shot in the face. The shot rips off her jaw. Shannon immediately drives to the hospital where she recovers. There she meets Brandy Alexander. They quickly become friends. Brandy is learning to speak like a woman and Shannon is learning to speak without a lower jaw.
While at Brandy Alexander's apartment (which is a hotel room), she meets the Rhea sisters. The three are drag queens and performers. At the hotel room, Shannon learns that Brandy Alexander is really her brother, Shane McFarland, and that as a woman he wants to look like her (his sister).
[edit] Characters
- "Shannon McFarland", — Former fashion model, narrator. The narrator goes by many different names.
- Brandy Alexander, Queen Supreme — A transsexual Shannon meets during her stay in the hospital who is only one operation away from becoming a woman. Brandy Alexander, Queen Supreme encourages Shannon to hide her disfigurement and attempt to live a new lifestyle. She also is Shane McFarland, Shannon's older brother. The Rhea sisters called his parents and told them he died of AIDS.
- Evelyn "Evie" Cottrell (formerly Evan Cottrell) - Fashion model. Shannon's former best friend.
- Manus Kelley - Shannon's ex-fiancé, police officer.
- The Rhea Sisters - Three drag queens who are paying for The Queen Supreme's sex change operation.
[edit] Film adaptation
Imdb.com has a link for Invisible Monsters,[1] though no further information is disclosed. Chuck Palahniuk's website does include rumors that Jesse Peyronel would direct. It also hints at Jessica Biel as the lead role.[2]
[edit] References in popular culture
Panic! at the Disco's song "Time to Dance", from the album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, as well as Motion City Soundtrack's song "Invisible Monsters", a bonus track found on the album Commit This to Memory were written about this novel.
[edit] Release details
- September 1999, USA, W.W. Norton, ISBN 0-393-31929-6, paperback (first edition)[3]
- 2 November 2000, USA, Vintage, ISBN 0-09-928544-4, paperback
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ "Palahniuk Films In Development; Invisible Monsters". A Writer's Cult, LLC. 2005. http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/movies/invisiblemonsters/. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
- ^ Chuck Palahniuk's website. Accessed January 07, 2009
- ^ "Invisible Monsters". W W Nortons official site. http://www2.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall99/invisible.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Invisible Monsters |
- An excerpt from Invisible Monsters courtesy of W. W. Norton & Company
- Review of Invisible Monsters on Unreality Shout
- IMDb site for the prospective film adaptation
|
|||||||||||
