Book to Basics #24 Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

What if... you were born perfect; perfect according to the world around you, Perfect according to expectations? What if... one day you realize that all and you have one gun shell to spare. What would you shoot? Who would you kill?

"Mirror, mirror on the wall because beauty is power the same way money is power the same way a gun is power."

I saw this art online and was floored. Pretty great piece huh?

I read Chuck Palahniuk's Invisible Monsters because of its cover. In other words, I judged this book by it's cover. What's so interesting with that is how the book actually delved on self-image and you know, the everyday battle we endure just to protect or simply achieve one.

When we become prisoners of society's expectations, it is then we experience being gagged everyday.

Invisible Monsters is about discovering (or re-discovering) one's self-image, identity and life purpose to some extent, through extreme means. It was a bit confusing to read as the story follows a different kind of sequencing, but as the remaining pages thins, the story gains clarity and deeper meaning that come last chapter, the blow can only be conceived as an unexpected bold step for humanity, or at least for the novel's main character, tinseltown's picture-perfect model of everything, Shannon McFarland.

"Your folks are like God because you want to know they're out there and you want them to approve of your life, still you only call them when you're in crisis and need something."

"The most boring thing in the entire world is nudity." The second most boring thing... is honesty.

The book raised a lot of questions in my mind. It's not only about being daring, it's about granting yourself the liberty to make the mistakes that would dictate the course of your life--your life. It's about owning each action, each decision, each single molecule in your body through that one big mistake, a great show of courage, stupidity, or genius for some. You know how all our lives we're taught, do what you want and chase your dreams? Well, in Invisible Monsters, it's the other way around. It's about doing what you don't want and doing what you're trained to not want = true freedom.

"I figure, the bigger the mistake looks, the better chance I'll have to break out and live a real life."

"When you understand that what you're tellingis just a story. It isn't happening anymore. When you realize the story you're telling is just words, when you can just crumble it up and throw your past in the treashcan, then we'll figure out who you're going to be."

I really liked how in one chapter of the book, our misconceptions or misrepresentations of generosity and love was laid out like a selection of guns waiting to be chosen and triggers. Palahniuk talked about how we perceive our need of company (and the things we do to keep or gain someone's company) is perceived as generosity = symbiotic relationship; and how sometimes we use other people and regard this as love, because it seems like love is the easiest explanation within earshot.

"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring."

Invisible Monsters is a great read. I think it appealed to me fondly also because of its timing. I don't think I would've enjoyed reading Invisible Monsters as much if I just picked it up for one lazy afternoon pre-siesta. It's something that would open up the mind to thoughts, no matter how extreme or out there, are quite logical and sensible as the "safer alternatives". I really liked Invisible Monsters because the title itself was helpful in making me, the reader, realize how there is always more to life.

Invisible Monsters (Php 698) is available at Fully Booked. For inquiries, visit their website here.
-K-

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Here's a great talk from http://www.ted.com/ that I find relatable, and perfect to embed along with my two cents about Chuck Palahniuk's Invisible Monsters.

Diana Laufenberg: How to learn? From mistakes.

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