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kris_hayward's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Blood
savshelfinger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I wish Mitzi was better-developed as a character; she’s def not Chuck’s most rounded out antiheroine
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
meyn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, and Fire/Fire injury
rlancon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
grunbean's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Pedophilia
suhrfranbacon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Torture, and Murder
illiterate_lobster's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Pregnancy
sinisterbeard's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
dumbidiotenergy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
the plot development often follows a somewhat confusing progression while being oddly paced at times. it lacks the shocking revelations i've come to expect from Palahniuk's work, but that isn't for a lack of trying--there are plenty of surprising moments in the novel, yet their buildups are either not enough, or the moments themselves are downplayed.
the truly shocking moments are often couched in passages that reach for some kind of all-encompassing philosophical ideology that is only half-present in the novel. each page is riddled with philosophical quips that don't quite seem to fit with the larger themes of the novel, yet Palahniuk seems to be trying to convince the reader that, actually, they *do* fit. there is too much going on while not enough going on. the limbic resonance philosophy that Mitzi holds is easily the strongest ideological undercurrent in the novel, but it isn't fleshed out. instead, the mere fact that Mitzi cares for limbic phenomena is just repeated over and over without giving the reader a glimpse into why it matters so much to her, or why we should care, or anything of that sort.
the characters, while all interesting, multi-dimensional, and unique, wind around each other while somehow never connecting. they don't collide as well as the characters in, say, Fight Club or Choke did. Invisible Monsters, too, comes to mind; the Foster-Mitzi dynamic could have easily been as tense and gripping as Brandy and her sister's, yet there is a lack of exploration into this particular dynamic in The Invention of Sound. it was disappointing, to say the least, especially because Mitzi has so much going for her as a character. Foster's obsessive personality also could've been fascinating to read about if he had been in any sort of real relationship with another person.
lastly, the plot itself was actually a bit basic. there are times where Palahniuk inserts sparkling details and surreal occurrences that elevate the plot, yet there are also storylines that feel half-baked (
regardless, the book had me hooked for the majority of it. i just wanted to know what was going on! towards the end, though, i found myself more wanting it to be over than wanting to relish in the conclusion of the novel. but god, i wish i could hear one of Mitzi's screams, as messed up as that sounds.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
ardolan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Murder