The Invention of Sound

Every time I begin to read a new Chuck Palahniuk book, either consciously or not I wonder if it can live up to the mind-scrambling beauty of its predecessors. I also wonder if I will be able to show some self-restraint and be able to consume it at a reasonable pace in order to fully digest every nuance on a first read. Regarding, “The Invention of Sound,” published 9/8/20, the answers are yes and no. Only Chuck could have written this story; its inventiveness and inimitable execution could only have sprung forth from his mad genius. I held on to the book after getting it for a month or so, looking at its bright pink, green, and yellow cover with black and white lettering, which should count for something; however once I cracked that puppy open it was all over.There are two main characters in, “The Invention of Sound.” The book is divided into three main parts, but it is not divided into chapters. It switches between the characters almost by surprise, by seeing the name of the other in the next paragraph. Parts one and two have the characters on their own trajectories, where the third has their stories converging, as is often the case in Chuck's books. Tom Robbins says, “There are no throwaway sentences.” Likewise in Chuck's books, there are no throwaway characters.  Pay attention to each new one that is introduced.Mitzi Ives is a Foley Artist that has taken over the family business from her father. Foley Artists are responsible for sound effects in movies and music. Mitzi's specialty, like her father's was before her, is screams. The screams Mitzi produces and sells have made her a very wealthy woman. At the same time, the creation of the screams that movie producers want to buy come at a heavy cost to Mitzi's soul.Gates Foster is a “dad-shaped” office worker who has been on a seventeen-year mission to find his abducted little daughter, Lucinda. The loss of Lucinda is a burden he takes full responsibility for and what he devotes his every waking hour to correcting. A grief support group for those who have lost children helps, but Gates' magnificent obsession can only be forgotten for small bits of time.Anyone who knows Palahniuk books knows he writes transgressive fiction, a genre that dares to go where nobody has gone before. The readers will walk the networks on “the dark web” where predators seek to exploit children. They will walk with a Dexter-esque killer driven by an unholy rationalization. They will learn about the seedy underbelly machinations of Hollywood stars and star-makers. The reader will also learn the nitty-gritty of how all of those sounds in movies – and enhancements in musical recordings – happen.Be prepared to dig in to this deliciously dark story that had this reader alternating between squeamishly pushing forward and laying a hand on her trembling heart while wiping tears away. Be prepared to mow through “The Invention of Sound” like a double-deluxe banana split. Chuck, thank you for what you do. I'll follow you wherever you lead.

This was my first exposure to Palahniuk. I found the story interesting but somewhat difficult to follow, as it was constantly bouncing from character to character, and not always in chronological order. Ultimately, I felt a bit let down in the end. I'm a big fan of Bukowski and Dan Fante, so I appreciated the laid back writing style, though not as much the frequent use of Yoda style sentence structuring - stylized to me it seemed. I think I'll move on to other authors.

Everything you have always wanted in a Chuck Palahniuk book. A twisted story - check. Horror - Check. An ending that makes perfect sense; however, you never saw coming - check. A great quick read for the Chuck Palahniuk fan.

As a long-time Palahniuk fan, I enjoyed reading this one and blew through it in a few hours. It has all your classic Chuck-isms, from bleak, beaten characters to witty cultural observations, and is definitely better than his last one, Adjustment Day. However, it feels a bit like he's just going through the motions at this point. The characters aren't as fleshed out. The dialog isn't as crisp. The book itself is very short.

A return to form for Chuck Palahniuk. It looks like the negative reviews are from people who had little idea what they were getting into. Chuck isn't for everyone.This book is an intentionally dark, engaging, cultural commentary like all of Chuck's novels. Chuck seems to have gone through several phases: The Golden Era (Choke, Diary, Lullaby, Survivor, Fight Club), the experimental era, the intentional shocking era, the overtly political era, and now back to what made him famous to begin with. The writing is much in the vein of Choke, Lullaby, and Survivor, but with an approach to abhorrent modern issues like Hollywood and human trafficking (which has blown up in the news). This is classic Chuck Palahniuk - smart, engaging, addictive, dark, and a occasionally stomach-turning. Not my favorite Chuck (Choke is, by a mile), but a worthy addition to those nostalgic for his older works.

Well well.. I was very excited for a new release from Chuck Palahniuk and he did not disappoint. Took at least ten pages to really get into the book, but all of the pages following left me to read this book in one sitting. Very easy to read, cringeworthy per usual, and oddly satisfying.

Captivating stories are hard to come by, and they are best when combined with great writing. If the price is some twisted plot points, I'm ok with that. To a point.The Invention of Sound kept me reading. I can't help wondering where Chuck Palahniuk gets his best ideas, especially given the 2022 Academy Award soap opera.

Best book I’ve read in a while. It can be a little hard to keep my interest with a book, they usually take me a few weeks to read. I was done with this book in just two-days.

Love Palahniuk, fave author regardless of the book. But this was a serious case of addictive reading. Uncomfortable descriptions, twisty turning plot, centred around two people you don’t wanna like, moving through the world and trying to avoid consequences. Same.

An excellent book, finished it in one sitting a classic Chuck Palahniuk fiction

3.5/4 stars. It’s a fun, outrageous book. Sometimes it would be an otherwise easier read if the percolating information came through in larger clumps, something to chew on, and then swallow whole. But instead you get many little bits, sipping this flavor and then another, like alternating cups, even. That works for the story, and maybe even suits the “social media attention span,” but occasionally it dampened my sense of immediacy to read, to see what’s next. But then also, as things progressed or are revealed, it snags me and the flavor lingers, and it’s satisfying to take more bites. Sometimes the vagaries of situations feel more ambiguous to the imagination until there’s more definitive information, which could make for impatient reading. Although, it’s arguable that Chuck would not surreptitiously sprinkle something in the story without it being a clue or subtle hint you need to attentively sniff before chucking it aside as fat or gristle, until it maybe returns later to help complete the meal. So, it’s decidedly a fun, outrageous book.

4 stars overall because I liked the world, the characters, and the story.My only gripe is that, at times, the pacing feels weird.

A very good read but I do think there are other Palahniuk books which are deeper it is still well worth reading though. Still has a dark nature as most of his books do but not on the scale of 'Haunted', as you get started it is easy to finish as I find most of his are. 👍🏻👍🏻