The Visible Man

A Novel

By: Chuck Klosterman

Narrated by: Annabella Sciorra, Scott Shepherd

Length: 8 hrs

Publisher's summary

Austin, Texas. Therapist Victoria Vick is contacted by a cryptic, unlikable man who insists his situation is unique and unfathomable. As he slowly reveals himself, Vick becomes convinced that he suffers from a complex set of delusions: Y__, as she refers to him, claims to be a scientist who has stolen cloaking technology from an aborted government project in order to render himself nearly invisible. He says he uses this ability to observe random individuals within their daily lives, usually when they are alone and vulnerable. Unsure of his motives or honesty, Vick becomes obsessed with her patient and the disclosure of his increasingly bizarre and disturbing tales. Over time, it threatens her career, her marriage, and her own identity.

Interspersed with notes, correspondence, and transcriptions that catalog a relationship based on curiosity and fear, The Visible Man touches on all of Chuck Klosterman’s favorite themes: the consequence of culture, the influence of media, the complexity of voyeurism, and the existential contradiction of normalcy. Is this comedy, criticism, or horror? Not even Y__ seems to know for sure.

©2011 Chuck Klosterman (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Character's personality did me in

I'm sure it is a good story, but I couldn't get past what seemed anti-social traits of the main character to finish the story. Just not to my liking.

Not Chuck’s Best Work

Normally a big fan of Klostermsn but this one didn’t do much for me. Female narrator was very good but the male was meh.

Incredible!

Interesting plot, interesting characters, interesting themes and fresh, exciting writing. I finished the book in one day.

Disturbingly fun!

This was really different type of book than I normally listen to, but I found it to be funny, very creative and, perhaps mildly mind-bending. The narration was excellent and easy to listen to. Makes me want to seek out more of the authors works.

Thoughtful, haunting and highly engrossing

I just listened to The Visible Man during my Thanksgiving travels and can't stop thinking about it. Klosterman's essays are usually quite funny and entertaining, but the two novels I have listened to (this and Downtown Owl) are filled with sadness and isolation in a most entertaining way. While some of Y's stories are funny, the overall story seems to be an haunting observation of self.

The alternating narrators were utterly fantastic, and the variations in Y's voice based on his current state were chilling.

The ending feels pretty open, like a Twilight Zone episode or a Stephen King short story, which I always enjoy.

I'm currently listening to it a second time, not too unusual for me, and I am hooked.

Hillarious & Disturbing In (almost) Equal Measure

This is the first audiobook I've ever started and finished all in one day. Annabella Sciorra starts off the narrative that provides a quick back-story and set up; then you're off to the races with a book that, through most of it, is one of the funniest I've ever read, and made exponentially more amusing through the amazing performance delivered by Scott Shepherd.

Over 50% of the book (percentage is my rough estimation) is done by Shepherd as the man who can hide in plain sight. Picture Dane Cook as a Sociopath. His stories and observations on the private, hidden lives of single people, married people, roommates, and roadies is so unexpectedly accurate that I repeatedly laughed out loud in my living room while listening. I actually stopped halfway through just to send a copy of the audiobook to my best friend.

So why not 5 stars? The serious, disturbing side of the book, while not bad, can't hold up to the quality and caliber of the funny side. Any time they pulled away from the hysterical monologues delivered during the sessions, it was a big let down, and a real change in quality.

Don't get me wrong; the serious aspect was...ok; it just couldn't live up to the insane ramblings that kept me in stitches. I also want to stress that Annabella Sciorra is AMAZING in her delivery. Still, the end of the book had you forgetting just how amazing the middle 80% of the story was.

If you like dry dark humor that leans towards making fun of the most mundane aspects of our lives (think Seinfeld), as perceived by an egomaniacal - but very intelligent - jerk, GET THIS BOOK. Just expect to be a little wistful at the end that the funny parts ever had to end.

Extremely articulate and thoughtful

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Of the many books I have now listened to through Audible, I have to say, this one held my attention the most. Primarily because the writing was excellent! I was constantly amazed at the interesting observations made by "Y" about life and people. I always appreciate it when thoughts get me to thinking and this book certainly did that. The writing was unabashedly articulate and I always appreciate that ability.

The only reason for the four stars was I reserve five for the absolute best--where I have no reservations--and there were two.

The primary one was the reader for "Y." The voice was just too suave and "together" to be totally acceptable as the character of "Y." A voice more reedy or tense may have been a better choice. Please don't get me wrong.........the voice was excellent! Although more for a more sane individual.

Also, the character of "Vic" was quite upsetting. I know this was just a novel but even the thought that a professional counselor would/could get herself involved with a character such as "Y" was uncomfortable.......just my aside to the story......then again, maybe "uncomfortableness" is life......

Thanks for an excellent read!

Interesting concept but poor ending

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

This book has interesting ideas, but the end was a dud for me.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Snuff by Terry Prachet

What does Annabella Sciorra and Scott Shepherd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like the two different voices for this book, as it was definitely a two sided story.

Did The Visible Man inspire you to do anything?

It made me think about different points of view.

Any additional comments?

The main idea was interesting, but the application of that idea was not as fulfilling as it could have been, and the ending fell flat for me.

visibly enjoyable

I have read 3 of Klosterman's nonfiction books and Downtown Owl. The Visible Man takes all of the things that are great about his nonfiction and combines them with a captivating story that improves upon the writing in his last novel. As Vicky mentions near the end of the book, invisibility has been used many times in fiction and media before, so it's a relief to see that Klosterman's book doesn't feel like it is rehashing unnecessarily. one of the things I love most about the book is the enjoyable mixture of sci-fi and cultural commentary. Reading Y (the invisible - or as he would put it "cloaked" - therapy patient) passively relay his voyeuristic adventures, detailing both the minutiae of people's lives while at the same time mentioning the difficulties of staying silent while invisible, is great stuff. The "Valerie" story is one of my favorites and starts to show that Y is not as passive and 'scientific' as he would have us believe. To me, the disappointment comes at the book's end, where there doesn't seem to be an adequate conclusion to either the cultural or scifi themes. The book's last act moves into typical thriller territory which wasn't satisfying with respect to the rest of the book. The Visible Man is around 250 pages and I would have been delighted to read/hear 50 more that would have given a more fulfilling, rich conclusion. As for the performances, the two voice actors do their jobs well and it's one of the better performances I have heard in the past year.

Are You Being Watched?

Unlike other reviewers, any intended humor in this work largely eluded me. To me the most appropriate adjectives describing this book would include dark, sad and frightening. What is disturbing about "Y," the "visible" (really invisible) man of the title, is the same thing that is disturbing in the idea of a ghost--that is, the idea of an intelligent, invisible presence following, watching and at times interacting with us in our most private moments. What makes the character of Y additionally loathsome is his sanctimonious arrogance in assuming his right to act as he does.

I confess that I am genuinely puzzled as to what others found funny in this book. I can only imagine it consists of the sections detailing the private behavior of those Y chooses to watch in the seclusion of their homes. I found these sections more sad than amusing since they show human beings at their most vulnerable--letting down their guards and casting off the persona they assume for the benefit of the rest of the world. Y's conduct in these circumstances is nothing short of despicable.

There are interesting ideas suggested in this book but ultimately none of them are really developed satisfactorily. Neither of the 2 main characters are at all likable,which makes understanding just what makes them tick that much more difficult. I'm giving this book three stars overall because it is well-written and did hold my interest, but I admit that it left me feeling slightly nauseated--perhaps what the author intended but not really my cup of tea.