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Invisible Man

Ralph Ellison

Start date: October 1, 2016

Finish date: October 31, 2016

Why we're reading this: October 2016 New School Group Read
[close] October 2016 New School Group Read

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Jul 23, 2015 Nadine in NY Jones rated it did not like it

Shelves: did-not-finish, 1001-books, classic, literary-schmiterary, national-book-award-winners

I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.

GREAT opening lines! But ... this is just not my thing. What is it even? The symbolism is over my head, or before my Time, or something. The writing is fussy, the story (I can't even say the ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 24, 2017 Rachel rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, classics, 1001-books-to-read-before-you-die

My first audio book! The only problem is I have no idea what I missed.

I really liked Joe Morton's voice. Is it sad that I watched Speed so many times when I was younger that I recognized his voice how many years later? "And here's to Jack...for shooting Harry!" Hahaha. I didn't like it much when he laughed though, like I know what laughing sounds like, I want to know what happens next! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2013 spoko rated it liked it

Shelves: race, fiction, book-club, canon-classic, re-read

I was quite uncomfortable with a significant part of this book. I recognize that for a lot of people—authors and readers alike—discomfort is an end in itself. For me it's not. I don't need to be overtly challenged in that way to find a book meaningful. That said, I recognize that discomfort has its place, and it certainly seemed to serve well here. The question of race is a disturbing one, from all sides, and Ellison confronts a lot of it head on.

It doesn't hurt, either, that the book is exquisi ...more

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