Reviews

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

bodiebg's review against another edition

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4.0

Pulled an all nighter to finish, quite good

cowboyrat's review against another edition

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5.0

beautifully written. almost 600 pages but i was so engrossed and flew through it pretty quickly. it was often dream-like and chaotic and it raises questions impossible to answer.

landon_n26's review against another edition

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challenging informative mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

askatknits's review against another edition

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5.0

This was a book I could not stop listening to. What astounded me most was how this book written a lifetime ago, was unbelievably relevant today... scarily so. That made me so sad, that nothing has changed. Ellison writes a compelling story that seems so realistic. I highly recommend this audio version, the narrator - Joe Morton - was fantastic. I highly recommend this book!

madeleinegeorge's review against another edition

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5.0

Invisible Man is, uncontested, the best book I have ever read. Ellison is masterful in his explication of American society and human nature as a whole. It is unparalleled in its capacity for epic literary metaphors; through a single journey, we are compelled through the boundaries of black and white, the blind darkness of Plato's Cave, illusion and sacrifice. Ellison's prose is beautiful, and the narrative lilts through its story with a cadenced rhythm. Not only is reading Invisible Man an essential read for breaking through and dissecting the history of African American culture and struggle through history, but it is also a critical examination of the power of story and articulation. A must-read in any reader's career.

elizapills's review against another edition

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4.0

I understood so very little of this book! I’m extremely grateful to have been able to read it with with the guidance of a professor. The depth of meaning that he elucidated convinced me that the book is a masterpiece, of which I only scratched the surface. I‘ll probably do more research on my own, even though the program is over.

warmrats's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Almossstt a 5 star but drags on in places. Beautiful take on identity and was a very thought provoking read 

rsmits's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

mackenzielee's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

hbermudes's review against another edition

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4.0

This book is beautiful as it is haunting. It’s the type of book that keeps you rereading its sentences just to feel the words again. It’s almost 600 pages, so inevitably slow. It is well worth it.