Reviews

The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

pkiwi's review

3.0

The writing is exceptional but the plot is... Not exactly convoluted but I feel I have entirely missed the point. Not a book that was meant for me but nonetheless full of beautiful, evocative prose.

lunarliz's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• 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

5.0

stephsec's review

Originally read this book during undergrad, but decided to dust it off again. Well worth the re-read! I love Colson Whitehead and could encourage anyone to step into the world(s) he creates.

girlbosslindsey's review against another edition

was reading for a book club. never actually met. book too slow for ne.

bigslimysquid's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

theratchetfairy_'s review against another edition

I didn’t understand the racial allegory that was being made with over half the book done and less than 90 pages to go 😅

gpatto1's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Colson created a very interesting and creative world. Not much of a page turner, I never struggled to put this book down.

waynediane's review

3.0

Interesting take on public servants and servitude. Elevator inspectors some who are by the book and some with intuition and feeling that something is not right with the elevator. Turn of the century can't remember exactly when 20's maybe. Sexism, racism, people be on the take. Etc.

danileighta's review

4.0

This felt like reading poetry. It was incredibly lyrical and the author used repetition so effortlessly to bring the reader back to different points over and over. Sometimes when Lila Mae is mulling something over, Whitehead will give us her thoughts, then move on to something else, then come back again to whatever it is Lila Mae was thinking as if the conversation had never ended. It was jarring sometimes, as I was listening to the book, but once I got used to his style, I felt like I was reading a classic novel.

The storyline is exciting, the imagined world that is much like our own but seems to contain far more elevators, Intuitionism as a form of inspecting elevators... This was just so inventive and fun and like not many things that I've read before. His commentary on race and white supremacy was powerful for all he showed rather than told us.

Hoping to pick up another of his books as soon as I can.

robotswithpersonality's review

2.0

Hmm, as a debut, I should probably reserve the option to try another Colson Whitehead in the future as his books have worked for many. Indeed, an enthusiastic pitch is what got me into this one. I fear in the interests of not spoiling anything the pitch I heard misled me into thinking I'd get dueling factions in a whisper of magical realism alternate reality of elevator inspectors: esoteric lit fic/weird book. Instead I got a 'gotcha' ending to a drawn out allegory about racism with a side of corruption. Not my thing. Had some beautifully written passages, but also a fondness for multiple digressions/flashbacks to a point at which fine-tuned tension morphs into a grating drag. No thank you.  ⚠️Racism, torture, period typical racial slurs, outdated language, blackface