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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
This was a book I had to read in AP literature in high school and after reading now I realized I did NOT actually “read” this book in high school beyond the first chapter or so.
But I’m glad I’m reading it now, it’s like a coming of age (of sorts) kind of book. A realization of the protagonist’s place in the world- from sure naïveté to something more bleak and yet true. He displays the pros and cons to being invisible,Through extensive self analyzing monologues. Basically people only wanting to see what’s he can do for them.
He was like a pawn (even when they made him “feel” like a knight) he was just a pawn in this chess game of life. This book was overall incredible.
As a side note: Joe Morton (Aka Papa Pope was the narrator) highly recommend listening to his voice via audiobook.
But I’m glad I’m reading it now, it’s like a coming of age (of sorts) kind of book. A realization of the protagonist’s place in the world- from sure naïveté to something more bleak and yet true. He displays the pros and cons to being invisible,Through extensive self analyzing monologues. Basically people only wanting to see what’s he can do for them.
He was like a pawn (even when they made him “feel” like a knight) he was just a pawn in this chess game of life. This book was overall incredible.
As a side note: Joe Morton (Aka Papa Pope was the narrator) highly recommend listening to his voice via audiobook.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars, but as always, I round up.
I don’t think I fully understand this book, but I took away pieces of it. In meaning, it was very interesting to watch the character grow from having negative agency in his life, to making big changes, to trying to control the narrative of others, to deciding to retreat from everything entirely. It felt like both a demonstration of how one person can be influential and how they are not everything and that the movement… well, moves, even without them.
As for writing, I think the first 10 chapters could be excluded from the book and the experience would have been better and the moral of the story the same. But perhaps I missed something important, but for me, I only really cared once the narrator joined the Brotherhood.
In terms of connections, learning about the protest movements feels relevant again in a time of political upheaval, but I don’t know if I feel that the story offered much hope or guidance, but instead actually felt like it was telling us that we are doomed to fail. I refuse to accept that.
I don’t think I fully understand this book, but I took away pieces of it. In meaning, it was very interesting to watch the character grow from having negative agency in his life, to making big changes, to trying to control the narrative of others, to deciding to retreat from everything entirely. It felt like both a demonstration of how one person can be influential and how they are not everything and that the movement… well, moves, even without them.
As for writing, I think the first 10 chapters could be excluded from the book and the experience would have been better and the moral of the story the same. But perhaps I missed something important, but for me, I only really cared once the narrator joined the Brotherhood.
In terms of connections, learning about the protest movements feels relevant again in a time of political upheaval, but I don’t know if I feel that the story offered much hope or guidance, but instead actually felt like it was telling us that we are doomed to fail. I refuse to accept that.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Amazing prose, at times I felt I should have been taking notes. Such engaging writing, and so stark and honest in the themes.
The artistic choices made by Ellison are incredible. Keeping the protagonist nameless, constraining figures from his past, writing in such a way that you feel what the protagonist is feeling.
I cannot express how enchanted I was by Ellison’s prose. I’m looking forward to reading the works that inspired him.
The artistic choices made by Ellison are incredible. Keeping the protagonist nameless, constraining figures from his past, writing in such a way that you feel what the protagonist is feeling.
I cannot express how enchanted I was by Ellison’s prose. I’m looking forward to reading the works that inspired him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Medical trauma
Minor: Rape
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
slow-paced
pretty good! would read again, super insightful and when i actually took a step back and thought critically about it i was like wowza how did people live like this fr fr! anyway slay invisible man for going batshit on those police officers at the end and slay for him for deciding to come out of the manhole cuz if it had been me, i would have stayed tf down there like yikes harlem was not a fun place (i already knew this but obvi the book increased my understanding i promise i’m not as dumb as i look/sound)
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
was getting too deep for me and i couldn’t handle it at that moment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Medical trauma
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
waiting to buy a physical edition to continue reading.