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A review by mattleesharp
Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison
3.0
It's hard to even have an opinion on a book that is basically the introduction of the first book in a trilogy plus 80% of the second book plus some assembled notes on what the third might have tackled spiritually.
More than being a talented storyteller or a beautiful crafter of prose, Ralph Ellison succeeds at creating interesting characters. That really shines through. In such an incomplete work, the complexity of the people in it is really impressive. They are such a synthesis of human and symbol.
You always hear jokes about authorial intent, about high school english teachers on some bullshit about timely symbolism they've pulled out of novels. I think for Ralph Ellison (and maybe only Ralph Ellison) it is all completely true!
More than being a talented storyteller or a beautiful crafter of prose, Ralph Ellison succeeds at creating interesting characters. That really shines through. In such an incomplete work, the complexity of the people in it is really impressive. They are such a synthesis of human and symbol.
You always hear jokes about authorial intent, about high school english teachers on some bullshit about timely symbolism they've pulled out of novels. I think for Ralph Ellison (and maybe only Ralph Ellison) it is all completely true!