A review by leahreadsstuff
The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance by H.G. Wells

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I was swept into the story at the beginning. The premise is creative and fascinating, and the setting and prose are descriptive and eerie. It was also surprisingly funny. There was a dry wit in how Wells portrayed the villagers.

The plot is a series of interconnected scenes, and I liked the way that it built tension. You’re careening along in the wake of the action and experiencing things with cast of characters through the eyes of an unnamed narrator. 

At about the two thirds mark, the tone shifts. Instead of following scenes as described by a third party, the invisible man told the story of his past experiences to a character. He is mercurial, arrogant, and spiraling into insanity. The switch in perspective arrested the momentum for me, and I found my interest waning.  

This was well written, entertaining, and even thought provoking. I’m glad to have read it, but I wouldn’t read it a second time.