Reviews with content warning for Racism - Invisible Man

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

68 reviews

hlw1983's review against another edition

challenging dark funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A harrowing illustration of civil rights era America. A kind of coming of age story, darkly funny and sometimes absurd. The first chapter was initially published as a stand alone piece and the later tone is slower and somewhat more measured. Better to read with plenty of time, not one for snatched chapters. The author or perhaps central character has a strange indifference to 'the woman problem' which sits oddly with the general premise today. Thought provoking.

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waybeyondblue's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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vickymcckey's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense fast-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

5.0

This is the kind of book that needs a separate book to explain all the references you missed the first time. My advice to anyone reading it who wants to derive as much meaning as possible is to annotate like a nerdy high schooler. Color code references and keep wikipedia by your side to look up any word that seems even a little bit intentional. Because I promise you, it’s all intentional. Parts of this book are disturbing, parts dryly humorous, parts hopeful or sad, but every word has thought behind it.

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reeses_reads's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

4.25

this book takes place in the 30’s, so the very small women role in this book is extremely sexualized and objectified

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slymberis's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

2.5

I hated this book until the last 250 pages and I wanted to love it.I would not have finished this if it wasn’t something i had to read for school. The writing was dense and wordy, and the plot was confusing. As I read, there were moments of genius in Ellison’s writing and this book provided me with a much-necessary new perspective on the world. It was a challenging read, and although I was fighting for my life to finish it, the ending was worth it.

Favorite quote: “How does it feel to be free of illusion…and now I answered, ‘painful and empty’” (569).

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littleclerk's review against another edition

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Man describing how impregnates his daughter with his wife in the same bed

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needlebrook's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Dense- so very dense. it'll be helpful to pull up the litcharts summary webpage for some of the chapters. It can get real confusing at times.

The beginning of the book is intriguing but can get to be a bit of a slog after the first handful of chapters(was considering abandoning this book during the dreamlike narration from Trueblood. Very glad I decided against it.)
But, after the narrator arrives in Harlem and starts to adapt to his surroundings, the book quickly picks up the pace and seemingly goes at break-neck pace for the rest of it.

All in all, I won't be forgetting this book very easily.

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feefeeberry's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

It’s so unbelievably well written. Almost every little detail comes back in some kind of way. It’s woven and written so well. Literally the smartest book I’ve ever read. Anyone who says this is boring has the reading comprehension skills of a toddler.

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gogglor's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

I know the content warnings are long but you have to read this book. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read, and it’ a deeply moving, infuriating, enlightening narrative. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is that the thread of misogyny that runs through it runs deep and it’s so deeply frustrating that such an insightful book totally lacks any of that insight when turned on it’s own sexism. But honestly, read it anyway.

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bookswgreen's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Dense, but good read! The comedy was unexpected but enjoyed.

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