Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Invisible Man

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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lindseyas's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

A coming of age novel like you've never seen before. Set in the mid-1900s in a city where everything is happening all of the time, the unnamed southern Black man, our protagonist, is lost in the chaos. Told from an extremely early point in his life that he should just give in to the white man and white society, the protagonist goes with the flow easily, aiming to please and not be noticed as different. But when he makes his way to New York City, he's forced to be noticed. The protagonist is used as a political prop by a movement that cares little about him, is fought over by opposing sides and is worshipped only for his powerful voice and body — not for his character, his intelligence or his kindness. The protagonist is not treated as a human being, but as a way of being, as a set of values and to further an agenda that he is barely involved in. This novel is all about what being caught in the wave of history is like, and how invisibility, despite its loneliness and often futile attempt at security, is the only escape if we want to hold ourselves dear.

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maddiebo97's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-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

4.0

a timely classic that almost feels like it could have been written yesterday. it’s scary how much this book is still relevant.

I wish I would have been able to read it in a class, because I feel like I didn’t get everything out of it that I was supposed to… almost feels like I read it “wrong”. it was a daunting novel that was difficult to pick up. the plot was not difficult to understand, but the plot of this book is definitely secondary. it’s there to deliver the message, but I missed out on the message half of the time.

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lyd4ever's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

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ratthew86's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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emmyinthestacks's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious 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? No

4.25

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seanml's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Everyone seems to be a pawn, I’ve never wanted a yam so bad, early 20th century factories are of course terrible. 8/10.

Highlights: How the cast of characters the Narrator meets along the way all navigate the same world dramatically differently.

Recommended for: People who aren’t in a mid-life crisis, and those who know nothing is binary.

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