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alyssaamber's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook narrated by Joe Morton. It was as if he was writing the story as he spoke. He brought life to Ellison's narrator in a way I didn't even know was possible. I highly, highly recommend.
The way we follow the winding path of the narrator's life reminds me a lot of Stone Butch Blues. You root for them, but when shit hits the fan—that's just how cruel life can be. Overall, this is a life-changing story that I will be rereading for the rest of my life.
The way we follow the winding path of the narrator's life reminds me a lot of Stone Butch Blues. You root for them, but when shit hits the fan—that's just how cruel life can be. Overall, this is a life-changing story that I will be rereading for the rest of my life.
choptopapologist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sarahbc93_'s review against another edition
4.0
This was a tour de force from Ellison, that throws into focus the strange experiences of African-Americans who moved from the South to the North and the unique circumstances that many of them found themselves in.
The clash between the unnamed narrator and members of the Brotherhood show how something that was initially created to be a force for good in the world can easily and quickly become corrupted and how that can affect and impact the people who believe in the cause itself. How they can be thrown under the bus for the sake of the movement.
It’s sad to read about events that are still going on today as well, as it does shine a bright light on how far we still have to go in our society but it does help to highlight the progress that has been made, even if that progress is quite small in the grand scheme of things.
The clash between the unnamed narrator and members of the Brotherhood show how something that was initially created to be a force for good in the world can easily and quickly become corrupted and how that can affect and impact the people who believe in the cause itself. How they can be thrown under the bus for the sake of the movement.
It’s sad to read about events that are still going on today as well, as it does shine a bright light on how far we still have to go in our society but it does help to highlight the progress that has been made, even if that progress is quite small in the grand scheme of things.
andreabaertson's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
thurd's review against another edition
2.0
Мне не понравилась книга. Фантастика - это очень опасный, я считаю, жанр. Главное в этом жанре всегда помнить, что фантастика - это лишь средство для достижения цели, которой, имхо, должно быть раскрытие сущности человека в каких-то сложных ситуациях. В этой книге я этого не увидел. Ставлю 2 звезды. И то с натяжкой.
beckinasec's review against another edition
3.0
This is the kind of book that makes me wish I was reading it in a class so someone smarter than me could explain its complexities.
wilbobaggins's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
jsoakes's review against another edition
4.0
Our nameless protagonist undulates from profundity to astounding ignorance and nearsightedness to raving lunacy and back again. It is quite a ride. The story is gripping and brutal and almost primal despite its emphasis on "scholarly" pursuits and rhetoric.
However, the story is also very obviously dated in a lot of ways (e.g. "the woman question"). The characters surrounding and shaping our nameless hero are painfully one-dimensional and written more as caricatures than as individuals. It also feels more like a philosophy text that should be dissected and taught rather than a fictional story that you can just sit down and read/enjoy.
Beyond the obvious comments on race, it also raises the question of who are we and how can we know what other people see when they look at us (and vice versa)? How do we really know anyone and how can we understand another person's experience?
However, the story is also very obviously dated in a lot of ways (e.g. "the woman question"). The characters surrounding and shaping our nameless hero are painfully one-dimensional and written more as caricatures than as individuals. It also feels more like a philosophy text that should be dissected and taught rather than a fictional story that you can just sit down and read/enjoy.
Beyond the obvious comments on race, it also raises the question of who are we and how can we know what other people see when they look at us (and vice versa)? How do we really know anyone and how can we understand another person's experience?
portlyneophyte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-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
5.0