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solnit_and_sebastian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Johnson's shrewd decision to publish his novel as an autobiography, rather than a work of informed fiction, likely lent credence to the account of one biracial man's self-concept and lessons learned as he became educated, traveled within the U.S.A. and across Europe, saw his profits fluctuate, and arrived at a personal identity. Johnson's novel addresses what he often refers to as "the race question" in America from the lens of an early twentieth century writer, and his insinuations are distressingly relevant today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, and Infidelity
runningonwords415's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to pick up this masterpiece. As a fan of INVISIBLE MAN, this book is definitely the original masterpiece to inspire future seminal works from authors of color. Super accessible and extremely profound, and absolutely applicable a century after its first publishing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
lizzield's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Murder
manoushp109's review
4.0
very good book, upset that it’s a factionalized account and not actually nonfiction even though it’s literally called autobiography. i think the internal conflict of a passing narrative is rly well reflected and i liked a lot of the characters even when they were just sides. also rly liked the focusing of him changing as he travels different places and also his musical career (and linguistic changes)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism
laindarko2's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief and Classism
Minor: Slavery
abookishgoth's review against another edition
challenging
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
katherine_kelley's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
ashleighhuntley's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
mscalls's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
laurenleigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-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? No
4.0
Read this for the Popsugar 2021 reading challenge for the “published anonymously” prompt. Stylistically, there’s a lot of interest here. Though “autobiography” is in the title, this is a novel. I read that Johnson took much inspiration from his real life, but added some embellishments. It does make me wonder where those additives are, because most of the story felt quite real and believable to me. The narrator never gives us his name, nor does he give anyone else a true name. The closest we get to a name is “Red” or “Shiny.” I suppose this adds to what makes this feel less novelistic, like he was trying to conceal true identities. What I liked most about this text was Johnson’s insightful descriptions of emotions or events that many of us could find relatable. I loved the part where he anxiously awaits his friend’s answer during a spelling bee. To somewhat quote, he said “many times in my life I’ve anxiously awaited to see how the wheel of fortune would land, but never so much as in that moment!” Growing up biracial but white passing, and growing up with some money from his white father, the narrator is afforded more comfort than many other Black people during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era America. As a young adult, he gets to tour Europe with “his millionaire,” a wealthy benefactor who hires him to play piano. I was quite fascinated by the narrator’s descriptions and comparisons of Paris, London, and Berlin. Just another example of the narrator’s keen insight into humanity. Definitely want to give a content warning here for a scene with some pretty horrific racial violence, which becomes a pretty major turning point in the narrator’s life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol