Rating: 
Summary: Identity Crisis
Review: In this exciteful novel, Ellison uses many literary techniques like: imagery, theme, and symbolism to show the reader the troubles one man (which is called Invisible Man) went through to find his true identity in life. This 1952 New York published novel was fun to read, because in each chapter Ellison reveals a new side of the Invisible Man with new challenges he has to face. These challenges that Invisible Man faces build and develop his character. When he states "Look at me! Everywhere I've turned somebody has wanted to sacrifice me for my good- only they were the ones who benefited," this illustrates to the reader that Invisible Man is finding his lot in life and standing up for himself. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes to read event-filled, action packed novels and has an insterest in novels that being up the struggles of what life throws at us sometimes.
Rating: 
Summary: a book whose reputation outstrips it's merit
Review: I am an invisible man. ... I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.... When they approach me they see only surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination--indeed, everything and anything except me. So begins Ralph Ellison's wildly uneven, overlong, emotionally excessive & oft-times hysterical, 1953 National Book Award Winner, Invisible Man--a book that's desperately in search of an editor. From it's opening scene at a Battle Royale, where young black men fight until only one is left standing, to it's closing scene in a Harlem riot, Ellison is always going over the top. As one can see from Irving Howe's 1952 review the book's shortcomings have been obvious since it was first published, but that same review makes clear the struggle of the white establishment to treat it honestly. The result is, I think, a book whose reputation outstrips it's merit. GRADE: C
Rating: 
Summary: An Essential, Wonderful Novel
Review: If you're like me, you resist books that are on college reading lists. If it's a book that you should read, then how interesting can it be? On that theory I have avoided this book for a quarter of a century. Having just completed reading Invisible Man, I was stunned by how compelling it was. Moreover, it is absolutely "modern" in the sense that it rings as true today as it must have nearly 50 years ago when it was written. Further, it is not a heavy handed polemic on racism; it speaks eloquently to the human condition as well as that of African-Americans. In short, read this book because it is a great read, not because it was on your literature teacher's reading list!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Read!
Review: Invisible Man tells the story of a nameless African-American male. He goes through various experiences which contribute to his feeling of invisibility. Though the narrator feels he is nothing, his knowledge and insight, which he is constantly imparting to the reader, ensure that he does indeed exist. I recommend this novel to the reader who enjoys African-American literature. It is a long read (more than 500 pages), so you must have patience. Ellison's great descriptions and mastery of prose enhance the reading of this splendid novel. Spend some time, and you will find this book was worth it.
Rating:
Summary: A Journey of the Mind
Review: If there ever was a book that was both worthwhile and symbolic, this is it. As a junior in high school, I shocked my English teacher by reading Invisible Man for a book report, but the fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter your age, if you're out in a big cold world searching for who you are (like we all are), Invisible Man will whisper volumes to you when it comes to human existence and the unfathomable search for self. A must read for anyone out there.
Rating:
Summary: The Other
Review: This is a classic and should belong in one's personal library. Ellison sculpts a poignant tale that addresses the multi-tiered system of Otherness. It's a great source in that regard...Provokes the reader to question the nature of identity.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: I don't think I can put into words what this book means, has meant, and will forever mean to me and to millions of other readers. Mr. Ellison's book strips any type facade of dignity that racists try to maintain, and leaves it for what it is: a vile, ignorant spirit of hate, that although trying to hide behind a "white God," is one the most ungodly, wretched beliefs of all time. I come from a white middle-class home, with parents that have firmly taught me that ALL men are created equal, with the RIGHT for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I sat, stunned as I read this book, tears threatening to stream down my face, as I realized how incredibly frightening racisim is. As Mr. Ellison's book reveals with every heart-felt word: You can FORCE segregation, you can FORCE people to behave.....but you can't touch their mind. You can't do anything about the bitter hate that fills their hearts. You can't touch their mind.
Rating:
Summary: A Modern Day Parable For Everyman
Review: When I first read Ralph Ellison's remarkable Invisible Man I was in college. Having grown up middle class midwestern white, it seemed at the time to be a marvelous piece of work that plunged me into the nightmarishly crushing world of racism from the black perspective. It opened my eyes to racism in a way that I could never have possibly percieved from the perspective of my own limited experience. Thirty years later I pulled this book from the shelf and reread it on a whim. A number of things struck me on this reading that never occurred to me from my earlier limited youthful perspective. First of all, Invisible Man is timeless and I find it hard to believe that it was written nearly fifty years ago. This book is about far more than racism, it is about loss of innocence and rape of the soul. It is about exploitation, manipulation, and the gross hypocrisy that exists in our society. It is a work of great literary merit. Ellison displays verbal virtuosity of great breadth with beautiful and lyric eloquence. It is at times so dark and overbearingly heavy that a sensitive or less serious reader might cry out for relief. It is so relentless in plunging from one nightmarish episode to the next that one can reasonably say that it is often over the top, and yet any fair-minded reader can easily forgive the excesses of Ellison's vision for the importance of the message that it brings home. Any reader, be he or she black, white, yellow or brown, who must make a way in this world--any reader who attempts to rise from the consciousness of the unprivelidged child or who is a seeker in life, should read Invisible Man as a cautionary tale as well as a great work of art. Please read this book if you have the courage and honesty to see the world through the eyes of the victim. This book has helped me to see those who had often in the past been invisible to me and I thank Ralph Ellison for making it possible.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best ever
Review: What can you say about Ellison's novel that hasn't already been said? It is, quite simply, one of the finest novels ever written. Ellison writes from the heart, and uses the styles of his forebears, most notably Twain, Melville and Tolstoy, to make his point. The novel, about a young black man struggling to find his way in the world, is beautiful. The invisible man could be any young black man in post WW2 America. Shunned by the whites, double crossed by his black dean in college, he makes his way from the south to NY city. His problems and life will dismay you, make you laugh, cry, hurt. It is wonderful, and shows you why Ellison never published another novel in his lifetime...he couldn't write a better one.
Rating: 
Summary: Skip the audio cassettes
Review: For the most part, this is an excellent set of tapes. Joe Morton does a remarkable job creating distinct voices and characters throughout his reading, often to the point where I had to remind myself that there was only a single man performing. And of course, the story is magnificent. There's only one problem with this set of tapes: they left off the ending. That's right, tape 11 out of 11 ends without the last chapter or the epilogue. I had to borrow a friend's copy of the book to read the ending. It's a real shame, this could have been an excellent set of tapes.
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