Invisible Man

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Summary: extraordinary performance of a masterpiece
Review: Quite simply, this is one of the best novels I've ever read on the condition of the human race in 20th century America. Joe Morton's outstanding performance, with his wide range of voices, his powerful intonations, and his bursts of raw emotion will stay in my memory for a very long time.

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Summary: Black and white aren't what we think they are...
Review: How do we influence each other in this worl of twisted race relations? This novel, written so long ago, still holds a powerful message about race, about social norms, and about the way we try to change the way "the system" works. You may have read one of the earliest chapters, called "Battle Royale" in a fiction anthology-- and it sets the tone for the rest of the book in many ways. Watch for repeating themes, images, and ideas that follow throughout. This is a skillfully crafted story which is also a fast read-- once you really want to see the protagonist's life-story (which happens early on). A classic of modern American Literature-- clearly you need to read this book to understand where we are today, and where we can go tomorrow.

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Summary: Invisible Man
Review: Invisible Man
The Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison, is a book based on the journey and experiences of an unnamed Negro man during modern America. He is in search of success, friendship, and himself. Ellison's style of writing can be confusing at times, meaning that Ellison tries to overwhelm the reader, when instead he should be either persuading or telling the story. The novel is written in first person singular and therefore it is hard to distinguish who is who. It is hard to tell the difference between the person who is telling the story and the person who is being affected. The middle of the book concerns the Harlem Stalinists who are communist. Ellison made the Stalinists seem stupid, vicious and pessimistic. The Invisible Man's final discovery that after he quit the Communist Party, "my world has become one of infinite possibilities,"(p.365) because he did not want to be rejected nor did he want to be seen by other various social groups. In my opinion Ellison is a very gifted writer, with an amazing style. Although Ellison relies heavily on various symbolisms, which can get confusing at times, it helps the reader to get through the book but it does not destroy the book. Also, Ellison's style is creative because it allows the reader to appear as if they were actually listening to a Negro telling the story, in the sense that Ellison wrote in the vernacular of that time period. Ellison has an abundance of talent, because he is thoroughly, wildly creative. He makes his writing tense; his language makes the book better to read. Since Ellison lived and observed certain events, which took place during this time, and also since he was black, he understood how to write a book based on the Negro lifestyle during that particular period of time. This is not your basic book; instead the Invisible Man is a Negro novel, written by a Negro, about Negro life, talk, and music. This book is a great book that expresses the Negro customs of that time.

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Summary: Invisible Man must be in High School English courses
Review: I did this book with 11th graders and it was a blast. It is a great book for any English course, but especially powerful for American Lit. classes. I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X concurrently and it is a great parallel. I suggest reading both Malcolm X and Invisible Man at the same time----you are able to get more out of both intriguing novels.

Rating:
Summary: Can you see me?
Review: Ellison's story of a seclusive and anti-social African-American man in the mid-1900s awakens the mind. Wonderfully written, Invisible Man provides a different prespective on racism than what is taught in a history class. The characters are developed and well-thought out. Character evolution plays a main role in Ellison's story. I really enjoyed reading this book. This novel challenges the reader to think outside their world and their preconcieved notions of what life is like for someone in the main character's situation. The plot is quick-witted and fast paced, the characters are three-dimensional and real, and the setting is used appropriately to display mood and tone. If you are looking for an interesting, intelligent novel, I would definitely recommend Invisible Man.

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Summary: The Trickster writes...
Review: Although this is a fairly long work, I consider it one of the richest works I have ever read. In terms of sheer information and hidden subversiveness, this book is a rare treat for those who like to dig deep beneath the surfaces and find what is hidden there. Invisible Man is not merely a work about an alienated black male, it is also the story of American history, and the racism that has been ever present, on the surface and veiled beneath the harmless guise of tradition. The fact that Ellison produced such a biting critique of American society, and was able to get it published, is a miracle in itself. 'Invisible Man' is a powerful statement against the dehumanizing effects of racism in America. Through elaborate symbolism and metaphor Ellison goes about the huge task of trying to expose the rampant institutional and societal racism that manifested itself in practically every corner of American culture. Through the anonymous character of the Invisible Man, we are taken on a tour that begins in the outwardly racist South and ends in the supposedly progressive Eastern city of New York and Harlem. What the Invisible Man discovers about America in his journey is both a powerful social commentary and harsh indictment of the nature of human ignorance and hatred.
The Invisible Man is certainly not an easy read, because of the threat of censorship Ellison was forced to submerge his subversive message under the appearance of mild criticism. The result is an extremely deep and complex novel, which often is charged with double-meaning, allusion, and symbolism. One is amazed at the ingenuity and inventedness that Ellison employed in this work, and equally impressed at the final result.
This work itself is a testimony that people can overcome racism, prejudice, and hatred, and yet it is at the same time disheartening to see what extreme lengths Ellison had to go in order to express his views, which inherently affects the readers of his novel as well. Although Ellison was able to get his message published, he was forced to do so under a veil of darkness, one that has effectively muffled his message to a great portion of his readers. Consequently, his ultimate triumph is partial and bittersweet.
There are many things in this book that are easily overlooked; it is one that requires much thought and investigative inquiry. "Invisible Man" is best to be read more than once, while keeping in mind the subversive nature of Ellison's critique and the extreme methods he was forced to employ in doing so. If this bit of advice is followed his message will continue to be heard, which is an important and unerrepresented voice of our American past. This book is a joy to read and provides invaluable insight to a period of American history that most people know little about. In my estimation Invisible Man is one of the greatest books written in the annals of American literature, a representation of American ingenuity and independence at its finest.

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Summary: Incredible, Thought-Provoking Masterpiece
Review: This book was fascinating. (So much so, that I read all 583 pages in one night!) The style of writing was very different than others of its type, which made it all the more admirable. Ellison writes with a kind of vigor and energy that few authors can accomplish. His depiction of this young man's life is filled simultaneously with joy, sadness, irony, and truth. It opened my eyes to a different view of racism--a view from the eyes of the "invisible man," whose mere existence is simply not acknowledged by his fellow men. This is truly a masterpiece, and definitely deserves any reader's time and attention.

Rating:
Summary: Cheated by Random House!
Review: I, too, have the "eleven tape" audiobook *which omits the final chapter and epilog*! Gee, do I feel low, after listening to what very obviously was *not* the end of the book --- and now I've got to go find a library copy just to read the last chapter. Random House should be ashamed. There are rumors of a "twelve tape" edition which *contains* the final chapters, but I see no evidence that the version sold by amazon contains twelve tapes: the ISBN, publishing date, and all other details seem to match my eleven tape copy exactly. What's more, some of the *used* copies being sold here are explicitly stated as "eleven tape sets" too---avoid these at all cost!!! I would only buy this set from a real physical bookstore where I could examine the package before purchase and ensure it contained the full twelve tapes.

A pity Random House botched this so badly, as Joe Morton does an *excellent* job with the reading.

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Summary: a personal footnote*:
Review: I rarely re-read books. Generally I'm one of those hoarders--a collector who stocks up on all the variety of books I could ever want to read. Granted a collection grows overwhelming and eventually out-distances your time and capacity for reading, growing ever-expanding and pushing some once desired treasures to the back shelf.

Anyway, when I was in college, at present nine years ago, there was a time over two semesters when I was assigned to read this book three times. Well, I read it twice (the one semester providing the benefit of teaching the novel at the same time). A few years later I tried again and left once more burning with the conviction that I had read one of the very great novels of the 20th century.

Sure, such high-handed praise goes around and comes again, mixing and swirling between genres and styles and tastes. But here is an experimental satire disguised as a somber discussion of race, complicated by the family/romantic troubles any ambitious young man encounters, then consumed with post-religious, aimless guilt and desperation brought about by isolation and madness and the fear of failure that can crush the spirit and flatten out the will to live until even the desire for suicide is destroyed. It is a complicated, dazzling, entertaining book that is a noble and devestating account of a man beset by doubt and inner turmoil, often still lingering from wounds others inflicted over an uncertain past.

The absolute gibberish of this review should relate some of the overwhelming exuberence memories of reading it has evoked. Nevertheless, I hope I haven't deterred you from reading the book . . .

Rating:
Summary: Not a good book for the teen
Review: I just finished this book, well actually I was too frusterated with it that i reviewed the last 4 chapters on sparknotes. Yes this book had some interesting points, but I feel that if I was of an older age I might have understood the concepts better and actually had some insight into this novel. I definitely do not suggest this book for Kids my age. I had to read this for english and when being forced to I wanted to pull my hair out. It started out slow and then got a little more interesting, but I was very disappointed. It's just not my type of book and not my writing style.