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The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man
Author: Ralph Ellison
Ralph Elllison's Invisible Man is a monumental novel, one that can well be called an epic of modern American Negro life. It is a strange story, in which many extraordinary things happen, some of them shocking and brutal, some of them pitiful and touching--yet always with elements of comedy and irony and burlesque that appear in unexpecte...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780394603384
ISBN-10: 0394603389
Publication Date: 9/12/1963
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 3
3.3 stars, based on 3 ratings
Publisher: Modern Library
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

 katiebratt avatar reviewed The Invisible Man on + 105 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I read this novel for a college class and I am so glad I did. The book is a must read and it is a true classic. Once you see beyond the surface of the writer's words to the deeper meanings you experience the complexities and genius of Ralph Ellison.
Not a fast read if you truely want to experience a great piece of literature.
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Ralph Ellison's nightmare journey across the racial divide tell truths about the nature of bigotry in the U.S.
Readnmachine avatar reviewed The Invisible Man on + 1474 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Meticulously crafted tale of a young black man's journey to self-awareness in 1930s America; at times seems to be a cross between Kafka's "Metamorphosis" and Homer's "Odyssey".
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What an amazing book... it has stuck with me since reading it well over a year ago. If you critically think into the novel and consider all of the things going on and meanings you can truly see how great and classic Ellison's Invisible Man is. Very powerful.
reviewed The Invisible Man on
Helpful Score: 1
A classic in every sense of the word. Very insightful as to the inner thoughts of a black man as he struggles with his thoughts about race and equality. It is important that the reader looks beyond the written word for the "hidden meanings" within.
Read All 21 Book Reviews of "The Invisible Man"

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 reviewed The Invisible Man on + 3352 more book reviews
Let's remember this is a classic - set aside your modern tastes and just enjoy this really great book - go with the flow - read as the stunning fiction and talented writing it is.
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 2 more book reviews
Definitely an interesting piece of literature, however, getting a feel for the tone of the book was hard to do. At times it seemed as it if was a straight ahead, quasi-autobiographical account while at other times it ventured into the surreal. Still a good read, but one that you have to dedicate yourself to trying to take in fully.
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 15 more book reviews
Invisible Man is certainly a book about race in America, and sadly enough, few of the problems it chronicles have disappeared even now. But Ellison's first novel transcends such a narrow definition. It's also a book about the human race stumbling down the path to identity, challenged and successful to varying degrees. None of us can ever be sure of the truth beyond ourselves, and possibly not even there. The world is a tricky place, and no one knows this better than the invisible man, who leaves us with these chilling, provocative words: "And it is this which frightens me: Who knows but that, on the lower frequencies, I speak for you?" --Melanie Rehak
(amazon.com)
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 23 more book reviews
How would I like to live in this world as if I were invisible? This is the story, written in the early 50's, of what it was like to be black in a country where black people were invisible.
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 4 more book reviews
Intense!
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 6 more book reviews
Though I found this book a bit repetitive, I also found it to be a thought provoking commentary on racial inequality. Overall a good read, if you can get past the prologue.
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 20 more book reviews
An amazing book and a very fast, but memorable read.
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 3 more book reviews
Enjoyed it to bits. :) It's not a classic for no good reason.
reviewed The Invisible Man on + 20 more book reviews
Wow. What a book. It's an eye-opener, whether you're white or African-American.

Betrayed by a southern black college, abused by the whites while growing up, and dreaming of the freedom of the north, a journey begins.

In the north, he finds racism just as rampant as the south. He also finds an outlet for his intelligence working as an organizer for an un-named organization. It is his work, and the complexitites of reform organizations, that captured my attention.

Let me insert a note here: Much of this book contains no specifics. Ellison writes as if in another dimension where actual names are unnecessary. For me, this implied the author's disconnect - and makes the story more universal. This aloofness on Ellison's part kept my concentration on the issues, not the geography or politics.

White or black, read this book. It is a classic for a reason.
Kibi avatar reviewed The Invisible Man on + 582 more book reviews
A novel about growing up as a black American in the mid-twentieth century, this is an incredibly powerful story. Don't miss it.


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