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 This book is highly interesting. It never fully worked for me, but kept me wanting to read the whole way through. I definitely think it is worth reading, for there are some really powerful chapters. But there were so many chapters that weren't needed. And you don't even sympathize with the main character. His actions are sketchy all the way through. But I still recommend it.
It was assigned by my English Teacher who seemed to tell us each day what was coming next. At times, it was the most discouraging thing that he could have done, yet in the beginning, it kept the class interested. I sat up many nights reading the book, chapter after chapter. The novel connects people. As a white Montana girl from the heart of the Rockies, I don't have the culture of Harlem around me. I recommend this literary work of art to any teacher wanting to educate their students. Ellison's book gives insight on the difficulties and betrayal life can hand you. His title adds to the personal side of it. As an Invisible Man the reader never learns the main characters name, simply because it isn't important. A name would not add to the significance of the novel, but the invisibility does. By not having a specific label, the author pulls you into the story line, as if you were the Invisible Man. Ellison has also incorporated marvelous imagery and breath-taking facts that make this novel a classic. Facts that are told in such a manner that our children will be reading this masterpiece, growing and learning as humans. "As long as there is humanity there will be novel's like this." "Answer them with yeses." -Grandfather The Invisible Man lives with a haunting rememberance of his Grandfather, and his answer to the indifferences placed on the superiority of the races. Our main character fights with this throughout his life, stuggling to become a man of his own though and disposition. This novel takes you on that journey, revealling one man's ups and downs that eventually leads him into his invisibility.
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While this novel certainly lays claim to being one of the great novels of the past fifty or sixty years, Ellison seems to mar his book from achieving greatness by meandering about the topics in question, along with confusing, verbose prose. While the book is brilliant for the first half or so, especially the Battle Royale, the overemphasis upon the communist brotherhood, which seemed a bit forced and unrealistic, hurt this book a great deal. A must-read, however. In terms of African-American literature, do not even consider this novel in the same category as Song of Solomon, Beloved, or The Color Purple
I had to read this book for school. I hated this book with a passion. I didn't like the main character. I also didn't like the fact that he didn't have a name. My teacher told us that he didn't have a name because Ellison wanted him to be universal. I mean it is hard to believe that it took all those hardships for him to 'find' himself. Is anyone that naive. I hope not. I would have wised up after Dr. Bledsoe lied about the letters of reccomendation!!! This wasn't a very good book at all in my opinion
