Invisible Man

by Ralph Ellison | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0679732764 Global Overview for this book
Registered by tabby-cat-owner of Bellingham, Washington USA on 7/11/2008
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by tabby-cat-owner from Bellingham, Washington USA on Friday, July 11, 2008
First published in 1952, this book addresses the issue of bigotry in twentieth-century America.

Journal Entry 2 by tabby-cat-owner at a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/3/2009 UTC) at a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases

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mailed to Denny08 of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

I hope you enjoy this book, Denny08.

Journal Entry 3 by denny08 from El Paso, Texas USA on Sunday, March 15, 2009
Just received this and am looking forward to reading it. Thank you, and I promise to keep it moving.

Journal Entry 4 by denny08 from El Paso, Texas USA on Sunday, January 3, 2010
Sending to Totje2.

Journal Entry 5 by Boekentrol from Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Thank you, denny 08 for sending it to me! It arrived safely today.
From what I heard about it, it should be a good read. Looking forward to it!

Journal Entry 6 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, August 9, 2010
This book has been asked for by soffitta1 and will be soon on its way to her.
Happy reading!

Journal Entry 7 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, August 9, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (8/9/2010 UTC) at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands

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This 1001-book is now on its way to the next reader, soffitta1. I hope it reaches you safely and I wish you lots of reading pleasure.

Journal Entry 8 by soffitta1 at Dovercourt, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thanks for sending me this.

I had nothing about the author or book before, I kept picking it up and putting it down, so I decided to take it on the trip home to give myself a chance to get stuck in.

The book starts at the end of the story, with the unnamed narrator living cut off from society in a space that no one knows exists. The action then goes back to the start of his downfall to the day he was asked to deliver his high school graduation speech at a whites-only club. The members humiliate the black boys they have invited, getting them to turn on each other and scramble for coins on a electrified floor. Set in the South, when slavery had been abolished in living memory and segregation was a daily reality, the narrator snaps and starts to fight againt this, but not really knowing what he is doing.

He then moves north to New York where he is introduced to a whole new world, one of contradiction, struggle, but also of possibility. Caught up in the heat of the moment watching an elderly black couple being evicted from their home, he makes an impassioned speech inspiring those around him to act. This gets him noticed by the Brotherhood, a group of multi-racial people from different backgrounds trying to get equality.

For me, this is a book about the struggle for equality, but also the individual fighting for their own freedom. Everyone seems to have their own ideas about what freedom and equality are, which causes more conflict in the book, if you are not 100% for us, you must be against us. This black and white view doesn't allow for the reality of life which is full of grey areas.

The writing style is rather breathless, often jumping from place to place with the narrator's thoughts. He is also an unreliable narrator, leaving the reader to join the dots.

A good book, one that will make you think, and I reckon I would benefit from a second reading of it.

Journal Entry 9 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, May 15, 2011
Received a few days ago. Apologies for not journaling sooner, and thanks for sending it my way :)

Journal Entry 10 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 31, 2016
This has been damaged due to a damp problem in the house so unfortunately has had to be disposed of.

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