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Invisible Man
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
Invisible Man is a milestone in American literature, a book that has continued to engage readers since its appearance in 1952. A first novel by an unknown writer, it remained on the bestseller list for sixteen weeks, won the National Book Award for fiction, and established Ralph Ellison as one of the key writers of the century. The nameless narrator of the novel describes growing up in a black community in the South, attending a Negro college from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of "the Brotherhood", and retreating amid violence and confusion to the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be. The book is a passionate and witty tour de force of style, strongly influenced by T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, Joyce, and Dostoevsky.From the Trade Paperback edition.
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review
Becker
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

There is a lot to take in with this book. I need a second reading at some point but I enjoyed my first read very much. It‘s a raging flood of ideas and issues. A little long winded if I‘m honest but it served a purpose and I wouldn‘t change a thing. A remarkable book and a non-stop flow of quotable sentences. 🫶

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cant_i'm_booked
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

Sometimes you read a book because you want an easy answer to something. Not what this book provides: but Ellison‘s “non-answer” is more illuminating and truly descriptive of something as complex and monolithic as America‘s attitude and treatment toward race, versus any definitive “answer.” Invisible Man is one Black man‘s search for identity in mid-20th century Harlem and the Deep South - a narrative true to today and far from being outmoded.

Becker Good review 1mo
11 likes1 comment
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Graywacke
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

Took me some time, but I did enjoy this. A monster of a book. It goes every which way, rolling as it wants, until suddenly there is structure and its gradually comes to a reality, and then stays there a long time, but not entirely. It pushes a little surreal one way, a little the other, wobbly between literary states. Quite a book and quite an experience.

dabbe Kudos to you! This novel has been on the AP Literature exam more than any other piece of literature: a whopping 29 times! 🤩 1y
Aimeesue Excellent pic! 1y
Suet624 Great photo to go with the book. 1y
See All 7 Comments
Graywacke @dabbe thanks. Not sure i could pass that exam! 1y
Graywacke @Aimeesue @Suet624 the picture is of a memorial to Ralph Ellison by sculptor Elizabeth Catlett. 1y
vivastory One of my favorite books 1y
dabbe @Graywacke Me either, and I taught English for 30 years! 🤣🤣🤣 1y
49 likes1 stack add7 comments
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perfectlywinged
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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I am already invested in this unnamed narrator, this invisible man after chapter one. The writing both sucks me in and also has me rereading passages to understand what is happening- it‘s a little like a fever dream.

bnp Fever dream is a good description of how parts of this book feel. 1y
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Graywacke
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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I‘ve been working through this. About half way now. (Although usually without this little purring helper)

dabbe Not an invisible kitty! Sweet face, and that eye! 💙🐾💚 1y
TiredLibrarian Excellent helper! 😻 1y
Graywacke @dabbe She‘s definitely focused in being noticed! We always know when she comes around, because she sings to us (usually in inappropriate language) @TiredLibrarian hmm. Not sure helpful is one of her character traits. “unhelper”? 🙂 1y
See All 6 Comments
dabbe @Graywacke She matches the book colors perfectly! 🤣😍🤩 1y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Surprisingly, I did not like this book. I wanted to 1y
Graywacke @DrSabrinaMoldenReads oh, bummer. I took to it. It wasn‘t easy reading, but it‘s a dynamic oddity. (I need to post my review here). 1y
64 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Addison_Reads
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

There is still so much in this book that I'm processing, so this review with not give Ellison's classic the true praise it deserves.

While I'm ruminating on it though, just know that this book is a beloved classic for a reason. There is so much to appreciate and discuss that you should do yourself a favor and read it if you never have.

Ruthiella I need to reread it. I first read it decades ago for high school English class. I‘ve tried a few times but not made it past the first chapter yet. 2y
vivastory This is one of my favorite books of all time 2y
Addison_Reads @Ruthiella I'll admit, the Prologue and Chapter 1 took a little focus to get through for me, but after that I was invested. @vivastory I can see why it's a favorite. It's a book that burrows deep into your mind and just won't let you forget it. I'm not sure a younger me would have appreciated it as much, so I'm glad I didn't read it until now. 2y
53 likes1 stack add3 comments
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mmmbeans
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
Mehso-so

Good read. Although the prologue may have seemed a bit slow, once getting to chapter one, it was a blur. SO many different events occurred, it was like reading five different books in one. It was insane with several situations that I didn't even think would happen. Very interesting theme on identity.
“When I discover who I am, I'll be free.“

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danni0075
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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"When I discover who I am, I'll be free,"

TheKidUpstairs Fantastic novella with historical intrigue and assassination: 3y
11 likes1 comment
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BkClubCare
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

I highly recommend reading AND listening to the Invisible Man #audiobook narrated fabulously by Joe Morton. #ClassicsClub #cc50 #Classic #NatlBookWinner 1952
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks Column-4

(So close to Row-4 Bingo, too but don‘t have enough time to read Ask Again Yes AND my book club choice Anxious People.)

TheAromaofBooks Looking great!!! 3y
23 likes1 comment
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BkClubCare
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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“but now a new, painful, contradictory voice had grown up within me, and between its demands for revengeful action and Mary‘s silent pressure I thrived with guilt and puzzlement. I wanted peace and quiet, tranquility, but was too much a boil inside.”
#guilty #Scarathlon #PhotoChallenge #Funwhenthethemeappearswhenneeded #pieinlit #iLovePie #hotfriedpies

BkClubCare Sorry pic doesn‘t match the quote. Got distracted by the hot fried pies😂 But LOTS of the word guilt so far in this book. 3y
Linsy Lol i didnt notice! 3y
27 likes2 comments
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GingerAntics
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

I read this when I was a junior in high school. I thought I didn‘t remember any of it, but I actually remembered multiple parts of it. This is such an important novel both literarily and socially. This could be such a conversation starter. Sadly, there were no conversations about this book in my junior English class. This is another of those books that should absolutely be required reading.
#InvisibleMan #RalphEllison #audiobook #BannedBooksWeek

GingerAntics Somehow the review of this ended up under a totally different book. That certainly explains some of the weird alerts I‘ve been getting. 3y
17 likes1 comment
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Loreen
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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GingerAntics
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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I read this in high school for a research paper. I remember exactly none of it. I‘m excited to spend some time with this classic this week.
#InvisibleMan #RalphEllison #audiobook #BannedBooksWeek

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DGRachel
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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@GingerAntics I still have my copy from high school. I wasn‘t sure I did. It‘s survived a lot of culls and a lot of moves. 🤎

GingerAntics That‘s a really beautiful cover. 3y
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cdreincarnate
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Pickpick

This book is so far from what I expected that I‘m not sure what to make of it. I‘m going to need some time to digest it.

I can say that I loved the writing style and the ways in which Ellison chose to discuss issues of race in America. I also loved Joe Morton‘s narration of the audiobook. He was phenomenal.

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breadnroses
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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super psychedelic, really enjoyed it and definitely have to reflect on it 👍

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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Panpan

I really wanted to like this book. As a black person, I related to much of his struggle and recognize he was referencing life in the 1940s, but there was so much bothersome about this book for me. I became increasingly frustrated mainly by his naïveté. He did not get who he was until the end of the book and, by then, I really did not care. Then, his answer was to give into his invisibility. Why?

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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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THIS is a book that puts me in mind of Faulkner‘s “Absalom, Absalom”. THIS is the kinda book that I love to read. It‘s unfolding and unfolding and I don‘t want to put it down. Where and how is it going to lead?

DrSabrinaMoldenReads It kept unfolding to the very end of the book. 3y
23 likes1 comment
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CuriousG
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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1. Spouse absolutely supports me even though he isn't a reader himself. He even encourages me to but books when I'm super stressed out from work and need the escape.

2. No other serious readers, although now that my dad has finally slowed down a bit since turning 75, he is starting to enjoy reading every now and then.

3. Invisible Man is my white whale. I can say I've started it on several occasions but it's just never been the right time.

DrSabrinaMoldenReads There may never be a right time. Just saying. ☺️ 3y
CuriousG @Joyfulmimi I'm going to give it another go this summer or fall. My brain had stopped processing any new info and I was doing nothing but re-reading for about 10 months. Will tackle the white whale when I get some time off and recover a bit. 🙃 3y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads @curiousG Now that I‘ve plodded through it, I recommend for you not to waste any book reading time on this book. 😀 (edited) 3y
11 likes3 comments
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CuriousG
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Settled in for some morning reading - can't believe I haven't read this one sooner! I'm going to have a hard time putting it down to do my marking and lesson prep today

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CuriousG
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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It's been sitting on my shelf for WAY too long. Finally starting this one tonight

review
Come-read-with-me
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

Originally published in 1952 this book remains a classic look at the desperation and exploitation that accompanies being invisible” because of the colour of your skin. Ellison writes eloquently about inequities of the world as it relates to race. It is sad to realize the almost 70 years have passed and many of these issues have not changed. This book is masterful. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Did you like the Invisible Man though and his take on the racial issues? 3y
93 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Susanita
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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My favorite bookstore is moving! Tomorrow they‘re closing up shop and packing up the inventory, so this weekend they had a sale. I wanted to get a picture of the neatly packed box before I unloaded it. 😀
#bookstorehaul

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MargaretPinardAuthor
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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‘Winter conditions‘ indeed, here in Portland!
Good time for reading, although I didn‘t know I was settling into a horror ... 🥺😳😓
#blackhistorymonth #booktuber #snowyreadingday

31 likes1 stack add
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bnp
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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1. My mom's brother's Bible.
2. Invisible man by Ralph Ellison. Assigned reading in college, and totally bored at first, but it got more complex and compelling as I went aloing. When I reread it a few years later after life experience & a better understanding of 1960s & 70s it had a whole new depth for me.
@Eggs
3. Murder on the Brittany shores, Jean-Luc Bannalec. Didn't connect with the characters, no emotional resonance.

Eggs Thanks so much for joining in 👏🏻👍🏼👌🏼 4y
Crazeedi The invisible man was a really good book. Read many years ago 4y
9 likes2 comments
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Naltez
Invisible Man | Ralph Waldo Ellison
Pickpick

Just reread my old high school copy of this book. I knew there was a reason I held onto it. Still resonates today as it did then and when it was written. A truly remarkable read that is frustrating in the reality that we have not moved the needle much as a society in all this time

Taylor Yeah, phenomenal novel. I gotta reread this one. 4y
14 likes1 comment
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Karkar
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

This book was a tough read. I recommend everyone read it. I listened to it on audio and then ordered a physical copy to read again.

42 likes1 stack add
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Cosmos_Moon_River
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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1. Thailand
2. My job‘s stability and flexibility.

#ThankfulThursday
@Tonidreads328 @Bette @Lauredhel

caffeinated.wayfarer 1. Literally anywhere, but I‘d really like to go on my cancelled trip to the DRC. 2. I‘m 9.5 days away from having 15 days off of work. 4y
13 likes1 comment
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arlenefinnigan
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

This is a remarkable novel, and far from an easy read. An often brutal description of the racist violence in both the North and the South in mid 20th century America, the language is strikingly beautiful and evocative. I listened to it on audio and I have to admit I struggled to follow it a bit at times, especially the dream-like sequences. Well worth reading, probably better in print.

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WarandWar
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
Pickpick

A classic, with many rich characters and setting, told via first person perspective. It also speaks to black viewpoints on America. An incredible book. 5/5.

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Suet624
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Apparently Ellison began writing Invisible Man in a Vermont barn 75 years ago. For those who are interested, the local NPR just wrote an interesting piece about it. https://www.vpr.org/post/how-invisible-man-was-born-vermont-barn

vivastory Fascinating article! Thanks for posting. 4y
Leftcoastzen Wow , thank you for posting.Great piece. 4y
kspenmoll Thanks for posting! 4y
66 likes3 comments
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Iankayanja
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

This is one of the most simple lines in the book titled “Invisible Man.” Yet, it‘s power can not be understated. This book dives deep into the social issues that, I myself as a black man, have experienced and dealt with without knowing. Ellison provides this profound explanation as to how white society has made black people feel invisible. Ellison tells the truth of my liberation struggle in a world that denies my humanity.

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arlenefinnigan
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Next up, from Penguin's "20 to read before you turn 40" list #BlackLivesMatter

33 likes2 stack adds
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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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I can‘t believe I have not read this. It‘s time.

DGRachel It‘s been almost 30 years since I read it. I should pull it off my shelf and reread it... 4y
47 likes2 comments
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CorgiBooks
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

Excitable, intricate and piercing, Invisible Man breaks down the experiences of being black in a racist society. It tracks the Invisible Man as he moves from university in the Southern states to New York, and how the disenfranchised live in and think in different areas. A fantastic read, I‘m looking forward to doing my essay on it

4 likes1 stack add
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Chittavrtti
Invisible Man | Ralph Waldo Ellison

This may be the time I finish reading this classic

2 likes1 stack add
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MrBook
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Replenishment for my #BlackHistoryMonth Display! 😊

Have you read any of these?!

#LitsyLovesLibraries #MrBooksDisplays

Marni Homegoing is phenomenal 5y
Scochrane26 Love Homegoing & Hunger 5y
Graciouswarriorprincess I have read all of them and love each one! 5y
See All 9 Comments
wanderinglynn Invisible Man is a classic! What a fantastic novel. 5y
sblbooks No, but I'm planning on reading Homegoing this month. 5y
TheBookAddict I have not but they‘re in my TBR. 5y
TrishBovell Loved Homegoing! 5y
alisiakae I've read all 3 and loved each of them! 5y
meagankc21 Hunger is heartbreaking 💔 but sooooo good 5y
97 likes9 comments
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Nute
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Reading for the first time. Why now? Because I read a review the other day that said “as close as any writer has ever come to making the page feel like music.” Doesn‘t that pull at the soul? Doesn‘t that prompt an expectation of brilliance? Whatever it is, I‘m ready for it. He‘ll be the voice in the night. I‘ll be the listener. He‘ll tell his story. I‘ll go along for the journey. He‘ll be the teacher. I‘ll be the student.
#ReadSoulLit-Current Read

vivastory This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it 4 years ago and still think of it frequently. 5y
DGRachel I read this my senior year of high school and loved it. I really need to read it again. 5y
Hooked_on_books This is such a lovely post 🧡 5y
See All 10 Comments
Angitron Wonderful book! Enjoy! 5y
readordierachel That certainly does pull at the soul! And beautiful photo 😍 5y
Nute @vivastory It seems like it would be a book with a lasting impact. I‘m glad that I am going to finally know precisely ‘why.‘ 5y
Nute @DGRachel I don‘t know why this book didn‘t happen for me in high school. It‘s weird how varied Required Reading for English Literature Classes can be. I guess that it has a lot to do with teacher preferences. I‘m happy to be finally reading it now. 5y
Nute @Hooked_on_books Thank you!💕 5y
Nute @Angitron I‘m so excited to finally give all of my attention to this book! 5y
Nute @readordierachel Thank you!💕 5y
113 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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Emilymdxn
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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I‘m counting Invisible Man as my Classic for #jennyis30 - good progress so far in January! Excited to move on to the next prompt but not sure which one I‘ll do next. @jenniferw88

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Emilymdxn
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

1/15 #jumpstart2020 @Clwojick @StayCurious

Sometimes very brutal and difficult to read but always well-written, thoughtful, and trying to open our eyes our eyes to aspects of black people‘s lives in New York in the 50s. The MC‘s development and way of talking about himself, how the world changed him so slowly into someone so unrecognisable, will stay with me for a long time

89 likes2 stack adds
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Emilymdxn
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Audiowalk with Invisible Man to start the #jumpstart2020 readathon - I started this last year and gave up on it but gave it another go when it came up in the library and now I‘m loving it so much. Im not sure what‘s changed but I can‘t imagine how I ever bailed on it. I‘m walking to meet my friend for dinner rather than getting transport to save money so it‘s nice to get the reading time in! @Clwojick @Lizpixie

Lizpixie Looks like a lovely night for an audiowalk!🌙⭐️ 5y
marleed Such a beautiful night for a walk! 5y
teainthelibrary I love when that happens to me with books! I remember picking up East of Eden when I was a teenage and barely making it through the first couple of chapters. Picked it up again when I was in my twenties and it was a revelation. 5y
Clwojick Stunning! 5y
77 likes4 comments
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CafeMom
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

“And that I, a little black man with an assumed name should die because a big black man in his hatred and confusion over the nature of a reality that seemed controlled solely by white men whom I knew to be as blind as he, was just too much, too outrageously absurd.”

A thought provoking book but not an uplifting one. #1001books

jewright Heart-breaking book 5y
16 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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twohectobooks
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Mehso-so

So listen, I think this is probably a good book, I just found it kind of long winded and confusing a lot of the time. It‘s ALSO really impactful. The opening chapter featuring a “battle royal” is jaw dropping. I am behind on reviews and actually read this right after Native Son, which was well worth it to be able to see the progress and lack thereof between the two novels and today. #modernlibrarytop100

twohectobooks I should add that an unarmed black man is shot and killed in this novel and it feels way too relevant to our current times. 5y
18 likes1 comment
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Creme_de_la_them
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Pickpick

It‘s going to take me a while to process this one. There were parts I understood and parts I doubt I ever will, but my main takeaway is how little has changed since 1947, specifically in regards to racial justice and the value or visibility of black lives.

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MelissaSue81
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Kind of a “meh” #bookhaul from the library discard sale. Excited to own Fangirl..Haven‘t read the rest but have been wanting to.

gradcat Not so “meh,”—you‘ve got some really good ones here! ♥️ 📚 5y
MelissaSue81 @gradcat - I did good quality wise.. just a tad disappointed at the quantity. It started Thursday and I couldn‘t make it until today. Usually I go on the first day and get a whole bag full. 5y
gradcat Oh, now I understand...but you did get excellent books in terms of quality, at least, as you say! Happy reading, 📖! 5y
63 likes1 stack add3 comments
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twohectobooks
Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison
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Sunday morning reading in bed.