Invisible Man - WritingForums.com - Writing Forums, Writing Challenges, Critiques and Help for Writers

Dr. Malone · 01-11-2009, 03:14 AM

Thoughts on this? I think most people read it in highschool, but I'm just now getting around to it. Ellison seems to go from shocking action and story telling to drawn out, although beautifully written, boring, narratives. This book is kind of a prime example of cutting out the boring stuff and leaving in the good. I guess that's relative, but I think this book could have been better with one-hundred less pages.

RyeCatcher24 · 01-17-2009, 09:59 AM

Honestly, I couldn't agree more. I read it in college actually and when I said something similar I was told it was over my head. It was a beautifully written book but I felt that at some point some of his experiences took away from the story.

I still love this book and have read through it three times but I definitely agree with your point.

oxumoron · 01-17-2009, 10:59 AM

Do you mean "Invisible Man" by Herbert Wells?

RyeCatcher24 · 01-18-2009, 09:29 PM

No it's actually the one written by Ralph Ellison.

Dr. Malone · 01-19-2009, 10:13 AM

It's a social commentary on race in America, not science fiction about literal invisible men.

jmascia · 01-23-2009, 08:57 AM

I also think the book could have been much shorter. You are absolutely correct when you say that there is just too many long and boring narratives in the novel. The same message could still be sent to the readers without them.