Customer Reviews

Invisible Life: A Novel

5 star:		(86)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

In his first book Invisible Life, the author E. Lynn Harris introduced me to a world which before this was truly invisible and unknown to me. The chronicle of Raymond over a number of years described not only the life of a black man but one who was bisexual as well. Meeting Raymond Daly first as a young Southern college student deeply involved in a heterosexual relationship with his college sweetheart, to the days of his affair with a gay black man and then a black actress, to an acquiantance dying of AIDS, this book is especially memorable and poignant. It isn't any wonder then, that by the end of the book Ray is beset with uncertainties as to his sexuality. Pressure from his family not to even think of himself as a homosexual, hiding his bisexuality from the stodgy law firm he works for and then meeting a beautiful black actress who falls in love with him, by the books end, Ray must finally decide to consider the direction of his realtionships and his sexual life.

I found this book to be an easy read. Perhaps a bit too easy. It only took me les than a day to finish the book and at times I found the writing was like a very long coversation, instead of a novel. Despite this The characters were finely drwan and I am looking forward to reading the next two books in this series to see the final decisions Ray makes regarding his life.

If you have ever been curious about the life of a gay African American man, this book, and the rest of E. Lynn Harris' books, will enlighten you. Aside from the description of this book as the "Literary equivalent of cotton-candy" and the use of "homophobic" language, as one reader described, Mr. Harris' books give you a wonderful look at the lives of men who could be your brother, cousin, uncle or friend.

I grew up with a gay brother, with whom I had never discussed his sexuality (although it was never a secret). I grew up knowing his gay friends, caucasion and African American, and I have never met a more loving and caring group of people. They are just like you and me, but for their sexual orientation. I would like to thank Mr. Harris for humanizing the homosexual population, in a way that no one has before.

I discussed this book with my brother, just months before he lost his battle with AIDS. He told me how he was able to identify with some of the characters, as they resembled him and many of his friends. It was the only time that I ever discussed homosexuality with my brother.

Thank you Mr. Harris, for opening the door for that discussion. It is a discussion I will cherish for the rest of my life, as I will your books. Your books give me a chance to see what life must have been like through my brother's eyes. Please keep telling your stories!!

I though Eric Jerome Dickey was my favorite author of all times but, I think he has met his match. I went to the store to buy some new books and picked up this new book by E. Lynn Harris "Not a day goes by". I read it and it was one of the best books I have ever read, that was until someone from my job told me that he had four other books prior to this one. So far I have read Invisible Life and my favorite of all times ever "Just As I Am." If anyone has had someone that they love died of AIDS, this book will have you crying uncontrollably when a certain person dies in the book from AIDS. I am kind of feel bad to say this but, I did not look or treat homosexuals, lesbians and bisexual people in the way that they should be treated, in other words just like straight people. I also used the words queer, fag the list goes on and on. I know now how stupid I must have appeared to some people. After reading this book, I now know that some people that I hang around everyday could be bisexual and the things that I said probably have hurt them. So to everyone that I have disrespected, I AM TRULY SORRY, and that includes my uncle who has passed away. Even though I would never said anything bad about him but, disrespecting his sexuality through other people is just as bad. I am sorry that it took such a good book for me to learn how ignorant that I have been!

This is NOT great writing, or even good writing. I swear I'm not making the following sentence up: "I reclined back in the seat and noticed that the bright yellow sun, ivory clouds and incandescent blue sky looked like a fried egg on an ocean-blue plate." And there are plenty more arch sentences and odd descriptions like that throughout the book. More disturbing to me than the fact that Mr Harris' readers don't possess the critical faculties to recognize dreck is the fact that his first three books are peppered with homophobic language. Gays, other than the main character who's ostensibly wrestling with his bisexuality, are routinely referred to by the writer and his characters alike as sissies. Do yourself a favor, buy something by James Baldwin.

This was my first E. Lynn book and I'll confess it was because of what I heard about the subject matter. However, after reading for myself, I must say that I was captivated and thoroughly enjoyed the story. The author was able to get me to put my own personal feelings aside and get caught up in the realistic characters and storyline. Overall, the story had good flow. There were some minor spots where I wished for expansion on a character's emotion to get more understanding of their thoughts and/or feelings, but these spots were rare. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book.

Invisible Life was truly an eye opening and bold story. I read this book in a day! I just couldn't put it down! From page one I was pulled in and left wanting more. This story introduced us to characters such as Raymond, Sela, Basil, Kelvin, Kyle, Nicole and Candance to name a few. The choices and paths they choose to take and how they affect the ones they love. The story also shows how secrets infest and destroy relationships. It's a story that sheds light on gay men and the lifestyle they lead. You're able to get a better understanding of these men and their world. This book showed me that regardless of our sexual desires, we're all human with needs, fears and desires. I know men who've struggled with their sexuality and what's "politically correct", according to society. I'm glad E.Lynn Harris gave a voice to this world and showed us the good, the bad and ugly. This is thought provoking novel your's sure to enjoy. Thanks E.Lynn for a wonderful book on a beauitful morning.

As someone deeply interested in the writings of people of all colors, lifestyles and interests, I looked forward to getting insight into a bi-sexual African American man's life in modern America. This book was so disappointing !! Although the storyline was facinating and had great potential, the writing style was atrocious - amateurish (like that of an 8th grade expressive writing class) superficial, and full of silly cliches "The party lasted until the wee hours of the morning,..." "When I looked up at him, my mouth dropped open." "We tossed and rolled with each other until our bodies seemed to be intertwined." etc. etc. ....give me a break !! And the author didn't really address how Raymond FELT in a meaningful way ! Harris mentions the internal conflicts, but doesn't say much else. I don't know if I'll read the sequel. Did anyone else feel this way ?!?

Invisible Life was a true page-turner. I couldn't put the book down. I read this book in 2 days. The story although it was fiction opened my eyes to the possibility that there are alot of bi-sexual men. As I read I kept saying to myself, I don't want to know these things, however I couln't stop reading. Curiosity kept me turning the pages. Invisible Life delves into a world that most of us merely wonder about. It tells the story of one man coming to terms with his sexuality. He has always been attracted to women, however one night while in college, he has a sexual encounter with a man. He seems surprised that he actually did and liked such an encounter. I would recommend this book as a good read.

I'm torn.

I should start out by saying the book grabbed me. I finished it in two days. I liked the story, even though I could relate to only certain aspects of the main character's "struggle." (I am a gay white man.) I'm anxious to read "Just As I Am" -- in fact, I started it this morning.

On the other hand, the writing felt so amateurish at times, it was completely distracting. The phrase "piping hot," as in coffee, comes to mind as an overused and unimaginitive adjective. I get it. Coffee is hot.

Each time a new character was introduced, his or her skin color was likened to a biscuit, a bag, or oatmeal. I am at least peripherally aware of racism based on skin color among the black community, but the author never followed through. No relevance was revealed.

As it turned out, each character might as well have been "piping hot." Now there's some character development.

I just don't get it -- or maybe I do. Harris writes about confused black bisexual men and that makes some straight sisters and white folks comfortable. I could not relate to this book at all. Someone had the gall to call it "afrocentric"? There ain't a thing about it that is -- unless one views portraying African-American men as sexually schizophrenic, emotionally empty, and spiritually bankrupt as "afrocentric." The only real character in this book is Kyle, the Brother who has it together -- and, what do you know, he turns out to be a hustler! I know self-hate when I read it and I think Mr. harris just doesn't like being gay. A sad tale -- on more than one level. Where's James Earl Hardy when ya need him