So we have finally moved on to the non-canonical novels of the course and I couldn’t be any happier. From the novel I read with my group and the novel we are currently reading “Invisible Man,” I feel as though these pieces of literature have so much more to offer then those that belong to the canon. So far each novel has something that more realistically relates to the average american then the canonical books we have read so far. Its more real life to me, in “their eyes are watching god” the main character struggles for independence, she also deals with emotional abuse from one of her husbands and has to deal with a death of a loved one.
Now in Invisible Man, its quite a different story. The main character who is nameless so far has to deal with the struggle of being black in a “pro-white society.” From the start of the novel, his grandfathers dieing words were to basically do anything to please the white people. Well not exactly “anything,” but just don’t go against what they have to say. Basically what we talked about in class “kill them with kindness” The rest of the chapters are really sickening that follow, especially the battle scene, where the blacks were forced to fight one another with blindfolds and then fight for money(which we later find out is fake) while being electrocuted. The narrator gets kicked out of college without him even knowing it over something that wasn’t his fault entirely (the whole true blood incident where Norton goes into shock about the incest and Bledsloe blames it entirely on the narrator) and then Bledsloe forces the narrator to leave the college to work and if he does so he is welcomed back. Little does the narrator know that he wont be welcomed back and the letters of recommendation that he was sent away with reveal this to the readers.
So, we are kind of half way into this novel and I find it to be really interesting, and to be a much easier read then past pieces of canonical literature we have read such as “the sound and the fury.” Although at points, I just want to shut the book and we like “ew gross” I still find it really intriguing to read, especially because I feel as though some Americans can relate to it.(well maybe older Americans that have possibly experienced the cruel treatment that used to happen way back in the day).Its way more realistic then “the great Gatsby.” And thus far, am enjoying reading the book.
froglover Said:
on March 22, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I absolutly agree with you. This book is so much easier to read then some of the other ones. Our reading group books and this book is absolutly more real life and more a representation of what things are really like.
Rebecca Said:
on March 23, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I totally agree with you that this book is a lot more intersting to read. I too feel like some of the parts really gross me out, but at the same time you feel as though you have to keep reading to find out what happens. I think there are people who can relate to this book possibly elder people who may have experienced, but there are still a lot of race problems today in somet places, so maybe even people today can sort of relate to the book, hopefully not as well though. I am not sure what else is going to happen in the book, it is sort of unpredictable which makes me want to keep reading, unlike some of the canonical books we’ve read.
Tammy LaBello Said:
on March 23, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I agree with you that this book is easier to read and more interesting than some of the other books we have had to read. I think that this book as long with the other non-canonical books should be in the canon list because they deal with a lot of themes and interesting topics. I think that this book’s major theme is rasicm and how the narrator deals with that throughout the book.