Reading Challenges: Ellison's Invisible Man

A few things to consider as we crack open Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, a daunting yet rewarding read. Be aware of the following:

LENGTH AND DEPTH

This book requires reading stamina.
This book requires multiple readings of key passages.
This book requires diligence in working with symbolism, allusion, and historical context.
This book requires patience, because we will not absorb everything.

HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE

Familiarizing ourselves with the historical context of this book is critically important to fully understanding and appreciating Ellison's ideas:
-1940s and '50s America
-Booker T. Washington
-The Harlem Renaissance
-Louis Armstrong and jazz
-Communism and the Red Scare
-More...

And please have a working definition of motif handy as we will encounter several recurring motifs as early as the Prologue. Printed right there on the page. In black and white.

I am pumped for this book!