This classic exploration of blackness in America tracks the psychological progression of an unnamed narrator as he grapples with the way he sees himself and others see him. The novel is broken into episodes, some of which shine more than others. Ellison's writing is powerful and visceral. I do feel that the narrative suffers a bit due to the multitude of characters and length of the novel, but all of the components are significant in terms of philosophy even if they do little to serve the plot. I'm so glad I read this.