Invisible Life

By E. Lynn Harris

Book Overview

The re-issue of a remarkable first novel by a young, gay, black author who fashioned a deeply moving and compelling coming of age story out of the highly controversial issues of bisexuality and AIDS.

Law school, girlfriends, and career choices were all part of Raymond Tyler's life, but there were other, more terrifying issues for him to confront. Being black was tough enough, but Raymond was becoming more and more conscious of sexual feelings that he knew weren't "right." He was completely committed to Sela, his longtime girlfriend, but his attraction to Kelvin, whom he had met during his last year in law school, had become more than just a friendship.

Fleeing to New York to escape both Sela and Kelvin, Raymond finds himself more confused than ever before. New relationships--both male and female--give him enormous pleasure but keep him from finding the inner peace and lasting love he so desperately desires. The horrible illness and death of a friend eventually force Raymond, at last, to face the truth.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385469683
• ISBN13: 9780385469685
• Release Date: February 1994
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

I love this book!

I loved it from beginning to end! A must read for all E. Lynn Harris fans.

The First of Many Blessings

This is the first book of E. Lynn Haris' Invisble Life series. They are all wonderful. You will fall in love with most and hate some of the characters but that is what makes this series so good. I've purchased everyone of his books except for his memoir which I've read. All but "If This World Were Mine" and "And This Two shall Pass" are part of the series, but Mr. Basil with his fine behind is in every one. I've read this book and all the other twice that is just how good this is. Buy or read them all. You won't be disapointed.

EYE OPENING and POWERFUL. Looking for the movie

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.

Informative & Colorful

These are the words that I would use to describe this novel. This book opens the invisible door of the invisible life to let the reader have a peek and see what is on the other side. I have known several gay people in my life and though I realized that things are hard for them, I never realized how complicated life can be for gay males. I never realized that there are so many undercover African-American gay men. From Harris' descriptions, some of these characters can be your brother, son, father, boyfriend, or husband and you would never even know it. For those unfamiliar with the Invisible Life, Harris' novel is a creative and colorful eye-opener. When you finish a good piece of literary material you are supposed to walk away with something. If the novel doesn't change you or touch part of your soul that you never knew existed - it isn't a good novel. This one is. This novel blends its cocoa colored characters, whose conflicting and powerful emotions keep the reader racing to finish pages, and the very real and painful lifestyle of the black male in America.If you have never read any books about homosexuality or bisexuality, read this one. It will inform you and keep you entertained. The bible does prohibit homosexuality , but it also says love thy neighbor as thyself. The best way to begin to love someone is to understand them. If you want to really grow intellectually and spritually, read this book. It is one of the greats.

A real eye-opener!!

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!!