Rating: 
Summary: Should have read this one before other works by Harris..
Review: Initially, I thought the story was a little too holsum, too slow... I thought maybe the lack of depth of the characters was due to this being one of his earlier works. However, as I continued, I must say I began to "feel" Raymond's struggle with his identity. This time, instead of wishing for a heterosexual outcome, I was actually hoping he'd settle for knowing himself. I'm certain the author knows what intricacies the "invisible life" presents in the makeup of the African American bi-sexual man. I have loved many gay men but not until this book can I say that I have had a better understanding of my own biases and perhaps even stereotypes. I am also convinced that I have also loved, not unknowingly but rather in spite of knowing, at least one bi-sexual man. My thanks and appreciation to the author for his exposure and creativity. I find all your work a "cannot put down". I do think your character development in other work is more developed. But I commend you on the love scenes and senuality found in INVISIBLE LIFE.
Rating:
Summary: Addictive yet questionable
Review: Once I started reading this book, I was hooked. However, it left too many questions unanswered. Harris should have worked harder to make Raymond's discovery of his sexuality more believable. I can't believe Raymond, for those many years, being around all of those guys, never had homosexual tendancies. I just don't believe that. There should have been some precurser to make this realization more believable. The other issue that I questioned was Nicole and her insecurities regarding the way she looked. For someone who had so many complexes about her appearance, why would she even enter a beauty contest. It didn't make sense. Harris got off track with this one. Either she didn't think she was beautiful, or she did.With those two issues out of the way, the book still made for interesting and enlightening reading.
Rating: 
Summary: PREACHING, PREACHING, PREACHING
Review: I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF MR. HARRIS BOOKS, THIS WAS THE LEAST AMUSING. AT TIMES I FELT AS THOUGHT I WERE READING A LECTURE. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DEBTH TO THE CHARACTERS AND SEVERAL IMPORTANT ISSUES WERE RUSHED THROUGH. THE AIDS EPIDEMIC HAS BEEN BEAT TO DEATH. THE BOOK WAS RUSHED AND THE ENDING WAS ABRUPT.
Rating: 
Summary: Seems like it was written in a week...
Review: Mr. Harris should get at least two stars for effort. He tried. But he sacrificed the plot and important details for his descriptions. Some of them are very nice, some cliche. I think what needed attention was the fact that Raymond, after years of liking women, suddenly is attracted to men. More insight and more of his feelings were needed to make this 'transition' feel more real. It felt glossed over, as though Harris was in a hurry to finish the book. And his relationship with Nicole felt rushed--I think there needed to be more to it, so that I could actually feel something when it breaks down.If you want a better read of a confused homosexual boy, try Shyam Selvduari's Funny Boy. (Note to the reviewer from Georgia--God is LOVE. And it isn't up to you to judge. We ALL sin.)
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Writing, but Pretty Pointless
Review: E. Lynn Harris is possibly the most successful current author in gay America. I recently read "Invisible Life," which was his first book, to see what all the fuss was about. Having read it, I still don't know. It is a nice try, but it fails to impress. To give Harris his due, he does have a certain flair for the art of prose portraiture. The shapes of eyes, noses, and mouths are all clearly described. He paints his characters' skin tones with a sensual palate of warm, edible colors such as "cocoa", "cinnamon", "coffee", "pecan", and even "yellowish brown waffle." Disappointingly, he exercises his descriptive skill only on faces. The bodies below those faces are strangely ignored. In the few brief sex scenes, for example, Raymond (the narrator) primly refers to his penis as "my sex." His partners -- both male and female -- barely seem to have bodies at all. Descriptions of places and things are also omitted, which leaves the characters to act on a bare stage. This would be fine if the characters had any depth, but unfortunately they don't. Their inner lives get even less detailed treatment than their bodies do. Raymond's father, for example, is depicted as a brooding homophobe in one extended scene, and then he disappears for 127 pages. When he returns, he has been transformed into the very picture of puzzled yet genuine parental love. How did this remarkable change of heart come about? We don't know -- Harris doesn't say. As a second example, Raymond gets a shock when his closest friend reveals that he is both an alcoholic and a crack addict. IN THE VERY SAME PARAGRAPH, though, the friend agrees to enter a rehab program. How did he fall into such a pit? Why did he decide to climb out? We don't know -- Harris doesn't say. Raymond himself is simultaneously dating a married man and a devout Christian woman. To say that this situation raises explosive issues would be an understatement, but Harris explores none of them. For the sake of the woman, Raymond even has himself baptized, and he is apparently sincere about it at the time. An event of this magnitude deserves a whole chapter at least -- but Harris passes over it in a just one sentence. In sum, his characters are cardboard cutouts -- although beautiful ones -- moving on strings through a meaningless plot. It is possible that Harris achieves some depth later in the series, but "Invisible Life" does not inspire me to find out.
Rating:
Summary: A Really Good Read
Review: In my opinion, I think this book really power-points the key issues that bisexuals face in their relationships and lives. The author explains how people that you love reacts to your sexuality by thinking that it's a choice but is really the way you feel inside. And even though you have a different preferences than everyone else that doesn't mean that you are going to change who you are as a person. Let's just say that E. Lynne Harris can related to what others are feeling by making fictional caharacters so we can learn from it. That book really changed my life. I really want to Thank Mr. Harris for writing such a good book.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Storyline Does Not Make A Good Book
Review: Let me start by saying that I have read several of Harris's books. They are easy reads and somewhat amusing. The storylines are really good (gay African-American men are not what we usually thing about when we think of homosexuality), the characters have their moments, but the writing needs work. I will admitt that after reading the book I did go through a moment of thought and I looked at relationships a little differently. Maybe that is what Harris wanted and if that is the case he did it. I can't rate the book any higher because there are so many books that can make you look at life differently with a beautiful writing style.
Rating: 
Summary: If it doesnt vex your Spirit, your Holy Ghost isnt working!
Review: I am appalled. Although this book is fictional, I can sense from other reviews that the gay community considers this a milestone for their kind and even some heterosexuals feel that they have been "informed" by this work. People...I love you my brothers & my sisters and so does God, but the time has come for us to stop sugar-coating this action and call it what it is-- SIN. God loves you, but he hates sin. God calls this action an abomination/detestable, and those that practice such shall not enter the kingdom of God. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap. He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.-Galatians 6:7&8 This book made me nauseous. I only continued reading because it was chosen for our book club and I felt the need to be able to make an informed contribution to the discussion. But afterwards, I felt the need to repent before God for allowing such garbage to enter into my Spirit. If another of Harris' books is chosen, I will have to pass on that particular meeting. We can not consider this garbage an educational experience of the plight of the black, gay male, but rather since it appears to portray some truth concerning our African American males, it should cause the Christian community to fall down on their faces in prayer and intercede for our brothers. Don't hear me wrong, I know that sexual encounters outside of marriage is SIN whether it be carried out by heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual individuals. However, this action in particular is not an alternative lifestlye, but is a result of God turning man over to a reprobate or morally unprincipled mindset because of our disobedience toward him. This isn't just my view, but it is supported from the book of Romans 1:24-32. It even goes so far as to say that those who approve of others practicing this lifestlye, even if we are not practicing it ourselves, are also wrong. So there you go heteros who think this is just good entertainment. People, the good news is that God wants to deliver you from this sinful lifestyle and no matter how long you've been tricked by the devil into thinking this lifestlye is appropriate, Jesus can still help you. He's coming back for a people without a spot or wrinkle of which homosexuality and sexual perversion is included. It's not too late. Don't be "Left Behind" try reading this book coauthered by Tim Lahaye & Jerry Jenkins. The lifestyle that this book encourages, that of a child of God, is the appropriate "Alternative Lifestyle". My prayer is that God will open your eyes to the truth. God Bless,
Rating: 
Summary: A Non-Stop Page Turner
Review: This book makes you gasp with shock, yet laugh with joy. It touches upon all of the human senses. I could not put it down. There was no waiting for the next exciting dilema, from page to page this book had drama. In addition, it was very, very informative and educational. I was introduced to another aspect of sexual expression that I felt existed, but E Lynn confirmed. Thanks Mr. Harris for putting it all into proper perspective.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful, captivating and an inspirational book...
Review: "Just as I am".... this book reaches out to each of us, whether heterosexual or homosexual, because all of us wants to be accepted just as we are. Not only is this book entertaining, it shows most of us what black gay/ bisexual men go through. Although exceptions may apply. I fully enjoyed this book because it touched upon the issues of sexual identity, relationshps, AIDS, coping with grief, Friendship, love, honesty and prayer and faith.
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