I'm not able to say that I particularly LIKED this book, but I have to admit that the concept is compelling. I felt the narrator's point of view was hostile throughout, albeit mostly in his internal monologue, but still setting a tone of his expectation of encountering racism rather than any optimism that his interactions would be civil and color-blind. The fact that he blurted out an offensive statement seemed to me to be an intentional provocation. I'd like to read the rest of the book in the abstract, but I'm afraid it will engender a negative response overall.