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annelives's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
James Baldwin might be the best writer I've ever read. His writing is compelling and his characters feel real. He's able to do so much in each story. The short story is an art form and a lot writers can't do it well, because honestly it's hard to make a fully fledged story with well developed characters in 50 pages or less. Every story pulled the reader in, even when the actual plot is kind of mundane. Seriously good writing. I highly recommend the collection.
The Rock Pile - the last line literally gave me chills. Even though the scene ends there the line perfectly encapsulates what’s going to happen even though intentions aren’t clearly stated.
The Outing - there's a whole lot going on in this short story. Grappling with religion and romantic attraction. That fear of knowing you might be different but you're not quite sure what it means. There's a hint of parental abuse as well. It honestly feels like a snapshot in time.
The Man Child - throughout the story there's this underlying tension between the adult characters and a child who is trying to make sense of what's going on around him. We're mostly in the child"s thoughts throughout which is especially horrifying towards the end. Like the atmosphere in this short story builds to where you know something is off and you're waiting in dread for something horrific to happen, but when it does finally happen you're still not quite ready.
Previous Condition - this short story is just so fucking sad because of how so little has actually changed. You feel the protagonist's anger, fear, and utter exhaustion as he tries to just exist in a world that makes it so difficul for black people to exist. I teared up multiple times at his desperation and an agony he couldn't adequately explain to his white Jewish friends, who could understand oppression and prejudice, but couldn't truly understand being black in America. How you can't hide from it and pass as white. How the system is suffocating and all around him. The isolation and loneliness reaches out from the page. It's heartbreaking.
Sonny's Blues - this is the first of the stories in here where I feel like there is some hope. Although I feel like it wouldn't quite fit with the rest of the stories if that hope wasn't ambiguous and fragile, like it could be taken away at anytime. The Man knows how to write. The complicated feelings and guilt between siblings and the effects addiction has on everyone. Also, the way he describes the jazz being performed at the end almost as a conversation and story is perfect.
This Morning, This Evening, So soon - Baldwin writes emotions and lived experiences so well. I love how love and family is portrayed in this short story. It's everything love and family should be, but realistically portrayed.
The exploration of black identity and how it compares to France and America while also exploring the tense relations between the Arabs and Frence was interesting. The complexity of the relationships between the protagonist who is a black American, who has found freedom in France, and a white Frenchman, and Tunisian Arab was fascinating. How the protagonist was kind of in the middle of these two groups and kind of had a loyalty to both.
Baldwin is really good at taking a normal everyday scenario and giving it so much weight and meaning even though it still remains ordinary. Like these two things exist at once.
Coming Out the Wilderness - The internalized misogyny and shame the heroine is dealing with is awful. I honestly just want to give her a hug and tell her she's worth so much more than how any of these men see her or even how she sees herself. I really wish there was a more hopeful ending to this one.
I can't decide if Baldwin recognized the double standards that his female protagonist is held to or not. I don't know enough about how he viewed women, particularly black women who are in interracial relationships, to really understand what he was trying to say with this character.
In the last short story the male protagonist is in an interracial relationship and there's no sense of shame with it. However. The protagonist was concerned when his white French friend and Arab friend were interested in a black woman they had all just met. Even the protagonist didn't quite understand why he was disturbed by it. So it does make me wonder if there's some hang ups there by the author. I'll need to read more by him to see if this perception has merit.
Like everything so far it's well written and compelling. You feel with each of his protagonists.
Going to Meet the Man - the amount of vitriol in this protagonist's mind is repulsive. Like the amount of hate and abuse he espouses, and knowing it was the norm (and for some people still is). That he has power over people is infuriating.
The description of the abuse black people endured while protesting for their human rights was hard to read. It's eerily familiar to how cops still deal with those protesting like during the BLM protests and now with the Pro-Palestinian protests. That so very little has actually changed with how law enforcement polices black, brown, and poor bodies is literally a crime against humanity.
Also, how he uses music throughout this story to help weave everything together is such good storytelling. He's also really good at using flashbacks where it flows seamlessly with the present.
Speaking of flashbacks, the one in this story was hard to get through. So much violence and hate. This was the hardest story to get through, and that's saying something considering how some of the other stories ended.
The Rock Pile - the last line literally gave me chills. Even though the scene ends there the line perfectly encapsulates what’s going to happen even though intentions aren’t clearly stated.
The Outing - there's a whole lot going on in this short story. Grappling with religion and romantic attraction. That fear of knowing you might be different but you're not quite sure what it means. There's a hint of parental abuse as well. It honestly feels like a snapshot in time.
The Man Child - throughout the story there's this underlying tension between the adult characters and a child who is trying to make sense of what's going on around him. We're mostly in the child"s thoughts throughout which is especially horrifying towards the end. Like the atmosphere in this short story builds to where you know something is off and you're waiting in dread for something horrific to happen, but when it does finally happen you're still not quite ready.
Previous Condition - this short story is just so fucking sad because of how so little has actually changed. You feel the protagonist's anger, fear, and utter exhaustion as he tries to just exist in a world that makes it so difficul for black people to exist. I teared up multiple times at his desperation and an agony he couldn't adequately explain to his white Jewish friends, who could understand oppression and prejudice, but couldn't truly understand being black in America. How you can't hide from it and pass as white. How the system is suffocating and all around him. The isolation and loneliness reaches out from the page. It's heartbreaking.
Sonny's Blues - this is the first of the stories in here where I feel like there is some hope. Although I feel like it wouldn't quite fit with the rest of the stories if that hope wasn't ambiguous and fragile, like it could be taken away at anytime. The Man knows how to write. The complicated feelings and guilt between siblings and the effects addiction has on everyone. Also, the way he describes the jazz being performed at the end almost as a conversation and story is perfect.
This Morning, This Evening, So soon - Baldwin writes emotions and lived experiences so well. I love how love and family is portrayed in this short story. It's everything love and family should be, but realistically portrayed.
The exploration of black identity and how it compares to France and America while also exploring the tense relations between the Arabs and Frence was interesting. The complexity of the relationships between the protagonist who is a black American, who has found freedom in France, and a white Frenchman, and Tunisian Arab was fascinating. How the protagonist was kind of in the middle of these two groups and kind of had a loyalty to both.
Baldwin is really good at taking a normal everyday scenario and giving it so much weight and meaning even though it still remains ordinary. Like these two things exist at once.
Coming Out the Wilderness - The internalized misogyny and shame the heroine is dealing with is awful. I honestly just want to give her a hug and tell her she's worth so much more than how any of these men see her or even how she sees herself. I really wish there was a more hopeful ending to this one.
I can't decide if Baldwin recognized the double standards that his female protagonist is held to or not. I don't know enough about how he viewed women, particularly black women who are in interracial relationships, to really understand what he was trying to say with this character.
In the last short story the male protagonist is in an interracial relationship and there's no sense of shame with it. However. The protagonist was concerned when his white French friend and Arab friend were interested in a black woman they had all just met. Even the protagonist didn't quite understand why he was disturbed by it. So it does make me wonder if there's some hang ups there by the author. I'll need to read more by him to see if this perception has merit.
Like everything so far it's well written and compelling. You feel with each of his protagonists.
Going to Meet the Man - the amount of vitriol in this protagonist's mind is repulsive. Like the amount of hate and abuse he espouses, and knowing it was the norm (and for some people still is). That he has power over people is infuriating.
The description of the abuse black people endured while protesting for their human rights was hard to read. It's eerily familiar to how cops still deal with those protesting like during the BLM protests and now with the Pro-Palestinian protests. That so very little has actually changed with how law enforcement polices black, brown, and poor bodies is literally a crime against humanity.
Also, how he uses music throughout this story to help weave everything together is such good storytelling. He's also really good at using flashbacks where it flows seamlessly with the present.
Speaking of flashbacks, the one in this story was hard to get through. So much violence and hate. This was the hardest story to get through, and that's saying something considering how some of the other stories ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Torture
The last story is pretty graphic and most of the content warning tags I used is because of this story.seasonedreadings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Murder
Minor: Drug use
frankiereadstoomuch's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Required reading for a literature class
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Child death, Racial slurs, Drug abuse, Classism, Violence, Body horror, Grief, Racism, and Hate crime
bibliorama's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
James Baldwin is a great writer and he makes it easy to fall into the narrative of each short story. You know it's interesting when it has me googling articles for the summaries and meanings to each story like I'm back in school. I can tell this one will get better upon rereads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, and Addiction
elchivovivo's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Beautiful mid XX century american prose.
Baldwin’s plots move forward like a river, and also like a river, they plunge into depths, pausing like whirlpools into the souls of character or into deep insights contained in the scenes.
Baldwin’s plots move forward like a river, and also like a river, they plunge into depths, pausing like whirlpools into the souls of character or into deep insights contained in the scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
asililydying's review
3.75
Sonny's Blues and Previous Condition are my favorites, Going To Meet The Man itself as a story may be the most disgusting thing I have ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Child death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexism, Child abuse, Cursing, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Murder, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Classism, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, Violence, Gore, Racism, and Genocide
micha_reads's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
The first couple of stories were pretty slow and I had trouble connecting with the religious themes. The other stories were quite different, with complex and conflicted characters. Really happy to have gotten such a wide sampling of Baldwin's work as I had only read two of his novels before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Murder, Sexism, Police brutality, and Racism
oddreads_nicolestins's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wonderful collection. Short but heavy!
My favorites were:
The Outing
This Morning, This Evening, So Soon
Come Out the Wilderness
Going to Meet the Man (destroyed me- then made me angry- then made me sick)
My favorites were:
The Outing
This Morning, This Evening, So Soon
Come Out the Wilderness
Going to Meet the Man (destroyed me- then made me angry- then made me sick)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
Minor: Drug abuse and Domestic abuse
piperclover's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Read for school and have no idea how to rate
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Police brutality
rzh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
as with most short story collections, this is difficult to review. the very medium itself preempts a “mixed bag” of stories, either all too similar or inevitably containing a few duds. this is arguably even moreso the case with baldwin, who with his careful crafting of character and scene being one of the main reasons i fell in love with his writing, perhaps wouldn’t be able to develop those as well in a shorter medium. of course, his books are short anyway; but the characters are forged so lovingly and vividly in them that i wasn’t entirely sure if i was going to connect to the characters in his short stories as well as i did in his novels/novellas. well: i did! for the most part. each story feels like it is held together by a common thread: according to the blurb, the “role of inherited prejudice in shaping man’s destiny”: inevitably for a baldwin piece, this takes the shape of racism, sexism and homophobia. the family dynamics play a starring role in most of the stories, whether this be to the benefit of the characters in question or to their downfall. some stories give me echoes of baldwin’s other work, like the american in paris in “This Morning, This Evening” (a la Giovanni’s Room), the lament of sonny’s brother at his incarceration (a la If Beale Street Could Talk), and the church community with the closeted young boys in “The Outing” (a la Go Tell it On the Mountain”). though i understand that baldwin is want to explore the same themes throughout his work, i couldnt help but wish for a fresher perspective, rather than the same feelings and emotions over again.
the last eponymous story was absolutely haunting. the weakest stories, i felt, were “Previous Condition” and “Come Out the Wilderness”; which just felt like sketches at best. saying that, i do think baldwin is extraordinarily good at writing women and portraying women’s voices in general; the woman in the latter story felt uncharacteristically underdeveloped.
a mixed bag, but overall a good collection with a decent length for short stories: would recommend to someone who wants to dip their toe into short-form fiction. 3.75/5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs