Reviews

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

jfcoombs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Rape and Hate crime

Minor: Death of parent

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

This is the 2nd book that I've read by James Baldwin. I read Giovanni's Room a few years ago and liked it.

Go Tell it on the Mountain is Baldwin's first novel and is set in Harlem in the 1930's and centers around an African-American family. It is John Grimes 14th birthday and he is overwhelmed by his father Gabriel, who is a church leader. A lot of the book is about John struggling with and trying to find his faith. John lives under the shadow of his father who preaches that anything John finds pleasurable (movies, hanging out with friends etc.) is a sin and that John's soul needs to be saved. The book flashes back to other's in John's life, such as his father. Gabriel puts a lot of pressure on his family to be good and faithful, however Gabriel himself is far from perfect. He beats his boys when he believes they've done wrong. He is not the best spouse...and more.

I am glad that I read this and it wasn't too much of a challenge. There were a lot of references to the bible and religion. I am not super religious so I was a bit unsure going into this based on what I'd read in reviews about it being a lot about religion, but for me, it wasn't too much. It worked with the story.

This book counts towards the Book Riot Read Harder 2020 Challenge Task #11: a debut novel by a queer author

quaintmetropolis's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Go Tell It on the Mountain is James Baldwin’s semi-autobiographical first novel about a day in the 14 year-old life of John Grimes. John struggles living with his volatile preacher stepfather while contemplating his role as a first-generation Northerner in Harlem, where sin seems to steam off the pavement. 

 

The structure of the book greatly impressed me. All spanning in the course of a single day, we not only get John’s POV, but enter his aunt, stepfather, and mother’s prayers while they attend evening service. This structure emphasized the aloneness one can feel within a community. While John’s sections are firmly rooted in the present, each family member’s prayers jolt us through their memories. This distinguished how his family coming from the Jim Crow south, still carry their fear and shame in their bones; it suffocates them. John, however, is able to choose whether he’ll continue to be suffocated or if he’ll pave a new way.

Starting and ending the novel with John’s perspective and even bouncing around the other characters in the present was particularly brilliant and cinematic. You’re acutely aware of the differing reading experience after hearing everyone’s stories.

 

The complexities and nuances of religion and race is propulsive and intense, almost reading like a sermon at times. Everyone’s thoughts are riddled with a fear and anxiety over the sins they’ve committed and the powerlessness they feel walking in their skin. Such powerlessness leads them to constant thoughts of hate and violence towards others and themselves. This sometimes made the reading experience challenging and exhausting, which I believe is the point, but did sometimes prevent me from picking it up as often. 

 

My favorite of the POV’s was actually Elizabeth’s. It’s the only time we see pure love and happiness unsuppressed. Her love for Richard and John, a child born from love, was such a stark contrast to the obligatory and hateful relationships of the other characters. This is equally what made her section particularly heartbreaking because of the loveless, punishing place she and John end up.

 

This experience was unlike any other I’ve read. Looking forward to next reading The Fire Next Time. 

alinaisuninspired's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

kekehansen's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

wethecenter's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.0

novelnopalito's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

molly_cahill's review against another edition

4.5

I’ve been in a big reading slump this April! And I don’t think it actually had to do with this book.

I preferred Giovanni’s Room for sure, but Baldwin is great and I see the importance of this one for him and in making sense of his family story. Really interesting perspective exercise going on here with the flashbacks from the POVs of the adult family members. 

I wish I had gotten a more continuous reading experience with this one, and maybe will pick it up again at some point to try to do that.

upsidedown10's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book was so poetically written. I think that the actual writing was the highlight of the book. The intricate character narratives and the way that the point of view moved around were also very interesting. I didn't fully connect with the themes for this one because I was not raised in a religous household, so I feel like it would be much more powerful for others.

flamingo_and_owl_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25