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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
4.5*
"In that gesture, that look upward, with the light so briefly on his face, she saw the bones that held his face together and the sorrow beginning to corrode his brow, the blood beating like butterfly wings against the cage of his heavy neck. But there was no name for something blind, cruel, lustful, lost, intolerably vulnerable in his eyes and mouth. She knew that in spite of everything, his colour, his power or his coming fame, he was lost. He did not know what had happened to his life. And never would."
The only writer who can make me tear up instantly. Master of prose indeed.
"In that gesture, that look upward, with the light so briefly on his face, she saw the bones that held his face together and the sorrow beginning to corrode his brow, the blood beating like butterfly wings against the cage of his heavy neck. But there was no name for something blind, cruel, lustful, lost, intolerably vulnerable in his eyes and mouth. She knew that in spite of everything, his colour, his power or his coming fame, he was lost. He did not know what had happened to his life. And never would."
The only writer who can make me tear up instantly. Master of prose indeed.
I've never felt the need to review a book on Goodreads before, but this book needs praise, and, more importantly, it needs attention.
After having read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, I was, despite the gloomy descriptions of black male life, uplifted. I never thought one could write such redeeming and beautiful prose on such an ugly and political topic. Naturally, I started looking at Coates' inspiration for writing this book, and who people compared him to. This very swiftly led me into the arms of James Baldwin, the collection of short stories I now hold in my hands, and many a night of intense, passionate reading. I fucking love this one.
Alright, so what's so great about it, you ask? Well, above this paragraph I wanted to insert a short, fancy quote, which seems to be the thing to do. I looked through the pages I've highlighted and found the shortest quote. It's about ten lines. And this is the thing, for me, about Baldwin's prose, which is so fantastically can't-keep-my-arms-down, screaming-at-the-top-of-my-lungs intoxating. The picturesque writing doesn't stop for a second, you're constantly being carried down a stream of hauntingly beautiful descriptions until you're entirely engulfed by the world it creates.
And because of this, I've been on the Parisian bridge with the African-American singer in "This Morning, This Evening, So Soon" when the sunlight hits his Swedish wife-to-be, and is finally left alone with her, as the white man's world, the hostile, killing world, evaporates around him.
I've sat next to the black teacher in "Sonny's Blues" watching his brother playing the piano, sharing the same old tale of light versus dark, and at the same time desperately trying not to suffer through the redemptive beauty of the blues.
I've been a child in "Going to Tell the Man", placed on the safe shoulders of my in-bred, racist father, watching the ignorant and malevolent masses as they chant and scream at the crucified and castrated man of color, who will soon be burned alive.
Above all, I've witnessed the segregation period, not from a political perspective, but from a human perspective. The frailties and sufferings of mankind, regardless of color, are illuminated by this book, itself a fiery torch in the dark void of suffering.
I could continue praising this book. I could even highlight it's relevance in today's segregated world, where blacks in the US still struggle and suffer and scream for justice, and where refugees flee the Middle East's war-torn countries in search of redemption and safety, but instead are met with violence and prejudice. I could do all those things. But I'm off to read "Go Tell it on the Mountain", and I won't be disturbed.
After having read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, I was, despite the gloomy descriptions of black male life, uplifted. I never thought one could write such redeeming and beautiful prose on such an ugly and political topic. Naturally, I started looking at Coates' inspiration for writing this book, and who people compared him to. This very swiftly led me into the arms of James Baldwin, the collection of short stories I now hold in my hands, and many a night of intense, passionate reading. I fucking love this one.
Alright, so what's so great about it, you ask? Well, above this paragraph I wanted to insert a short, fancy quote, which seems to be the thing to do. I looked through the pages I've highlighted and found the shortest quote. It's about ten lines. And this is the thing, for me, about Baldwin's prose, which is so fantastically can't-keep-my-arms-down, screaming-at-the-top-of-my-lungs intoxating. The picturesque writing doesn't stop for a second, you're constantly being carried down a stream of hauntingly beautiful descriptions until you're entirely engulfed by the world it creates.
And because of this, I've been on the Parisian bridge with the African-American singer in "This Morning, This Evening, So Soon" when the sunlight hits his Swedish wife-to-be, and is finally left alone with her, as the white man's world, the hostile, killing world, evaporates around him.
I've sat next to the black teacher in "Sonny's Blues" watching his brother playing the piano, sharing the same old tale of light versus dark, and at the same time desperately trying not to suffer through the redemptive beauty of the blues.
I've been a child in "Going to Tell the Man", placed on the safe shoulders of my in-bred, racist father, watching the ignorant and malevolent masses as they chant and scream at the crucified and castrated man of color, who will soon be burned alive.
Above all, I've witnessed the segregation period, not from a political perspective, but from a human perspective. The frailties and sufferings of mankind, regardless of color, are illuminated by this book, itself a fiery torch in the dark void of suffering.
I could continue praising this book. I could even highlight it's relevance in today's segregated world, where blacks in the US still struggle and suffer and scream for justice, and where refugees flee the Middle East's war-torn countries in search of redemption and safety, but instead are met with violence and prejudice. I could do all those things. But I'm off to read "Go Tell it on the Mountain", and I won't be disturbed.
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful and heartbreaking - such nuanced, believable characters, and the language as crisp and effective as one rarely encounters. I couldn't find my footing only in the first story, which deals with religious thoughts and rituals I have no reference for, similar to those in "Go Tell It on the Mountain".
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
The stories contained in this book are beautiful, heartbreaking, joyful, and sorrowful. This is the first book by the wonderful James Baldwin that I've read. I think these stories illuminate the struggles people have endured and continue to endure based on skin color.
He showed different situations, how people have coped with their unbearable situations. He illuminates how some people come to view others as less than, and the impact of that degradation. Many of these stories broke my heart but I think they are so important and still very applicable today.
He showed different situations, how people have coped with their unbearable situations. He illuminates how some people come to view others as less than, and the impact of that degradation. Many of these stories broke my heart but I think they are so important and still very applicable today.
challenging
emotional
Some of the short stories I liked better than others, but it is a very good example of his work. I had to sit with some of these characters a while before moving on to the next one, since they all have their painful circumstances or memories. The last story Going to Meet the Man… I wish I read it in one of my Lit classes so we could discuss and analyze it and grapple with it. This book is full of stories that you wish you had a classroom to discuss it with.