368 reviews for:

Going to Meet the Man

James Baldwin

4.34 AVERAGE

profpeaton's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

weian1999's review against another edition

5.0

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This was an exceptional read. I particularly enjoyed Sonny's Blues and Come Out The Wilderness. The dialogues in these two stories were lovely to read, and the jazz scene in Sonny's Blues was some of the best writings I have come across about jazz improvisation. I also liked The Man Child and Going to Meet the Man, both stories were cruel and were probably hard to write but I'm glad they were written and I have read it.

vince_m's review against another edition

3.25

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

elchivovivo's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence

tyler709's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective 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: Complicated

msmoodyreader's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

la_lily_lu_le_lo's review against another edition

4.25

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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 ~ not unintentionally of course.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation

sonjbean's review against another edition

4.0

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Secrets hidden at the heart of midnight are simply waiting to be dragged to the light, as, on some unlucky high noon, they always are. But secrets shrouded in the glare of candor are bound to defeat even the most determined and agile inspector for the light is always changing and proves that the eye cannot be trusted.

Ugh I love James Baldwin so much. These stories are so heartbreaking and beautiful.

christineliu's review against another edition

5.0

dark reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

shawcrit's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated