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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Baldwin does this thing in this collection of stories (the titular story excluded) where he leaves you wanting so much more out of the lives of these characters. I especially felt that with Sonny's Blues; This Morning, This Evening, So Soon; and Come Out the Wilderness. He could have expanded each of those stories into whole novels and I would have readily devoured them. The characters are wholly and simply human, complicated in just the right fashion to let you know that you can go out into the street and meet them there.
The last story, Going to Meet the Man, is written with such frightening and chilling accuracy that I could hardly stomach it. Baldwin easily captures the psyche of a racist, depraved, southern sheriff and you almost wonder how. I hadn't expected it, and it's left me thinking about the capacity for cruelty in people just based on the color of someone's skin.
The last story, Going to Meet the Man, is written with such frightening and chilling accuracy that I could hardly stomach it. Baldwin easily captures the psyche of a racist, depraved, southern sheriff and you almost wonder how. I hadn't expected it, and it's left me thinking about the capacity for cruelty in people just based on the color of someone's skin.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
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:
Yes
I highly recommend this collection of short stories for anyone being introduced to Baldwin. "Going to Meet the Man" is like a variety box of cookies--just enough to try them all but not enough to stop you from wanting more.
From characters like John and Roy, the lead roles in "Go Tell It on the Mountain," to racially ambiguous characters like Eric, the short stories found in "Going to Meet the Man" are shorter that Baldwin's novels, but not lacking the action and characterization readers find most appealing about his novels.
From characters like John and Roy, the lead roles in "Go Tell It on the Mountain," to racially ambiguous characters like Eric, the short stories found in "Going to Meet the Man" are shorter that Baldwin's novels, but not lacking the action and characterization readers find most appealing about his novels.
I especially loved "Sonny's Blues" and "This Morning, This Evening, So Soon," but every story is wonderful. The title story has stuck with me for years, and it remains the most shockingly powerful, but everything in here is haunting.
Woof. Talk about suffering. This man understands the human condition.
im a depressing short story bitch and this fueled me more than redbull ever could
Man Child was by far my favorite and The Outing was exquisite in a coming-of-age-the-world-isnt-safe way
Man Child was by far my favorite and The Outing was exquisite in a coming-of-age-the-world-isnt-safe way
To be transparent, I did not read all of the stories in Going to Meet the Man. But the ones I did read, I loved so much. It’s James Baldwin, so how could I not lol.
