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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Elegiac, transformative prose exploring the contradictions that lie at the heart of humanity. These short stories cover a range of themes, or ideas, but they are all shot through with a slight loneliness, a sense of displacement. Sometimes that might be a place of growth and joy, sometimes a strangling obstacle. These stories aren’t all sad or morose, there is happiness here, a sense of contentment, pride, authenticity. But it isn’t easy, and it is preceded by a wistfulness, as well as a righteous outrage that might easily become its own kind of cage. Whether it is exploring race relationships or the dynamics of a marriage bed or what it means to be a father or a son Baldwin brings a lyrical eye to humanity, unvarnished, and it is impossible, when putting this collection down, to be the same person you were when you picked it up.
I have never read an author like James Baldwin for drawing you in so completely to the inner lives of his characters. I find reading his work almost painful at times because I don't want to be opened up to getting to know these people and all the pain and social uncomfort they posses. What's more, Baldwin brings that humanity to all the characters in his story, even those we would normally not expect. The story of a community lynching, told from the story of a white man participating, was just as haunting and thoughtful as any other in the collection.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse
* still only reviewing the short story that is in the title
a must read …. this is who i NEVER want to become oh my god. so crazy to delve so deeply into the mind of a person whose mind is so disgusting. masterfully done
a must read …. this is who i NEVER want to become oh my god. so crazy to delve so deeply into the mind of a person whose mind is so disgusting. masterfully done
James Baldwin was such a brilliant writer. How he could weave his prose in such fascinating and breathtaking ways leaves me in awe.
I had already read, and loved, three of the stories contained in this eight story collection. Some of the new ones to me were brilliant, and I’m sure that “The Man Child” will haunt me for quite some time.
There are two stories here, though, that just didn’t few as complex, as successful, and as layered as the rest: “The Outing” and “Come Out the Wilderness”. They are still beautifully written, but the themes can be found elsewhere in the collection and they just aren’t as memorable as the other six stories.
I continue to love Baldwin’s works and have still a number of his works to devour sometime in the near future.
I had already read, and loved, three of the stories contained in this eight story collection. Some of the new ones to me were brilliant, and I’m sure that “The Man Child” will haunt me for quite some time.
There are two stories here, though, that just didn’t few as complex, as successful, and as layered as the rest: “The Outing” and “Come Out the Wilderness”. They are still beautifully written, but the themes can be found elsewhere in the collection and they just aren’t as memorable as the other six stories.
I continue to love Baldwin’s works and have still a number of his works to devour sometime in the near future.
Una raccolta di racconti davvero SPLENDIDA, in cui le storie dalla trama minima e scritte con una prosa asciutta sono belle cariche di tematiche significative: identità individuale e collettiva, religione, omosessualità, famiglia, questione razziale (suprematismo bianco, diritti civili, coppie miste), violenza (privata o sistemica), solitudine. C'è molta musica, arte, c'è la difficoltà disperata di riuscire a trovare un posto non solo nel mondo, ma nella stessa propria vita, affrancandosi dal destino che la condizione d'appartenenza inesorabilmente riserva. Tutti i racconti reggono il passo, anche se il mio preferito è Blues per Sonny - notevole. L'ultimo, Uomo bianco, è una fucilata alla rotula.
Una frase dal libro:
Qualcuno riusciva a sfuggire, ma la gran parte no. Quelli che ce la facevano lasciavano sempre qualcosa di se stessi alle proprie spalle, come quegli animali che si amputano una zampa e la lasciano nella trappola.
Una frase dal libro:
Qualcuno riusciva a sfuggire, ma la gran parte no. Quelli che ce la facevano lasciavano sempre qualcosa di se stessi alle proprie spalle, come quegli animali che si amputano una zampa e la lasciano nella trappola.
Really good! Some of the stories really disturbed me, especially "The Man Child" and "Going to Meet the Man."
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix