Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

7 reviews

novella42's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Colonisation, Hate crime, Police brutality, Slavery, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Genocide, Alcohol, Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Islamophobia, and War

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, and Homophobia

jwells's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective

We should be mentioning James Baldwin every time someone makes a list of the great American writers. He's so wise and compassionate, so insightful and so eloquent. I only wish this book wasn't still so fresh and relevant as it was when it was written.
As an aside, I almost died when he was talking to the kid from the separatist movement.
Baldwin: So, when all the black people move out of the U.S., and form a new Black Muslim country, what will the economy of this new Black Muslim country be based on? Is there a plan for that?
The kid: *blank stare*
(Apparently no one but Baldwin thought to ask about that kind of thing...) LOL

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Minor: Alcoholism, Police brutality, War, Addiction, Drug abuse, Rape, and Slavery

I feel like we need two tags for racism, sometimes. One for a book that is racist, and another for a book that sensitively discusses racism from the perspective of a person of color trying to educate. This is the latter. It describes racism in a way that is uncomfortable to read, but it's an absolute classic for a reason.

jessereadsthings's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

3.0

Not my favorite Baldwin, but a really interesting book. Need to reread in future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Alcoholism and Genocide

theuncannydani's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Police brutality, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Slavery, Drug abuse, Hate crime, and Trafficking

mandkips's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Racism

Moderate: Slavery and Violence

Minor: War, Alcoholism, and Genocide

lucinotlucy's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Violence, and War

samchase112's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

4.5

If we--and now I mean the relatively conscious whites and the relatively conscious blacks, who must, like lovers, insist on, or create, the consciousness of the others--do not falter in our duty now, we may be able, handful that we are, to end the racial nightmare, and achieve our country, and change the history of the world. If we do not now dare everything, the fulfillment of that prophecy, re-created from the Bible in song by a slave, is upon us: "God gave Noah the rainbow sign, No more water, the fire next time!"

James Baldwin's essay is a masterpiece, and should absolutely be read by every American. The personal, intelligent nature of his prose is incredibly powerful. There is really no describing this book; it must be experienced.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Violence

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Child abuse