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rayarriz's review
5.0
Definitely deserves a review. Powerful, well written, realistic, a true classic. Reminds me of so many people and times at church. Stunning really.
rp319's review
“Not even tonight, in the heart's nearly impenetrable secret place, where the truth is hidden and where only the truth can live, could she wish that she had not known him; or deny that, so long as he was there, the rejoicing of Heaven meant nothing to her — that, being forced to choose between Richard and God, she could only, even with weeping, have turned away from God.”
sophmcgraw's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mattyvreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Baldwin is so impressive. This book came out in the early 50s, and it still reads incredibly modern and just as relevant. Besides that, the writing is perfection. It is beautiful, poignant, and the characters feel so real. They are complex, layered, flawed, and relatable.
Baldwin has an exceedingly rare understanding of humanity. He is able to show a character’s abject cruelty, show us why that character is the way they are, without trying to redeem or justify their actions. “This is true and this is also true.” We understand that character without forgiving them. By the same token, Baldwin can show the depth of, say, a mother’s love for her child and explain how she came to love him so much. We will fall in love with this character. And then he’ll go on to show us her disdain for her other son. There is nuance and depth in every line.
This story tackles religion, namely the oppressive weight of Christianity, and its (seemingly rare) healing qualities, as well. The way each character talks about religion is fascinating. These characters are G*d-fearing, not G*d-loving. They live terrified of sinning, and the anguish of Hell fire. Yet there is a line between living life to an impossible standard (never having sexual thoughts, never drinking, never feeling jealousy, etc..) and the other side. We see Christianity give John hope in his own head (even if it seems like he unwillingly submitted to the religion). We see Christianity steer bad people away from infidelity and violence, until those villains inevitably stray. So it seems largely ineffective, too.
It presents the good and the bad.
In The Fire Next Time, Baldwin states “If the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving.“ I believe that that assertion colors this entire text.
Loved this book and would love to read it again.
Baldwin has an exceedingly rare understanding of humanity. He is able to show a character’s abject cruelty, show us why that character is the way they are, without trying to redeem or justify their actions. “This is true and this is also true.” We understand that character without forgiving them. By the same token, Baldwin can show the depth of, say, a mother’s love for her child and explain how she came to love him so much. We will fall in love with this character. And then he’ll go on to show us her disdain for her other son. There is nuance and depth in every line.
This story tackles religion, namely the oppressive weight of Christianity, and its (seemingly rare) healing qualities, as well. The way each character talks about religion is fascinating. These characters are G*d-fearing, not G*d-loving. They live terrified of sinning, and the anguish of Hell fire. Yet there is a line between living life to an impossible standard (never having sexual thoughts, never drinking, never feeling jealousy, etc..) and the other side. We see Christianity give John hope in his own head (even if it seems like he unwillingly submitted to the religion). We see Christianity steer bad people away from infidelity and violence, until those villains inevitably stray. So it seems largely ineffective, too.
It presents the good and the bad.
In The Fire Next Time, Baldwin states “If the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving.“ I believe that that assertion colors this entire text.
Loved this book and would love to read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual violence
ingeborg_frey's review
Incredible
Baldwins writing pulls you in
I love how he problematize everything from family to obsession to sexism, without writing about these themes directly. Everything is conveyed through the stories of the characters, who feel so real it is like watching them from the corner of the room.
Baldwins writing pulls you in
I love how he problematize everything from family to obsession to sexism, without writing about these themes directly. Everything is conveyed through the stories of the characters, who feel so real it is like watching them from the corner of the room.
dbateman1355's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
samvanstokkom's review
3.0
meh. niet geweldig. erg mooi geschreven en soms zat ik echt wel helemaal in het verhaal maar andere stukken boeiden me dan weer totaal niet. weet ook niet wat ik van het einde vind…… maar very interesting discussion of family and religious trauma
farilian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
miabaim's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
carmooo's review against another edition
5.0
James Baldwin is King.
Dark and funny (sometimes).
"There are people in the world for whom "coming along" is a perpetual process, people who are destined never to arrive."
Dark and funny (sometimes).
"There are people in the world for whom "coming along" is a perpetual process, people who are destined never to arrive."