Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

23 reviews

menomica's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

This book is so tense and at times emotionally demanding, and I mean that in a good way. The way the story unfolds is so incredible. There were moments where I had to put the book down because I was just getting flashbacks of growing up in church 😵‍💫.

I thought we were gonna get a John-gay-awakening arch, but that did not happen

Gabriel is a total bitch, and I love that Florence was there to clear his ass. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War

davyjones's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

laurenleigh's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was my first time reading James Baldwin, and I was struck by his powerful, elegant style. While the story was sometimes a little hard to follow (maybe because I was listening), I still enjoyed the quality of Baldwin’s prose. The narrator was very good, and he added a new dimension, especially with the dialogue. The plot got me thinking about ancestral trauma and generational debt. So much of the hardship these characters face is directly tied to the injustices their forebears faced. The characters have their own individual flaws that come into play, sure, but how would things have turned out differently if they hadn’t inherited these traumas? If their ancestors weren’t enslaved and instead had the opportunity to earn money? And how much of their individual flaws were influenced by these ancestral traumas? What if they had the opportunity to be raised in stable, loving environments where they didn’t have to constantly worry about their safety and their well-being?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Suicide, Violence, and Pregnancy