Reviews

The Amen Corner by James Baldwin

Only show reviews with written explanations

c100's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

randisworld's review

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emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I would like to see this on the stage.

Content Warnings

mg_in_md_'s review against another edition

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4.0

This three-act play takes place over the course of about a week in Harlem, in the church and home of Margaret Alexander. Sister Margaret is the pastor of the church and is raising her 18-year-old son, David, trying to keep him on a godly path. The congregation believes that Margaret's estranged husband, Luke, has abandoned her and their son. However, the wayward jazz musician Luke shows up on Margaret's doorstep, having come home to die. The play centers around the relationships between Margaret and the congregation, and between Margaret, Luke, and David. Themes of faith and family and the dynamics between husbands and wives, and fathers and sons are at the forefront of this tale.

The edition that I read included an introduction from the author on how he came to write this play which did not reach the professional stage until a decade after it was first published. He was discouraged from writing this play, especially since he only had one book under his belt at the time and this play dealt with religion. However, he felt this story needed to be told and followed through in bringing it to life. The last sentence of the introduction has stuck with me. In it, he said "The American Negro really is a part of this country, and on the day we face this fact, and not before that day, we will become a nation and possibly a great one."

I selected this as my pick for the 2020 #AACPL Reads Reading Challenge June prompt (read a book by an LGBT+ author) and the 2020 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge prompt "three books by the same author" (this is book one of three).