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mayblueming's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
rtcrook's review against another edition
5.0
This went right to my soul. Deeply cogent, humane, direct in ways that made me uncomfortable and hopeful at the same time. I could write several essays on this but I think a more productive avenue will be to let it stew into my spirit for a bit.
shannonscotteditorauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Almost 60 years later, and this book is still as relevant as it ever was. It's my first exposure to any of James Baldwin's writings, but I'm absolutely positive it won't be the last. The first part of the story is a letter to his nephew, in which is spends paragraph after paragraph trying to instill in the young teenager a sense of pride, but also a sense of the reality of the world in which he's growing. The bulk of the book, though, seems to be a letter to the reader in general about the general state of the American Black man and woman, and how white America is on a collision course with itself. Given the state of things in this country today, I'd say this book was pretty prescient.
jacobwaller's review against another edition
4.0
This book is so good, very compelling throughout and the ending is beautiful and triumphant. His recounting of experiences of his life and how he connects it back to points in his thesis really stand out. His devotion to love as the water to put out the titular fire is beautiful. This is a really good book for anyone interested in black existentialism or civil rights in general.
“Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”
“Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”
ashlynfbarclay's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0