Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

22 reviews

jennikreads's review against another edition

This is beautifully and skillfully written. I just couldn’t get past reading about so much religious trauma when I have religious trauma of my own. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Racism, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse

badspringbye's review against another edition

challenging tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

not the coming-of-age story I was expecting it to be. it took a huge turn after john's hunting standpoint. gabriel (the father)'s life's a drag. john (the son)'s part, which was mostly only on the first 1/3 of the book, was frustrating yet gripping. that's the only thing that made me look forward to how it's gonna turn out at the end. the whole point of the story is a bit... out of shape..?

excerpt:
p. 20 "And this is why, though he had been born in the faith and had been surrounded all his life by the saints and by their prayers and their rejoicing, and though the tabernacle in which they worshipped was more completely real to him than the several precarious homes in which he and his family had lived, John's heart was hardened against the Lord. His father was God's minister, the ambassador of the King of Heaven, and John could not bow before the throne of grace without first kneeling to his father."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry

sofipitch's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

This book was amazing. The focus on how Christianity corrupts, how it can enable ppl to do cruelty or at least feel entitled to it. Or the way it can make ppl feel remorse over things that were good, like Elizabeth with Richard just bc she wasn't married to him doesn't mean he wasn't 3000x better a husband than Gabriel. Also John hating his narcissistic and arrogant and abusive father, def can't relate to that at all, wouldn't be me. (/s) The sermons read or just the way religious figures talked constantly had me gritting my teeth in anger, I think Baldwin really got to the core of what I dislike about Christianity while never fabricating anything or displaying it as more than it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, and Racism

Minor: Suicide

wordsailor's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Hate crime

Moderate: Police brutality and Rape

maria_winther's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Racism, and Violence

aloy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Infertility, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Child abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Minor: Racism and Slavery

anniefwrites's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

This was my first James Baldwin, and WOW. Moving plot, language that sucks you right in, vivid interior worlds of all the characters. What a magnificent writer. I especially loved the parts where I got to live inside the mind of such a tender, confused, emotional boy. The way the story concluded wasn’t what I expected, and it’s going to be a while until I can unravel my complex feelings about it. But all in all, Baldwin has such a strong yet delicate voice, and I’m looking forward to reading more of his work. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Suicide, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, Vomit, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Police brutality, and War

lejam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This is my first book I’ve read by James Baldwin and I am obsessed. Though I’ve heard this is one of his “less well written” books or less popular books, you can already tell how powerful his story telling is. There’s something about writers during that time period and the strength of their words that I absolutely love. Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

knicole2's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

annreadsabook's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

Go Tell It on the Mountain is a true literary masterpiece. The writing is simply stunning. While it’s framed as a coming-of-age novel, it is so much more: it examines religion/spirituality, hypocrisy within the church, the lack of respect and care towards Black women (particularly by Black men), and racism. Moreover, while the novel is bookended by young John Grimes’ exploration of faith, family, and identity, embedded within the book is a deep look into the lives of the people who raised him and who form his community. It is a testament to the ways in which we are in part a product of the people who bring us up and surround us.

Especially as someone who grew up in the Black church (and who still attends a Black church), Baldwin’s depiction of the community within the book was provocative—on the one hand, there is a strong collectivist spirit that pervades the church, and on the other, one’s relationship with God is incredibly personal. Baldwin expertly deals with all of these dynamics and nuances without really hitting you over the head with them. And, while the novel actually covers a lot of topics to varying degrees, it never feels overwhelming. It just feels more like life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Domestic abuse