A review by amandakitz
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

5.0

I find it difficult to review such foundational works as Baldwin, Dubois, and others, because though I have many thoughts they seem inadequate in light of what I just read. Baldwin has such a clear and conversational style without sacrificing any amount of beauty and academic rigor. I have loved reading his Notes of a Native Son and Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son in response to the book by Richard Wright, and this short book did not disappoint in comparison. The talent he has for stripping away layers of facade to display with piercing clarity the reality of his subject is incredible, bordering on clairvoyant. I may be now an evangelist of his work; I cannot recommend it enough.