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chantelnx's review against another edition
4.0
The church can be the most dangerous place you ever set foot in and Mr. Baldwin doesn't tarry at all when it comes to the ways that sacred places hide, harm, and can destroy the humanity within folks through judgment and false moral righteousness - it can be a rough place.
It's 1930s Harlem and the Grimes family has issues. All of us do. That's that magic James has: reflecting the many issues that struggling Black families in the 1930s and 1940s had. His writing gets me like Gordon Parks photos get me. All the issues are hard and they are lingering, we can see them playing out today in this Tik Tok generation, and it's a mindf to read this book decades later in this era, 10 years shy from 100 years later.
One thing about Go Tell It on the Mountain, is that in this novel resilience, the action that it is to continue to push forward (as hard as it is) is on display. It's there right next to the darkness. It's there specifically in the women. The women holding things together, the women pushing through if they can survive the brutality. All the men are miserable in this book. I seen an astute young woman speaking online about how: men don't suffer quietly, as they're suffering, as will all those around them suffer. This book brings into sharp focus how Black women and children have lived through so much pain from both their internal and external communities. Speaking quietly held/quietly kept truth was a Jimmy specialty and he had so much to say!
This is my first read for the year and first for a friend's 2024 #TheBaldwinChallenge; I'm excited to spend more of this year inside the incredible mind of one of our most insightful legends.
It's 1930s Harlem and the Grimes family has issues. All of us do. That's that magic James has: reflecting the many issues that struggling Black families in the 1930s and 1940s had. His writing gets me like Gordon Parks photos get me. All the issues are hard and they are lingering, we can see them playing out today in this Tik Tok generation, and it's a mindf to read this book decades later in this era, 10 years shy from 100 years later.
One thing about Go Tell It on the Mountain, is that in this novel resilience, the action that it is to continue to push forward (as hard as it is) is on display. It's there right next to the darkness. It's there specifically in the women. The women holding things together, the women pushing through if they can survive the brutality. All the men are miserable in this book. I seen an astute young woman speaking online about how: men don't suffer quietly, as they're suffering, as will all those around them suffer. This book brings into sharp focus how Black women and children have lived through so much pain from both their internal and external communities. Speaking quietly held/quietly kept truth was a Jimmy specialty and he had so much to say!
This is my first read for the year and first for a friend's 2024 #TheBaldwinChallenge; I'm excited to spend more of this year inside the incredible mind of one of our most insightful legends.
mcbibliotecaria's review against another edition
5.0
One of the few novels I'm planning to re read in the future.
aisabel_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
3.75
iris456's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5
lara_mfernandes's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
verticordia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
lunesoleilciel's review against another edition
5.0
One of the finest stories I've read in awhile. Effortlessly weaving different and yet similar stories together. My first Janes Baldwin work and I cannot wait to read more.
ketzalt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5