Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

17 reviews

bridgedeebookish95's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Whew. Baldwin's account of the hypocritical nature of the Black church and really just religion at large and the damage that does is so specific, searing, haunting, and stunning. I also really enjoyed the structure of this book being told in three parts and all of the parts, in some way or another, informing each other. I read a lot of Baldwin's non-fiction work, but I'm making my way through and revisiting his fiction (which is just as real) after only reading Another Country and Giovanni's Room in high school and I'm loving it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Terminal illness

gvstyris's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.5

There was not, after all, a great difference between the world of the North and that of the South which she had fled; there was only this difference: the North promised more. And this similarity: what it promised it did not give, and what it gave, at length and grudgingly with one hand, it took back with the other. 

A sensitive, multi-faceted insight into the relationship between black America and religion. Each character is affected pretty differently by Christianity, and each story was well-executed and fascinating. Ultimately, I'd argue that Baldwin presents religion both as a guiding force and a tool that encourages black Americans to endure their oppression.

Go Tell It on the Mountain is absolutely deserving of its place in the literary canon, but was at times painful to parse through because of its religious jargon and (mostly) young narrator. That being said, I really liked the contrast between the sea and fire imagery, and am constantly in awe of Baldwin's female characters. 

Honestly, I probably just wasn't in the right head space for this book, but am excited to continue diving into Baldwin's works. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Rape

Minor: Slavery and Police brutality

thepostman96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide

genstrong's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Police brutality, Murder, and Pregnancy

fatkingslug's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Minor: Homophobia

ohgull's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I read this book for my Multicultural Lit class. It was an interesting read, definitely not something I would pick out for myself, but I'm glad I read it. I liked the main protagonist John and seeing his character growth, but it felt a little stifled. The second half of this book was basically just exposition on how the Grimes family ended up like this and why the characters are the way they are. I don't know, it had good material in it, specifically talking about religion and race, but I wish there was more plot in the present and not all of the action happening 20 years before the novel begins. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Police brutality

Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Rape, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

bjdarby's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Police brutality

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

I think that a lot of this book went straight over my head. I did appreciate the idea of a reckoning coming for some of the characters. And I liked Florence. And writing was, of course, beautiful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide

Minor: Infertility

annablume's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

impeccable writing, the first part was hard to get through for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death, Infertility, and Infidelity

Minor: Pregnancy

bookbuyingwithkatie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, and Police brutality