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isabel_reyes's review against another edition
5.0
he is unmatched in his prose, his character, and his honesty. here are some choice quotes
if the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving. if God cannot do this, then it is time we got rid of Him.
i realized that the bible had been written by white men… and i was predestined to be a slave… my fate had been sealed forever, from the beginning of time
there was no love in the church. it was a mask for hatred
do i really want to be integrated into a burning house?
i truly could read solely baldwin for the rest of my life and be content
lalawoman416's review against another edition
5.0
Thought provoking. Such a great merge of a testimony of the Black experience while still professing love and understanding.
alreadyemily's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't know what to expect, having never read any Baldwin before, but of course being familiar with his name and reputation. This is more middle-of-the-road than I expected. Not that I have a problem with it, I was just expecting to be more uncomfortable.
magnoliaxsoulangeana's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
maiyah8's review against another edition
5.0
i really loved how he weaved the cynicism inherent in the black American experience with his own optimism and hopefulness for the future. even decades after this book was published, its words ring true, and his hope is a very bright light in the dark.
oregonian329's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
rocketstails's review against another edition
3.0
"Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have."
When the sun set on Baldwin that very last time, I am so very grateful that it left with us his work; beautifully written and ever compassionate of people - all people, and for the things which he does not fully understand.
When the sun set on Baldwin that very last time, I am so very grateful that it left with us his work; beautifully written and ever compassionate of people - all people, and for the things which he does not fully understand.