mcoleman1250's review against another edition
4.0
While this novel does touch on racial tensions, the focus is primarily on spiritual conflicts that arise in every person's life, and that certainly affect each of the four narrators in the novel. Each individual struggle to find what religion means for them and how to view it in context of their difficulties. For context, this was my first Baldwin novel. Alot of reviews seem to view this novel through the lens of Baldwin's other novel (Giovanni's Room). Additional note: Elizabeth's chapter was particularly powerful for me!
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sophiaelisa01's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
bluenicorn's review against another edition
2.0
This book offers a lot to discuss- good for black history month, banned books week, etc. tough to get through, tho.
fools_egg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Beautiful and painful in many ways. Many levels and intersections coming of age story but the pain is offset by the inner world of the main character. Childhood can be such a painful and horrifying experience and having this tale feels less trauma porn and more of a companion for the child going through these experiences. It feels true to the childhood mind while having the care and perseverance of the adult looking back on that past. Like a diary from the past and also a diary reflecting on the past from the safety of survival.
I need to re-read, I remember it being very deep in the way it understands living and surviving, and the desire to love and be loved.
I need to re-read, I remember it being very deep in the way it understands living and surviving, and the desire to love and be loved.
hendrixmama's review against another edition
4.0
Writing was beautiful but it was not my favorite of Baldwin’s. I much preferred The Fire Next Time and Giovanni’s Room.
novelvoyages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain is my first book of the year, and it is easily a five-star read. Religion is not a part of my life or my worldview, so when I read a book that’s deeply steeped in spiritual themes (The Brothers Karamazov is a great example) that I don’t relate to but am nevertheless profoundly impacted by, it’s because I gravitate toward the use of the characters’ religious worldviews as a lens through which to understand them rather than as something that intrinsically holds any sort of universal meaning in and of itself.
Go Tell It on the Mountain is about a boy named John Grimes who prepares to attend an evening service at his father’s church on the night of his 14th birthday. The book has a three-part structure that telescopes out from the night of the service in 1935 Harlem to his father and aunt’s childhood in the post-Reconstruction American South. The narrative has a stream for consciousness structure to it that allows us to zoom in and out on various characters, forming a multi-faceted view of the world that shaped them and the way they see each other.
Baldwin was an immensely gifted writer. His language is lyrical and somberly propulsive, and I found myself barreling through the story. There’s incredible complexity of feeling in all the characters; no answers to any of the existential questions they grapple with ever comes easily or without sacrifice. There’s lightness and darkness and every shade in between. I can’t wait to read more of Baldwin’s work, and I hope all the books I read this year give me as much to think about as this one did.
Go Tell It on the Mountain is about a boy named John Grimes who prepares to attend an evening service at his father’s church on the night of his 14th birthday. The book has a three-part structure that telescopes out from the night of the service in 1935 Harlem to his father and aunt’s childhood in the post-Reconstruction American South. The narrative has a stream for consciousness structure to it that allows us to zoom in and out on various characters, forming a multi-faceted view of the world that shaped them and the way they see each other.
Baldwin was an immensely gifted writer. His language is lyrical and somberly propulsive, and I found myself barreling through the story. There’s incredible complexity of feeling in all the characters; no answers to any of the existential questions they grapple with ever comes easily or without sacrifice. There’s lightness and darkness and every shade in between. I can’t wait to read more of Baldwin’s work, and I hope all the books I read this year give me as much to think about as this one did.
dylanperry's review against another edition
5.0
Reread: October 2020
Original Review:
That is the feel of this book—a story told not out of want but out of need. James Baldwin’s debut has power behind every page; his words resonate, and his prose is among the best I have had the pleasure of reading. There isn’t much in the way of plot, so be aware of that going in. And it doesn’t deliver a knockout ending like I’d hoped, although as I type this, I’m smiling. Because this book is journey, not destination. And if you can get behind that, then you’re in for a good time.
I won’t get into detail, but there have been some changes at my work that have left me feeling stressed and distracted. Go Tell It on the Mountain was my escape, even if it was only for a few minutes here and there. I am sure my headspace affected my enjoyment. And perhaps, like with Big Magic, I’ll return to it in a better mood and come away with a better experience.
For now, I’m glad to have read this, and to continue reading more James Baldwin in the future. 5/5
Original Review:
“Mountain,” Baldwin said, “is the book I had to write if I was ever going to write anything else.”
That is the feel of this book—a story told not out of want but out of need. James Baldwin’s debut has power behind every page; his words resonate, and his prose is among the best I have had the pleasure of reading. There isn’t much in the way of plot, so be aware of that going in. And it doesn’t deliver a knockout ending like I’d hoped, although as I type this, I’m smiling. Because this book is journey, not destination. And if you can get behind that, then you’re in for a good time.
I won’t get into detail, but there have been some changes at my work that have left me feeling stressed and distracted. Go Tell It on the Mountain was my escape, even if it was only for a few minutes here and there. I am sure my headspace affected my enjoyment. And perhaps, like with Big Magic, I’ll return to it in a better mood and come away with a better experience.
For now, I’m glad to have read this, and to continue reading more James Baldwin in the future. 5/5
grantsharpies's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Grief, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, and Religious bigotry
krissyronan's review against another edition
4.0
Tore through this. Wonderful writing and interesting story. Loved learning about Baldwins perspective through John and his family.
h0llyrose's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. i really enjoyed this book. it dealt with a lot of themes that i frankly don’t enjoy reading about, mainly religion, but i still found the family dynamics and their interactions with religion really interesting. i loved the deep dives into each member of the family but i loved the main character john so much and found his conclusion of his journey to be honestly a little disappointing because i loved how he was in the beginning of the book; however, i know this book is semi-autobiographical so this might have been based in truth and i don’t want to speak down on someone’s own experiences. either way this book and james baldwin’s writing will stick with me for a long time, and i’m definitely excited to continue reading more of baldwin’s works.