Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Von dieser Welt by James Baldwin

21 reviews

mezzarella's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

I have long admired Baldwin's essays, interviews, and speeches. The way that Baldwin writes with depth and compassion even towards people who worked against him is astounding. This book details religion's oppressive tendencies through the most faithful, discusses racism through the perspectives of the oppressed which help perpetuate it, discusses sexism with such honesty even though Baldwin was not a woman. There is a throughline of bold observation and truth in Baldwin's writings. While I was not personally moved by the importance of faith in this work, I was moved by the way these words encouraged me to find the shared experiences which encourage us to push forward in dark times and learn from our mistakes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, and Sexism

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

ellieg2604's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

It was not what I expected, and was really hard for me to get into. I ended up enjoying it, but not until it was almost over and I finally understood what was happening. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Infidelity

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

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

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

volcanogirl's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

This is a beautifully written book and an excellent example of James Baldwin's work. I enjoyed the prose more than the contents I think, but I also think that it's because of the limits of my own perspective. I have no deep personal connection to American evangelism, but I understood it just the same. It is a thoughtful, loving, incredibly human piece of literature and I think it's a very important book to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicide