Scan barcode
A review by jbmorgan86
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
2.0
This fairly short novel is very similar to James Baldwin’s life. John, the stepson of a preacher, wrestles with his identity, sexuality, and faith. In a church service, he has a vision where he appears before God. The church service is the frame of the narrative. While telling this story, Baldwin flashes back to tell the back stories of John’s father, mother, stepfather, and aunt. We learn that John’s holy roller father is a hypocrite who had a child out of wedlock but is also punishing his second wife for having a child out of wedlock.
Though the novel is fairly short, it took me awhile to get it through. It was not an enjoyable read to me. I appreciated the narrative technique (frame) but I really disliked Baldwin’s writing style: long paragraphs, extremely long chapters (three in nearly 300 pages), and quick, unclear transitions.
Though the novel is fairly short, it took me awhile to get it through. It was not an enjoyable read to me. I appreciated the narrative technique (frame) but I really disliked Baldwin’s writing style: long paragraphs, extremely long chapters (three in nearly 300 pages), and quick, unclear transitions.