A review by dylanperry
Go Tell It on the Mountain, by James Baldwin
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