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Comments (10)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 10 of 10 items
Mar 16, 2024mko123 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
With the 100th anniversary of the birth of James Baldwin coming up on August 2, thankfully, author Robert Jones Jr. wrote a piece in the NYT (2/28/24) suggesting that we begin by reading this book, Baldwin's first and semi-autobiographical…
Sep 12, 2022pattibezzo rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Baldwin's story is not at all an easy read, and he had to present it in this way. He spoke the truth about the circumstances John was surrounded by and the power his step- father, Gabriel, had upon John's way of navigating through his…
Apr 05, 2022SPL_Emma rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Go Tell It On the Mountain is American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin’s first novel. Published in 1953, this semi-autobiographical work is about fourteen-year-old John Grimes, son of a Pentecostal preacher, who is coming of…
May 09, 2021avocadotree rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Good. I feel like the story is greater than the content. It's just humanity and is what it is
Mar 27, 2019whatcomhillwalker rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A troubling book from a troubling time not so long ago and not completely changed today. I tired of the constant christian reference but understand that without it nothing about the story could make sense. Lies, hypocracy, violence and…
Sep 11, 2018FVReader1 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I'm torn. The writing is wonderful. It kept me reading. The story is a combination of disturbing and off putting. So much preaching of a violent nature ("going to beat sin out"). In the end, I can't say I like this story. I feel a bit…
Franln
Dec 17, 2017Franln rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I wanted to like this book more because I am so intrigued by James Baldwin, but it was not an easy read. The semi-autobiographical stories about his family's beginnings are definitely interesting, but about 1/3 of the book was a bunch of…
Aug 01, 2014BWilsoned rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This rating system doesn't work for me on this book. It's beautifully written and is a powerful image of the intricate latticework of emotions, culture, and family that make up John's world in a northern city in the early 20th century. I…
ZolaFan
Jan 17, 2013ZolaFan rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Powerful, powerful, powerful. Muscular and poetic prose. Leaves a lasting impression.
TKasongo
Jul 09, 2012TKasongo rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and the way James Baldwin writes is amazing. I love how poetic and descriptive he is.