James Baldwin: Early Novels & Stories (LOA #97): Go Tell It on the Mountain / Giovanni's Room / Another Country / Going to Meet the Man

I always enjoy diving into Baldwin's profound and moving works! I just finished reading the first two books of this four book compilation. They offer a lot to discuss and reflect upon, making them perfect for an online class I am taking this summer through Eckerd College.Giovanni's Room is a powerful story about love, identity, and self-acceptance. It centers around David, an American living in Paris, who struggles with his feelings for Giovanni, an Italian bartender. Baldwin dives deep into the complexities of David’s emotions as he grapples with his sexuality and societal expectations. The story takes place mostly in Giovanni’s small, claustrophobic room, which becomes a metaphor for David’s trapped feelings. Baldwin’s writing is beautiful and raw, making you feel every bit of David’s confusion and pain. It's a heartbreaking read but also incredibly insightful about the human condition.Go Tell It on the Mountain is semi-autobiographical and tells the story of John Grimes, a teenager in 1930s Harlem, and his relationship with his family and his faith. The novel explores themes of religion, guilt, and redemption. Baldwin vividly depicts the struggles of growing up in a strict religious environment. The book is divided into three parts, with flashbacks providing background on John's family members and their own battles. Baldwin’s rich prose and deep understanding of his characters' inner lives make this novel a compelling and thought-provoking read.Both books display Baldwin’s incredible talent for exploring complex emotions and social issues. His characters are deeply human, facing struggles that many can relate to. If you enjoy thought-provoking literature that tackles important themes like identity, love, and faith, both Giovanni's Room and Go Tell It on the Mountain are must-reads.

👍🏽

It was a real pleasure reading this book. It has the master's quality.

The fact that Nobel Prize laureate Toni Morrison is the editor of this collection says it all: James Baldwin is that good.

I came to Baldwin around the age of 14 (I am now 47 - a white Britain who prefers to be known as a citizen of the world) and he marked me. His extraordinary stories about a life so foreign in many ways to my own, and yet still having some resonance. Stories about people. I grew up in a multi-cultural school in South London and had friends from all parts of the world - or whose families originated in other parts of the world - and when I left school to go into the big wide world I wondered where all my colourful friends had disappeared to, so even in 70s London, there was some echos of Baldwin's experiences. But for me as much for the learning he offered me about his life of colour, his 'outsiderness' - which I could sometimes relate to especially - it was the wonderful writing. I'm a big fan of American Literature, so if I could only take two writers with me to the desert island (Shakespeare already awaiting me) it would be Baldwin and F Scott Fitzgerald. The writing of both is mindblowing, and they both have so much to say about modern life - whenever that modern life occurs - I'm sure even in the 23rd Century they will have something to say - about race/class/variety/diversity/pain and laughter. And joy, let's not forget joy.As well as the novels and short stories the powerful and fiery essays burned in my soul, made me question, led me to other African American writers and artists and spirits.