After reading my first James Baldwin book, I really liked his writing style and was ready for more. So naturally, I went on a deep dive and read more of his work. All were somewhat different, but I still really enjoy his style of writing:

If Beale Street Could Talk
I’ve heard a lot about this book, and was excited to see that it was made into a movie in 2018. I count on James Baldwin to provide a peak into the black experience in America, and this did not disappoint. It was told from the point of view of the girlfriend of a black man who has been wrongly accused of a crime. While there is details of how they plan to prove his innocence, and even a trip from the mother to the victim to try to rectify the situation, I found the experiences of the girlfriend to be the most impactful. I felt for her heartbreak over her lack of control and growing pregnancy, and I only wish there had been more resolution at the end. The movie was really beautifully made – and had some big names in it! I loved the use of vivid color and was happy with how the adaptation mirrored the novel. It should still be on Netflix and is definitely worth the watch.

Giovanni’s Room
I found this book to be the most modern and easiest to read, filled with tons of dialogue and a telenovela worthy plot line. It’s interesting at this point in reading James Baldwin to see the patterns of his characters being queer men struggling with their sexuality, but this one felt particularly heart wrenching. I feel like what I took away from this book was that compulsory heteronormativity hurts everyone. It hurts everyone to now allow people to live as their true selves. Even though this book hurt my heart, I actually really liked it. I guess I just want to live in the first part of the book where love is in the air and no one is hurt yet.

Going To Meet The Man
This was a unique collection of stories that were all very different but involved some sort of moral twist. I found this to be really profound and something you have to sit with after each story to fully understand the meaning and/or message. The stories are twisted: murdering a child in revenge of the life he couldn’t have, the complexity and cycles of addiction, and themes around justice systems to provide a few examples. I definitely favored some stories more than others, but overall this was a deep read that comes with a lot of opportunity for moral philosophy reflection.

Go Tell It On The Mountain
This was a multi-point of view story that is supposedly a semi-autobiographical novel. The main character, John, is going through some self-realizations and discovery about himself, including family history, sexuality, and religion. We get different perspectives on the history and religious beliefs, which ultimately and inevitably effects John in his upbringing. The writing is complex for a rather simple story, but the duality of John’s journey as a church goer and “sinner” is what makes this interesting. I found this to be good insight into James Baldwin not just as a writer but what he was like as a young person.

Another Country Well, this one was quite a ride! This felt like a telenovela with all the affairs and mixing of partners – it was a lot to keep up with! I really enjoyed this read though, despite it being one of the longer novels. I appreciate the themes explored around bisexuality and interracial relationships, and it continues to paint a clear picture of who James Baldwin himself was, through this characters. I really felt for all their stories as James once again captures a beautifully haunting portrayal of the very human experience. If this isn’t already a movie or series it certainly should be!

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
This was a short read, but a very impactful one. The book is broken up into two letters written by Baldwin, which I believe makes this a work of non-fiction. The first is to his nephew who shares his name, and the letter reads as a warning for life as a black man in America. This theme continues in his second and much longer letter, which is not addressed to anyone in particular, but rather is from a “region in [his] mind”. His thoughts ebb and flow into different ideas and experiences, which also focus largely on religion. He talks about his internal battles, what led him in and out of the church, and attempts to understand his experiences. I love the way he writes, which makes me excited to read his fictional work.

Other: The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings by James Baldwin
Edited by Randall Kenan
This was a really fun way to get to know James Baldwin in a deeper, more intimate way. This book was a collection of his work, which included published essays as well as random things he wrote. For example, there was commentary and profiles on actors and wrestlers and politicians in the black community. There’s also letters from the road, speeches and interviews he gave, lectures, book reviews he wrote, and even forewords from others’ books. I enjoyed his short essays a lot, as they gave good commentary on things like black characters being written by black authors, the struggle for integrity in being artist and writer, and provocative thoughts on whiteness in America. James Baldwin was exceptionally intelligent and this collection of his work proved that he was forever philosophical as well as informed.

“The very time I thought I was lost / My dungeon shook and my chains fell off.”
– James Baldwin

Thanks for reading! (Last Updated: Jun 2023)