Go Tell It On the Mountain

Go Tell It On the Mountain is James Baldwin's semi-autobiographical tale of spiritual discovery. It follows John, a fourteen year old boy whose father is a preacher. Home life is harsh under his father's rule, and John struggles with his identity and what it means to be a sinner. His father, after all, thinks that John is a sinner because he likes to hang around white people. True, it was 1935, but that view was still seen as a bit extreme.

The book is told in five sections. The first section follows a day in John's life - his birthday, in fact. We are given a vivid snapshot of the intensity of his home life and then are whisked to a Saturday evening prayer service at the church. At this point, the story shifts to his Aunt Florence's point of view, exploring her past. The third section shifts to John's father Gabriel's point of view as he struggles with temptation while being a pastor. The fourth section follows John's mother Elizabeth as she struggles to find her identity. The final section details John's spiritual awakening.

This was a fantastic book. Baldwin creates remarkable depth to each of these characters. Their struggles, their sins, and their virtues are all at odds - you really truly feel for these characters and find yourself heartbroken when things go sour, which they do at several times. John's spiritual experience in the last section wraps things up well. I found the book difficult to put down, despite a general lack of excitement and adventure. It wasn't always easy to read, but I was completely absorbed by Baldwin's writing.

Rating: Classic! (5+ stars)

46 books, 156 days, still well on pace