Play Book Tag discussion

Another Country by James Baldwin - 4 stars

Literary fiction about the lives of a small ensemble of people residing in New York City in what appears to be the 1950’s, diving deeply into their thoughts, dreams, and fears. The initial protagonist, Rufus, a black jazz musician, is the common bond that ties these people together, and what happens in his life affects the others even after he is no longer with them.

Baldwin uses his characters to conduct a dialogue about race and sexual orientation. He attempts to provide insight, to help others understand, what it is like for people of color, homosexuals, bisexuals, and mixed-race couples to live in the world. Themes include human responses to loneliness, social injustice, and the experience of love in many forms. A longing for acceptance permeates the narrative. It explores jealousy, guilt, denial, self-expression, and hypocrisy. It takes a step toward generating common understanding among people. It provided much food for thought. It shows the ramifications of risking oneself by loving another, like traveling to another country, in its emotional impact on both parties.

Content warnings include racism, homophobia, sexism, profanity, sex on and off-page, violence, suicide, abuse, and infidelity. Recommended to readers of literary fiction and classics.

Link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have this on my shelf- I love Baldwin.

Good review. Some very important themes in this book.