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A review by kikiandarrowsfishshelf
James Baldwin: Later Novels (Loa #272): Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone / If Beale Street Could Talk / Just Above My Head by James Baldwin
5.0
One of the things you can say about these later James Baldwin novels is that they pull you in and do not let go.
The first novel, "Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone" is the story of an actor who has a serious health issue. In part, it comes out of an attempt to adapt one of Baldwin's earlier works to the stage. It is a bit about life, about family and about relationships.
"If Beale Street Could Talk" is heartbreaking. It simply is. And honesty, it is illustration, among other things, of the long reach effects of racism in the police and society and how it effects generations.
"Just Above My Head" seems to be based in part what happened to Baldwin's brother's experience.
In fact, leaving aside Beale Street, the other two novels do seem to be slightly autobiographical in some sense. If you knw anything about Baldwin, in other words if you have read his non-fiction, then there are similarities, an overlapping of events.
The first novel, "Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone" is the story of an actor who has a serious health issue. In part, it comes out of an attempt to adapt one of Baldwin's earlier works to the stage. It is a bit about life, about family and about relationships.
"If Beale Street Could Talk" is heartbreaking. It simply is. And honesty, it is illustration, among other things, of the long reach effects of racism in the police and society and how it effects generations.
"Just Above My Head" seems to be based in part what happened to Baldwin's brother's experience.
In fact, leaving aside Beale Street, the other two novels do seem to be slightly autobiographical in some sense. If you knw anything about Baldwin, in other words if you have read his non-fiction, then there are similarities, an overlapping of events.