Going to meet Going to Meet the Man

It's hard to read all of the books. In my notebook, I have a long list of books I'd like to read, and I add things faster than I cross them off. There are some big omissions in what I've read, but I was glad to read a book by James Baldwin this month.

Going to Meet the Man is a collection of stories that are powerful, sad, and beautiful. They may also make you angry and contain two scenes of absolutely shocking brutality. Baldwin writes deftly about the impact of racism and homophobia on self-identity. These complicated issues get their due, but the collection reads quickly and is hard to put down.

The two longer stories in the collection were my favorites. "Sonny's Blues" features some great writing on music. "This Morning, This Evening, So Soon" really brings Paris to life. Anyone who appreciates great writing or wants a glimpse of what life was like in the middle of the 20th century should read this book.