I recently gained an interest in Baldwin's work, especially because he's revered and mentioned by so many greats of our time in literature. I had no idea he had an FBI file, and a lengthy one at that, but I'm so glad he lived his life and wrote unapologetically!
In the kindest sense, he didn't give not one damn, okay! As he should not have! I have read all of his novels, several times -- and he has the most lengthy FBI file of any Black artist of the Civil Rights Movement, the FBI needs more to do.....
I enjoyed the James Baldwin writeup. And those are fine (and inventive) "tension tips" for enhancing fiction scenes. It's the little things that keep our writing interesting.
Thanks, Craig - and tension is difficult to write because it is subjective (the movies make it appear easy, that is a trick of sound effects). And, I always considered myself adventurous but moving to a foreign country penniless makes me appear like a seasoned traveler, only! He had more courage than the universe allows!
Years ago a well-meaning teacher assigned Giovanni’s Room. Unfortunately, I read it and answered her questions and put it away. Nothing about the book spoke to me, it’s beauty was like water off a duck.
During COVID I brought it back out and loved it. I have this paragraph underlined.
“Perhaps, as we say in America, I wanted to find myself. This is an interesting phrase, not current as far as I know in the language of any other people, which certainly does not mean what it says but betrays a nagging suspicion that something has been misplaced. I think now that if I had any intimation that the self I was going to find would turn out to be only the same self from which I had spent so much time in flight, I would have stayed at home.”
The final sentence stirs the soul, and amplifies the adage re: going home, again! And, that’s a really good book, filled with rich and meaty sentences. Thanks for reading, and may you please FOIA request James Baldwins FBI file?
I love the titles of your newsletters.
Thank you, this one took a bit to come up with but I think it’s fitting. Thanks for reading
Always! I look forward to reading your writing.
I recently gained an interest in Baldwin's work, especially because he's revered and mentioned by so many greats of our time in literature. I had no idea he had an FBI file, and a lengthy one at that, but I'm so glad he lived his life and wrote unapologetically!
In the kindest sense, he didn't give not one damn, okay! As he should not have! I have read all of his novels, several times -- and he has the most lengthy FBI file of any Black artist of the Civil Rights Movement, the FBI needs more to do.....
Yesss I love this! Which would you recommend as a first read and introduction into his work?
Giovanni’s Room! And tell me what you think!
An FBI file. Outrageous what he endured. No surprise he left the country.
Not just a file, the largest FBI file of any Black artist of the era!
I enjoyed the James Baldwin writeup. And those are fine (and inventive) "tension tips" for enhancing fiction scenes. It's the little things that keep our writing interesting.
Thanks, Craig - and tension is difficult to write because it is subjective (the movies make it appear easy, that is a trick of sound effects). And, I always considered myself adventurous but moving to a foreign country penniless makes me appear like a seasoned traveler, only! He had more courage than the universe allows!
Years ago a well-meaning teacher assigned Giovanni’s Room. Unfortunately, I read it and answered her questions and put it away. Nothing about the book spoke to me, it’s beauty was like water off a duck.
During COVID I brought it back out and loved it. I have this paragraph underlined.
“Perhaps, as we say in America, I wanted to find myself. This is an interesting phrase, not current as far as I know in the language of any other people, which certainly does not mean what it says but betrays a nagging suspicion that something has been misplaced. I think now that if I had any intimation that the self I was going to find would turn out to be only the same self from which I had spent so much time in flight, I would have stayed at home.”
The final sentence stirs the soul, and amplifies the adage re: going home, again! And, that’s a really good book, filled with rich and meaty sentences. Thanks for reading, and may you please FOIA request James Baldwins FBI file?
I’m on it haha
Truman Capote’s also (his isn’t as voluminous), please and thank you!