Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

A friend lent me this book.  It is not my usual read, but I always like discovering authors I have never read before.  The novel was first published in 1952/3 and is semi-autobiographical.  It explores the role of the Christian Church in the lives of African-Americans.  It is a short book, but is packed with emotional and racial tension.  The story is set in Harlem in 1935.  The book is divided into three sections.  “The Seventh Day,” which focusses on John Grimes, who is 14 and is debating whether or not to turn away from his father’s religion; He is afraid of his father, Gabriel, who is a preacher, but has a secret sinful past.   The second section, “The Prayers of the Saints,” depicts a revival church service where we glimpse the past life of John’s aunt Florence, his father Gabriel and his mother Elizabeth.  Florence was my favourite character - strong and feisty.  In the last section, “The Threshing-Floor,” John is possessed by the spirit and is saved – or is he?   I now want to read Giovanni’s Room also by James Baldwin.