this is my favourite book of all time without a doubt. everything about baldwin's storytelling is engrossing. every reread i am left speechless and sobbing. the way he is able to hold the suspense in the most perfect way before dropping it so tragically is just.... stunning. the way he expresses every characters own self reflection with the people in their lives seems effortlessly perfect. it's so incredible, how he manages to grip at your heart with this almost hemingway esque style of writing and twist it as if you are living alongside these men. jaw dropping. i love this book with every ounce of my soul and every bone in my body.

"if you cannot love me, i will die. before you came i wanted to die, i have told you many times. it is cruel to have made me want to live only to make my death more bloody.”