Just Above My Head

By: James Baldwin

Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly

The stark grief of a brother mourning a brother opens this novel with a stunning, unforgettable experience. Here, in a monumental saga of love and rage, Baldwin goes back to Harlem, to the church of his groundbreaking novel Go Tell It on the Mountain, to the homosexual passion of Giovanni's Room, and to the political fire that inflames his nonfiction work.

Here, too, the story of gospel singer Arthur Montana and his family becomes both a journey into another country of the soul and senses - and a living contemporary history of black struggle in this land.

©1978, 1979 James Baldwin (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Wonderful poignant story

The story of Arthur Montana is heartbreaking because of the world in which he finds himself, a world that rejects his black and gay self. Baldwin is a master at revealing the workings of the human heart. As a gospel singer, Arthur travels the world and no where does he face hatred and violence such as that confronted in the Deep South, the Bible Belt.
Baldwin’s love scenes are explicit and not for the faint of heart.
I read the novel back in the 70s but enjoyed listening to it EXCEPT when the reader tried to imitate a woman’s voice . His rendition was excruciating. Why not have an actual woman read those parts ?

Wow

Such a powerful book! A bit hard to listen to at times (because the truth is hard), but beautifully written and masterfully narrated. A true masterpiece.

Deeply intense

This story led you through the life and times with soulful soliloquies of thoughts you’ve had quietly to yourself if you are black in America. I wasn’t too keen on the narrator at first but as the story pushes on it’s the perfect tempo.

to be black in America in 1950s

what a great book. I have learned a lot. the performance was amazing. what a philosopher !

still so relevant in 2019, amen!

Epic resd, as always. most-mem-moment: Crunch declares love for mother and Arthur. Gimme a bucket.

Best James Baldwin I've Read

A fierce yet accessible heartfelt story bridges the spiritual & disgust with religion. Compelling portraits of prayer & gospel songs and of racial oppression - the war against blacks that was the Jim Crow south.

All season

As always James did a great work touching every aspect of the life we live .

wow

What a story of human interaction and reaction and its complexities, I ended the hearing in tears. It is indeed heart rending. Kevin Kenerly is a wonderful reader, one of the best I've heard. I was not familiar with James Baldwin and learned that he passed in 1987. I'm looking forward to reading/hearing more of his works.

Excellent Read....

Really enjoyed this book. James B had a great imagination and was excellent at expressing it clearly so it was easily understood by all.

a symphony of words

this book was like listening to a song
the Arthur's words paired very well with the narration