Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review

Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Let's talk about "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin today. The tone is filled with dread and fear and features family trauma, suffering, finding oneself, validation. We have some wonderful usage of call and response with listening and being heard. We also need to talk about the cup of trembling and turning suffering into music. But we have to follow an Algebra teacher... ewww! Just kidding, let's talk about a masterpiece of literature.
James Baldwin Playlist: • Sonny's Blues by James...
Read James Baldwin's Short Story Collection: amzn.to/31ZcFtE
Did you enjoy the talk? Help us in running the channel with a one-time donation: ko-fi.com/thecodexcantina
Support us on Patreon: / thecodexcantina
Subscribe: / @thecodexcantina
=================================
Books or Stories Mentioned in this Video:
Channels Mentioned in this Video:
Lezlie@TheNerdyNarrative: / @thenerdynarrative
=================================
#JamesBaldwin
#SonnysBlues
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
0:00 Introductions
0:30 Publication, Author, + Themes
3:54 Plot Summary
6:35 Analysis
18:26 Wrap Up and Ratings
Do you have a Short Story or Novel you'd think we'd like or would want to see us cover? Submit your entry here: forms.gle/41VvksZTKBsxUYQMA
You can reach us on Social Media:
▶ The Literary Discourse Discord: / discord
▶ / thecodexcantina
▶ / thecodexcantina
====Copyright Info====
Song: Infinite
Artist: Valence
Licensed to KZbin by: AEI (on behalf of NCS); Featherstone Music (publishing), and 1 Music Rights Societies
Free Download/Stream: • Valence - Infinite | F...

[@TheCodeXCantina]

James Baldwin Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqesfaetrNCfapI Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thecodexcantina TABLE OF CONTENTS: 0:00​ Introductions 0:30​ Publication, Author, + Themes 3:54​ Plot Summary 6:35​ Analysis 18:26​ Wrap Up and Ratings

[@OxysLokiMoros]

How would you compare the life and character of sonny and James Baldwin? What do they have in commen and what is different?

[@bandanapanigrahy6513]

I m a literature student and this video helps me for my exm tq so much 🙏❤️

[@ramblingraconteur1616]

Great analysis and discussion! This is an excellent story and a great introduction to the many works Baldwin produced. I completely agree with your description of how Baldwin is extremely intentional with his word choice. There’s a perception that the revival style preaching and jazz, both associated with Blacks, involves just improvisation and feeling, but the reality is that a person has to know so much more and be so much more read or practiced to be able to achieve that type of seeming improvisation, really the diametric opposite of that perception. Baldwin shows that here. Loved the discussion of call and response. There are times where a great writer can try to create that effect within a text between characters or even between the reader and the text. I also think the story works on the theme of assimilation vs. separation, a question that he existed decades earlier with Booker T. Washington and WEB DuBois and would continue into the Civil Rights Movement. The narrator is finding an identity in what are perceived to be middle class successes while Sonny presents the possibility of an identity outside of those. Great work across the board!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Thanks, Jack!

[@OxysLokiMoros]

How would you compare the life and character of sonny and James Baldwin? What do they have in commen and what is different?

[@danielchan6486]

I loved the analysis and the Biblical allusion and connection.

[@Starscreamlive]

The narrator's realization as he is sitting in the club and finally listening (truly listening this time) is masterful. You don't really see it coming until it happens, and it makes us reflect and ask ourselves "are we this way too?". 10/10? I think I may have to agree. I'm not going to say it's the GOAT just yet though.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Great question to explore there!

[@OxysLokiMoros]

How would you compare the life and character of sonny and James Baldwin? What do they have in commen and what is different?

[@rupibath8581]

beautifully explained ✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻👍👍👍

[@Amnanahan]

Just an opinion, There is definitely a purpose in why the narrator was an algebra teacher... All over the story, he has a quantitative quality in his attitude..! On the other side Sonny has this qualitative dimension to his personality with all this music and life making elements in there... Sonny isn't chasing an answer...he is living in the moment... narrator is chasing and making things right all over the story...!! Baldwin never went wrong in making the narrator an Algebra teacher..!!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

👍

[@OxysLokiMoros]

How would you compare the life and character of sonny and James Baldwin? What do they have in commen and what is different?

[@BookishTexan]

Great job. Not a story I have read, but of course I love Baldwin.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I'm still learning. You'll have to teach us the ways.

[@BookishTexan]

@@TheCodeXCantina I'm just waiting for you to read more of his stuff so you can teach me. Novel wise, you might start with _Another Country_ which begins by focusing on a Jazz/Blues musician and I think has some similarities to this story.

[@OxysLokiMoros]

How would you compare the life and character of sonny and James Baldwin? What do they have in commen and what is different?

[@drettlinking]

4:59 That's all I'm going to say.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

:D

[@bighardbooks770]

This is in my TBR ... I've read four of his novels, now. What instrument (s) do you play, Una? We'll have to jam some day 🎶🎼🎵

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Which ones?

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Not anymore. I used to

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

So, is THIS the greatest short story ever told? Do we have a winner guys?

[@TheCodeXCantina]

We sure do! Better late than never!

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

@@TheCodeXCantina 🤯

[@kimaziprince5524]

How will I answer this question ? In sonny’s blues , how does he change/ progress throughout the story ? Where does he begin with regard to Donny ? Where does he end with regard to sonny ? Why do you think James Baldwin chose to have this story narrated by sonny’s brother rather than sonny himself

[@OxysLokiMoros]

How would you compare the life and character of sonny and James Baldwin? What do they have in commen and what is different?

[@susmit1]

Tomorrow I'll give my English exam hope this video helps me

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Best of luck!

[@DanielLima-bi3zc]

I have group activity on this story....came here for some help!🙏

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Best of luck with your activity!

[@geraldinethomas463]

I'm confused about the time line, he leaves sonny laying down on a bed in an apartment and he leaves crying. Is this after he lived with them or after?

[@drettlinking]

This part of the story is during a flashback, to a time after Sonny had run away from Isabel's home after getting chastised for not going to school. This is way before he gets out of Rehab (I assume he was in rehab), and way before he was living with the Main Character (His brother) and Isabel.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Looks like someone else already replied. I hope you enjoyed the story

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

Whaaaa had no idea Baldwin was a pastor!? I was going to read The Fire Next Time for #BlackLitChallenge, but The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman was calling to me.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

It would be cool to read a biography on him sometime...

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

@@TheCodeXCantina it really would! One of my best friends just read a biography of him with her son. I think it broke her heart; it moved her deeply.

[@TacticalOdudu]

Luke lightsaber

[@Michael_Feehan]

I hated reading till now

[@TheCodeXCantina]

It’s a great story!

[@Jay-du1ms]

thx