Blues for Mister Charlie: A Play

Book Description

In a small Southern town, a white man murders a black man, then throws his body in the weeds. With this act of violence--which is loosely based on the notorious 1955 killing of Emmett Till--James Baldwin launches an unsparing and at times agonizing probe of the wounds of race. For where once a white storekeeper could have shot a "boy" like Richard Henry with impunity, times have changed. And centuries of brutality and fear, patronage and contempt, are about to erupt in a moment of truth as devastating as a shotgun blast.

In his award-winning play, Baldwin turns a murder and its aftermath into an inquest in which even the most well-intentioned whites are implicated--and in which even a killer receives his share of compassion.

Customer Reviews:

A Strong Commentary of Racial Relations of the 1960s.......2007-06-18

James Baldwin, an American literary juggernaut, has plowed over his readership, and the modern American theater as well, with this successful attempt at playwriting. Set in the civil rights hayday in a southern everytown, Baldwin introduces readers to a cast of characters that all firmly believe themselves right in a world that couldn't be any more wrong.

In addition to pointient dialouge, Baldwin also uses the stage to make his point, segregating the set into blacktown and whitetown with only a communistic journalist regularly breaking the barrier. This play successfully encapsulates the climate of the American civil rights era south in much the same way that history books such as "Common Ground" grasp the life of the north of the same period.

Emotional and racist community.......2006-03-11

James Baldwin's best known play, Blues for Mister Charlie, is included in the Best American Plays 6th Series (1963-67) Baldwin said it is based distantly on the true story of a Mississippii youth, Emmett Till in 1955, who was murdered for whistling at a white woman.

The three act play has two sets, the Negro church and the courthouse and in the church setting is a division of characters in Whitetown and Blacktown. Mister Charlie is pseudo for all white men. The lengthy play does go into flashback, so it is important to spot when the flashbacks occur. And one important flashback is the real account of the murder that took place.

The opening begins as The black Reverend Meridian discusses whether anybody will be arrested for his son Richard's murder. Lyle, a racist bigot, is accused of the murder. Parnell, also white, is a longtime friend of Lyle. Parnell is also a good friend of all the black folk. This relationship plays a large role.

The play then shifts to Whitetown where we learn who storekeeper Lyle and his wife Jo are. Here, Lyle tries to get Parnell to believe him that he didn't kill anyone Lyle is adamant that he will never be convicted. We learn that Lyle has killed a black man before. It is said that Lyle was having an affair with an old black man's young wife.

Then, the captivating courtroom dialogue, written with interspersed commentary from the Whitetown and Blacktown and some flashbacks.

If you are familiar with the works of Baldwin, you will recognize the preacher in him. His father was a preacher. Baldwin through Rev Meridian has a powerful memorable monologue at the pulpit. In this play, one gets a true understanding of racism against blacks and whites. Baldwin is one to be listened to!
........MzRizz

searing.......2002-09-09

biting and searing
written in 1964
if you're white--its an angry eye opener

Blues for Ms. Tiffany!.......2001-06-13

I have just finished this book, and I am sorry it has taken me so long to pick it up. You start reading and you almost forget it is a play! There is a lesson to be taught in this book, and one to be learned when finished. It shows more than one reality of living in the south back in this time. There was racism, there was tolerance,there was love and there was always turmoil! A battle to do the right thing and even the wrong!. We are all a product of our surroundings but we can also try to change that, and sometimes the cost of not "wanting things to be the way they have always been" is too much for any one person. It made me sad, (hence my blues!) but I came away with a little extra something. Please read this book!

this play provides insight into subconscience racism.......1999-04-21

this play is wonderful. not only does the reader come away with a deeper insight into the racist psyche that plagues our country, but also a clearer view of how racism is perpetuated systematicly in a subsconscience manner. it becomes very appearant that many of the racist characters in the play are truly unaware of the devestating effects their racist attitude is having on their growth as individuals. in fact, we find that we find that such characters are so misguided in their views, they often mistake them as being wholesome,that is, for the betterment of all people, and scripturally based. baldwin's depiction of this cancerous mentality is brilliant. the reader sees clearly how misguided premises can corrupt one's entire mentality.

Average customer rating:

Blues for Mister Charlie a Play

Manufacturer: Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GWSEFA

Average customer rating:

Blues for Mister Charlie a play
Baldwin James
Manufacturer: The Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UIS8RY

Book Description

Atop the rocky coast of Maine sits the Towers, a magnificent family mansion that is home to a legend of long-lost love, hidden emeralds -- and four sisters determined to save their home against all odds.

New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts brings you the Calhoun Women --

Suzanna's Surrender -- Burned-out and tired as hell, all ex-cop Holt Bradford wanted to do was relax. But when beautiful single mom Suzanna invaded his solitude to search for the missing Calhoun emeralds, he couldn't say no. Holt had changed from a bad-boy teen to a dangerously sexy man, but Suzanna couldn't risk her well-ordered life for a man who made her mouth go dry . . .

Megan's Mate -- Calhoun sister-in-law Megan O'Riley and her young son had traveled far to become the Towers' newest residents. Cool as an Atlantic breeze, Megan buried her passions and vowed never to let her heart control her life. But when boat captain Nate Fury set his course for her, the practical lady was swept away by his formidable charm.

Customer Reviews:

The Calhouns: Suzanna And Megan: Suzanna's Surrender/Megan's Mate.......2007-05-10

It was a wonderful book I never am disappointed in Nora Roberts ever. She is a terrific writer and I can't wait for her new books to come out. I would recommend every Nora Roberts fan read this and if your not please try it you may become one.

Loved it.......2007-01-11

I love this series. Great characters, and it keeps you interested the whole time!

another Roberts success.......2007-01-10

I had read the previous titles in this series, and enjoyed these two sequels. Well written, entertaining, kept my interest.

Enjoyable book.......2007-01-10

I love Nora Roberts and this book was no exception. I really enjoyed just sitting back and finishing up with the Calhoun story.

Very Good!.......2006-10-27

Yes this is old Nora, but it is a great story. This was a reread for me and I enjoyed it the second time around very much.
This is the last 2 stories in the 5 that involve the Calhoun family.
In Suzanna's surrender you finally get the oldest sisters story. She had a rough marriage and an even harder divorce. She is raising two kids and working hard at her own gardening business. She gets involved with ex-cop Holt Bradford, who was also the local bad boy in his teens. This is a great love story. Also in this story you have the conclusion to the mystery surrounding the Calhoun's Great Grandmother's tragic death and the missing emeralds. You also get more details of the love affair between Christian and Bianca, in Christians words.
In Megan's Mate you have the story of Calhoun sister in law. This story takes place a year after Suzanna's so you get a nice follow up on the whole family. Megan is a single mother who has closed herself off to love... But then she meets Nate Fury and all her walls come crashing down.
This is a wonderful conclusion to the Calhoun Family saga. Two great stories.

Megan's Mate (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No 745)

Average customer rating:

Sorry to see this series end!
Great Ending To A Wonderful Series
a family re-visited
I actually liked it.
WONDERFUL!!!!

Megan's Mate (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No 745)
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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Waiting For Nick (Those Wild Ukrainians) (Silhouette Special Edition, No 1088)
Calhoun Women: Lilah & Suzanna (Calhoun Women Series)
Suzanne'S Surrender (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No. 397)
Born O'Hurley (The Last Honest Woman / Dance to the Piper)
$O'Hurley's Return: Skin Deep\Without A Trace$ O'Hurley's Return: Skin Deep\Without A Trace

ASIN: 0373077459

Customer Reviews:

Sorry to see this series end!.......2005-06-15

Megan's Mate by Nora Roberts is the last book in the Calhoun women series and features Sloan O'Reilly's sister. Megan. Readers of the four previous books in the series may recall that Megan at 17 became pregnant with a child by a man who was about to marry Suzanna Calhoun. When Sloan meets and decides to marry Amanda the family has to come to terms with the fact that Megan has a son that is related not only to Suzanna's two children but may very well someday fit into the Calhoun family. And now that time has come as Megan and her son take up residence in The Towers with her son and Megan goes to work as the accoutant for the families many businesses.As if the adjustment to family life isn't enough, Megan catches the eye of one of the sister's husbands partners. And as only Ms. Roberts can write love
blooms but not before there is a tug of war between these two people.

Megan's Mate is a fitting conclusion to this multifaceted family
saga which fetures unforgettable characters. An avid reader of
Nora Roberts romance books and especially her trilogies,this series was one of the best of them that I have read recently. I now look forward to reading her newest book Black Rose, the second book of the In the Garden series. As long as Nora Roberts writes them, I will continue reading them.

Great Ending To A Wonderful Series.......2000-04-19

Megan's Mate was a great ending to the Calhoun series. It was fun to see how everyone in the first books were doing (C.C., Trent, Amanda, Sloan, Lilah, Max, Suzanne, Holt, and you can't leave out the kids, CoCo and Colleen!). Megan and Nate were perfect for each other and enjoyable to read about. I also was glad to see that CoCo finally found her someone to love (it was about time, after all she was the matchmaker for all the girls!). If you haven't read the first four books, read them before reading this book, it will make it a lot more enjoyable.

a family re-visited.......1999-09-20

i loved this book most out of the series. the relationship between and aunt and the cook was terrific! ::smile

I actually liked it........1999-04-07

I actually liked this book even though by looking at the cover I would have thought this book was going to suck. but amazingly it didn't. I'm surprised. normally I wouldn't read what I call a " b book" I gave it a try because I like nora roberts books. And alot of her "b books" are pretty good.

WONDERFUL!!!!.......1998-11-21

I have read this book and would like to correct the review made by another reader. Megan's Mate is not the story of Freddie and Nick from the Stalanski's that book is Waiting for Nick which is in fact another superb book by Ms.Roberts. Megan's Mate is the follow up to the Calhouns it is the story of Sloans' sister. It is a great book but i would recomend reading The Calhoun Women first simply because this story is a follow up to the other book. Nora Roberts is my favorite author all her books are very well written and enjoiable especially the ones that are written in family groups as the ones I've mentioned here are. If you buy this book you won't regret it.

Average customer rating:

pleasantly surprised!

Megan's Mark[hardcover] (breeds, 7th)
Lora Leigh
Manufacturer: berkley sensation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0739467794

Product Description

From the intensely sensual,wild&dangerous,surprisingly funny and unique world of lora leigh comes another erotic paranormal from her bestselling breed series!a lion breed and an extraordinary sensitive must solve the multiple murders of 'breeds'in megan's town.don't miss this series!

Customer Reviews:

pleasantly surprised!.......2006-06-10

I picked this book to keep me a little busy during a long trip. It was suppose to be interesting enough that I will not be bored, but not so iengrossing that I would be displeased at interruptions. I finished it at one seating, and the very next day went shopping for the other books in the series in bookstores and finally online.
This book has everything. It is not necessary to have read the others in order to understand and enjoy this one. The characters and their racial traits are fascinating, I found the book to be filled with action, romance but at the same time carnal and earthy. I enjoyed the "Breeds" as much as the "Carpathians' of Feehan.
Lora Leigh has just become one of my favorites.

Average customer rating:

The Calhouns: Megan - Megan's Mate
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Wheeler Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Romance | Large Print | Formats | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1597220167

Book Description

Book 5 in The Calhoun Women series

A New York Times Bestseller

The four Calhoun sisters and a special sister-by-marriage are all united by a decades-old legend and the determination to save the Towers, their magnificent family mansion on the rocky coast of Maine. Calhoun sister-in-law Megan O'Riley had buried her passions and vowed never to let her heart control her life. But when boat captain Nate Fury set his course for her, the practical lady was swept away by his charm.

Book Description

The Fortress of Glass is the first in the Crown of the Isles trilogy, which will conclude the epic Lord of the Isles series. A true trilogy, the action extends over the whole three-book arc. The Fortress of Glass begins the story of how the new kingdom of the Isles is finally brought into being by the group of heroes and heroines who have been central to all the books in the series. The group includes Prince Garric, heir to the throne of the Isles, his consort Liane, his sister Sharina, her herculean sweetheart Cashel, his sister Ilna, with her adopted child Merota and piratical Chalcus.

On giant triremes filled with soldiers and diplomats, they journey to the small kingdoms of the Isles to confirm the succession of Garric and to subdue, if necessary, any local rulers too fond of their own kingship to pledge fealty to Garric. All this is being done in a time when the powers of magic in the Isles have flooded to a thousand-year peak, and even local magicians can perform powerful spells normally beyond their control. Fantastic forces from all angles try to keep them apart and unable to continue the reunification of the Isles. So separately and together, they must fight their way back to the same time and place to combat the mysterious and supernatural menace of The Green Woman in her Fortress of Glass.

Average customer rating:

An excellent introduction to modern-day Catholicism

Stay away from this liberal bent

Liberal

The 1st 1/3 of this book needs to be excised

Answers that set things right

Catholic Q & A: Answers to the Most Common Questions About Catholicism, Updated
John J. Dietzen
Manufacturer: Crossroad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Roman Catholicism | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Catholic | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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What Catholics Really Believe-Setting the Record Straight: 52 Answers to Common Misconceptions About the Catholic Faith

ASIN: 0824523091

Book Description

Authoritative, comprehensive, and updated information on every aspect of Catholic belief and life. Fr. Dietzen writes with an engaging and warm pastoral style to convey the joy and wisdom of the Catholic faith.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent introduction to modern-day Catholicism.......2007-07-09

Now in a newly updated edition, Catholic Q & A: Answers to the Most Common Questions About Catholicism by Fr. John J. Dietzen is an award-winning repository of Catholic belief, practice, worship, and viewpoints. Written in plain terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Catholic Q & A covers ubiquitous questions about how Catholics view the Bible, the Church, Mass, Holy Communion, baptism and confirmation, marriage and family living, divorce/annulment/remarriage, penance, devotions, saints, burial practices, and more. "Marriage vows are meant to be kept. But if the spouse is brutally and destructively abusive, part of keeping those vows is to do whatever is possible to end the circumstances that make the abuse possible. If removing herself and the children is the only way to take one's spouse out of an atmosphere that is destroying him and everyone else, the other spouse is being faithful, not unfaithful, to his or her marriage vows by following this course." An excellent introduction to modern-day Catholicism especially recommended for friends or would-be spouses of Catholics as well as lay Catholics themselves.

Stay away from this liberal bent.......2007-06-19

One reviewer stated this book is an "...excellent gift for a new Catholic, or someone you know in an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) class, who is preparing for baptism, confirmation or who is returning to the Church after a long absence." If this poor excuse of a book had been given to me and my wife last year at the beginning of RCIA, I guarantee we would NOT have followed through on our commitment and return to the Church.

This book was recently recommended (to me) via email by "The Catholic Company" (online retailer of Catholic goods). Personally, I will no longer do business with any vendor who sells such nonsense; I suggest you do the same if businesses you frequent online recommend books like this.

Liberal and "soft" leanings like those expressed in this book are a dime a dozen these days and are easily revealed as inherently self-serving and bloated with error. Anyone who buys into this tripe blindly sells themselves short and does their faith no good by following the blind who author such trash. I'd rate this as deserving no "stars" if possible but even Amazon.com won't let you slam-dunk garbage when you see it.

Liberal.......2007-03-27

I was impressed with the topics addressed in this book, but not the responses, that is, when Fr. Dietzen did respond rather than dance around an issue. After some interesting responses, I noticed the lack of a bibliography. Fr. Dietzen writes with an authoratative tone, yet some of his claims seem to be more of a personal opinion. Some, however, are excellent.

Fr. seems to be trying for an extremely ecumenical, inclusive atmosphere, in the "spirit of Vatican II," which many Orthodox Catholics are now reacting against. Fr. uses quotation marks when referencing Martin Luther's "heretical" teachings, yet does not say to which he is referring. His answer to Jesus' descent was much better answered centuries ago in the Summa Theologiae. While he may be right about not taking it too extremely, Fr. seems to dismiss completely the remarks made by Bl. Teresa regarding her not receiving Communion on the hand.

Fr. seems to be intolerant of Catholics who seem to be frustrated with todays atmosphere which, at times, can seem to lack the Orthodoxy they strive to see. Instead of answering their frustrations, he seems to dismiss them as rash, etc.

I did like some of his clarifications on marriage and receptions of the sacraments.

The 1st 1/3 of this book needs to be excised.......2006-11-06

The first 1/3 of this book is really terrible in its' presentation of the Catholic faith, particularly with regards to biblical theology. There are some later parts that I also find objectionable. The rest of his book is okay, and even quite moving, in parts. I particularly enjoyed what the author had to say on pages 222 & 223, about marital love. This was not, however, enough to sway my low opinion of the beginnings of this book.

Allow me to quote just one small example of Dietzen's loony meanderings:

On page 468, Dietzen answers a question on what happens to our soul at death. He writes,

"Both our spiritual and material parts, traditionally referred to as body and soul, are essential for our human nature, whether here or in the next life. In other words, it seems there can be no such thing as a human soul floating around without a body. If a soul does not have some relation to a body, it is not a human soul. Whatever it is, if such a separate existence were even possible, it would not be a human being."

The author goes on to view positively the view of what is often referred to as "soul sleep."
This is a view that is held by Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses.
It also seems to reflect the speculations of Origen, from the mid 3rd century AD.

Somehow, Fr. Dietzen must have been sleeping during his seminary days when his professors dealt with the biblical and patristic views of life after death. Perhaps he does not recall the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), or the martyrs under the heavenly altar (Revelation 6:9-11). In case one might consider the first two citations mere stories, please consider 2 Corinthians 5:1-11; and chapter 12 of the same letter.

Save yourself the time, money and disappointment that will come with "Catholic Q&A", and instead do yourself a favor.
A more orthodox book currently available is "Catholic Replies" by James J. Drummey, C.R. Publications.
It is a far more orthodox book on a broad range of subject matter from a Roman Catholic point of view.

John Paul

Answers that set things right.......2006-09-04

This is a great resource in any Catholic's home. Fr. Dietzen's compilation of questions and answers go across the board. The book addresses issues of marriage and divorce, abortion, extra-terrestial life, sexual orientation and of course, celibacy. Actually, that's just a sampling of the many topics covered in this book. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Catholic with hundreds of years of ancestors behind me but questions still pop in my mind. Fr. Dietzen's responses are enlightening and succint. He is polite and honest, good qualities in a priest. Some may say the book is soft but what's wrong with that? It is a gentle approach and refreshing as opposed to the in-your-face communication that is now rampant in the world.

I love this book and if another one comes out, I'll surely buy it. It's like having your parish priest right beside you.

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