Short Story of the Week: Sonny's Blues (Baldwin) By Susan McLean

James Baldwin isn't a new name in the literary game. Born in 1924, and died in 1987, Baldwin has been renowned up and down for the way he tackles racism, with powerful scenes that mimic the way reality unfolds. 

Sonny's Blues is a short story in Baldwin's collection Going to Meet the Man. It details a man's relationship with his brother, Sonny, and the hurdled that have prevented them from becoming close. Read for an account of the affects of addiction on those close to the addict. Check pages 114-115 for a really beautiful, well-written scene. 

Also read The Rockpile and Going to Meet the Man, also in that anthology. 

Note: photo from Amazon, and very much not my own