Reviews tagging 'Rape'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

106 reviews

bintou's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

biblioghoul's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Racism, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement

Moderate: Police brutality, Alcohol, Suicide, Rape, and Sexual content

Minor: Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Death

misheel_bayasgalan's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

belladonnashrike's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I feel like I know tish…the entire book, it’s like she was telling me the story of her, fonny, & the baby.  

I love how baldwin writes about love. + the commentary on our racist prison system is quite obvious, but I liked the more subtle nods to the concept of “doing time” / “time” as their baby grows and their family changes throughout the book. it was beautifully done. 

barry jenkins did a wonderful job with the film adaptation! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Rape

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

dnvrdnvr's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Homophobia and Rape

Minor: Antisemitism and Miscarriage

sophiaroesler's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Rape, Suicide, and Racism

amimhof's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Rape, Racism, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Suicide

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I'm a little embarrassed that this was my first James Baldwin book, but I'm so glad that I read it. What beautiful writing and such a tragic story. I feel like it's rare that a male writer has such incredible insight into a female character, but I thought it was such an amazing story about women. I would love to write an essay about it. And how horrifying that 50 years later, the exact same story could happen today in this racist country built on stolen land.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Racism

Moderate: Classism, Hate crime, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Abortion, and Antisemitism

missbrookss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Rape, and Sexual assault

aoifetriestoread's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a heart wrenching and painful read and I enjoyed my time with this book. Baldwin has presented us with some very complex characters whose own moral failing do not negate the injustices done to them. 

My only complaint is that I felt the book ended really abruptly and, though I don’t think stories need complete closure, I think it would have benefited from a few extra pages to round it out. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Racism and Rape