Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

20 reviews

franzis_buecher's review against another edition

4.0

I saw the movie adaptation a few years ago and it was interesting to see some plot points resurface in my memory as I read the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Antisemitism, Homophobia, and Death of parent

rosiecotton_dancing's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death of parent

sarabrogan's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Confinement, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Sexual content, Rape, and Racism

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Miscarriage

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

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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

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! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Rape

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

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

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Content Warnings

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

ktkeps's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Grief, Suicide, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage

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.

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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

tabear's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Hate crime, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Miscarriage and Antisemitism

theuncannydani's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Baldwin wrote this is such a poetic way, but I was still able to follow it. That was great.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Confinement, Rape, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Minor: Homophobia, Torture, Racial slurs, Blood, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization