Reviews

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

jessielinden1's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Barry Jenkins said it well: this book brings Baldwin’s interest in love and exposing the institutional racism of America together into one, and it’s extremely effective. Heartbreaking. As a reader I would have liked the book to be more section-y, and it took me awhile to read it because it felt hard to jump in and out, the page breaks my only tool for tracking where I was to stop and begin again, but I also think the experience enhances his messaging. It’s subtle but important. It’s packed with details and unrelenting. They’re on the ride and so are you and sometimes it’s slow but sometimes you’re just clinging.

firepawreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad tense medium-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

3.0

koenjanssen's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

angelveins's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

kim_j_dare's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Oh, my heart.

karenglez's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

zimmerlemon's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.0

This is hard to rate tbh. Some beautiful writing! Really interesting. The ending
is fitting but also upsetting but even then, upsetting because it’s real that it might be that way rather than all tied up with a bow or happy ending.
 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mariefleurie's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.25

enolip's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

It was okay. Nothing against the book, just I’m bad at fictions. I struggle to stay constant.

rockin_robyn's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0