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bethvance's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Rape
Minor: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide
rosalind's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Always nerve-racking to read one of your best friends’ favourite books. Fortunately I came to a similar conclusion! Man, reading this in the shadow of the George Floyd court case is heavy. But an important heaviness, a heaviness we need to feel and respond to, be motivated to do move against. Baldwin writes so lyrically and you feel the fresh heartbreak of every despondency whilst balancing the weary sadness of inevitability. And the space, the space to fill in the gaps, to confront your own feelings, like a Biblical ‘selah’. A classic and rightfully so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Cursing, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Police brutality, and Hate crime
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Misogyny
Minor: Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
mariakureads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.5
What a book! This book was fraught with so much emotion that it felt real to the touch. I could never have anticipated the realness that was in such a book.
"If Beale Street Could Talk" is my first James Baldwin book; I was unaware of everything he captured. This could have easily been a book about today's current climate and not something that he had written back in 1974 - 1974?!?
There is so much to say about this book, but I keep thinking about the families and how the MC's criminal charge and arrest affect the involved families on the outside who are wanting to do everything in their power to set him free. These are the people who get lost in such a nature, and Baldwin depicts that anger, worry, and sadness are authentic terms ad dialogue that is hard to ignore.
The book's dialogue is upfront and very in your face in its presentation and from character to character, as some are soft-spoken and others harsh as the city that this book is about. Here is an intimate look of a love that sustains through the most strenuous of times, and to read it is incredible, and no wonder I was intimidated to read this before.
This won't be my last James Baldwin just the first.
"If Beale Street Could Talk" is my first James Baldwin book; I was unaware of everything he captured. This could have easily been a book about today's current climate and not something that he had written back in 1974 - 1974?!?
There is so much to say about this book, but I keep thinking about the families and how the MC's criminal charge and arrest affect the involved families on the outside who are wanting to do everything in their power to set him free. These are the people who get lost in such a nature, and Baldwin depicts that anger, worry, and sadness are authentic terms ad dialogue that is hard to ignore.
The book's dialogue is upfront and very in your face in its presentation and from character to character, as some are soft-spoken and others harsh as the city that this book is about. Here is an intimate look of a love that sustains through the most strenuous of times, and to read it is incredible, and no wonder I was intimidated to read this before.
This won't be my last James Baldwin just the first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Rape, Racial slurs, and Racism
hueyp's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
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