Reviews tagging 'Violence'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

29 reviews

zimmerlemon's review against another edition

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.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Sexual content and Violence

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

fictionalfrank's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Police brutality, Misogyny, Racism, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Rape

eve81's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Antisemitism

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

krisc1989's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, Cursing, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, and Violence

bando_bauldio's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

What a heart wrenchingly intimate story about the systemic inequalities in society… 

Things I liked: Trish’s omnipotent narration, commentary on systemic racism and the prison industrial complex, the love between Fonny and Trish, the support her family provides, and so much more. 

Things I didn’t like: the somewhat ambiguous ending, I was hoping for something more concrete; and I think that’s it lol 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Violence, and Sexual assault

mattyvreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

Gorgeously written and utterly haunting. One of the best books I have ever read, period. 

It’s a not-so-far-fetched fiction which is unfortunately, equally relevant today. It is so much more than a love story, although few succeed in painting as clear and honest a picture of humanity as Baldwin.

It’s hard to write a review for this book because words fail to describe it’s poignance and import. Absolutely everyone should read this book.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Homophobia

mpaterson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

A beautiful and poignant prose that offers a brief window into the lives of two interconnected families and explores the interconnection of racism and sexism in 60s NYC. It’s tender in moments and tense in others, sometimes both simultaneously. Both nothing and so much happens throughout the book. Love, in all its forms - unconditional and unhealthy, and emotion carries the story with ease and depth. 

If you’re looking for a beautifully melancholy, yet even hopeful of a story, this is it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Violence, Sexism, Police brutality, Racism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Classism

Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Miscarriage

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape