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sarahamymcneil's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this book was like setting everything I've ever known on fire, and in the days since, I've been trying to find my thoughts in the rubble. I hardly know what to say; what can you say when you find something that pulls your heart right open?
There's nothing I can come up with that hasn't already been said about this book. But...James Baldwin understood humanity. That, I know for sure. He understood the way that a heart beats, and was kind enough to teach the rest of us. Through his love story of Fonny and Tish; through the even more wonderful characters, Sharon and Ernestine. Baldwin saw right through people to the core of what makes love special, and put it to paper so that we might have a chance at understanding it too. And for that, I can't thank him enough.
There's nothing I can come up with that hasn't already been said about this book. But...James Baldwin understood humanity. That, I know for sure. He understood the way that a heart beats, and was kind enough to teach the rest of us. Through his love story of Fonny and Tish; through the even more wonderful characters, Sharon and Ernestine. Baldwin saw right through people to the core of what makes love special, and put it to paper so that we might have a chance at understanding it too. And for that, I can't thank him enough.
jessielinden1's review against another edition
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
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
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
angelveins's review against another edition
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
karenglez's review against another edition
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
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
mariefleurie'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
4.25
enolip's review against another edition
4.0
It was okay. Nothing against the book, just I’m bad at fictions. I struggle to stay constant.