Reviews

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

bunnipdf's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

catfishmaggie's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

Captivating and devastating. The characters were so alive and will live on even now that I’ve put this book down. Even half a century after this was first published, how horribly relevant the story still is…

s_mivsek's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

lilygrace18'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? No

4.5

This book was so beautiful and so crushing, idk why on earth I thought I should just listen to it all in a day. 

phoebelaarson's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

linds_farr's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

morgonwashere's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? N/A

5.0

Broke my heart but I still enjoyed it

rosegoes3's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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.

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.