Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

25 reviews

greatexpectations77'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

4.75

I'm a little embarrassed that this was my first James Baldwin book, but I'm so glad that I read it. What beautiful writing and such a tragic story. I feel like it's rare that a male writer has such incredible insight into a female character, but I thought it was such an amazing story about women. I would love to write an essay about it. And how horrifying that 50 years later, the exact same story could happen today in this racist country built on stolen land.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Abandonment

theuncannydani's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

4.0

Baldwin wrote this is such a poetic way, but I was still able to follow it. That was great.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Blood

piperclover's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

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

Read for school so I have no idea what to rate it 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape

kingcrookback's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Rape, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage

leabhar_love's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

dionne's review

challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Rape, Violence, and Alcohol

clapyourshands's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Suicide, Police brutality, Stalking, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

mikki_9's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage and Torture

francestea's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A modern classic. This is a beautiful, short read about a young couple in love and the challenges they face with their families and the law. Due to police discrimination, Fonny is wrongfully imprisoned and the book switches between modern day: when Trish goes to visit Fonny in jail, and the past: where we see scenes from their lives before. My absolute favourite part of the book is when Ernestine gives the Hunt’s a piece of her mind. There is lots of joy and sorry in this book but the theme of injustice is strong and the families frustration with the judicial system is palpable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Moderate: Confinement, Rape, and Police brutality

Minor: Miscarriage

paulrichard's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, and Death of parent