Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

11 reviews

fictionalfrank's review

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

voidgif's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Heartwarming and tragic. Just like love.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Homophobia

tlaynejones's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

This is my first of Baldwin’s books, and it is easy to see why his work stand as modern classics. For the most part I thought this was a compelling and engaging novel. The sense of time, the love between Fonny and Tish, the examination of racist and unjust ’justice’ system were all very well done. I was however really dissatisfied and frustrated with the layers of sexism and misogyny that permeate every aspect of the writing. It will forever challenge me to understand how the ‘great thinkers’ who have worked so hard to shine a light of the reality of prejudice, power dynamics, systemic injustice, and biased social assumptions - in relationship to race - can be so blind to how all of these impact and influence gender as well. I’m glad to have read this, so I have the cultural knowledge, but it leaves me wanting to go back and reread An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, to reexperience and to compare a novel that examines some of the same social injustices, but from the perspective of a contemporary woman. 
Very cautiously recommended, check CW 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Police brutality

mattyvreads's review

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

dnvrdnvr's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Homophobia and Rape

Minor: Antisemitism and Miscarriage

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

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

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

marjolainegenot's review

funny hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Beautiful prose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Rape, Racial slurs, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

evangant's review

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment

The mentioning of SA is never explicit, it's just a factor of the story, the slurs are meant to fuel specific moments; not used as an actual attack on the marginalized group

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

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

Minor: Torture and Miscarriage

morepeachyogurt's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Homophobia