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casserole_cg's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Rape
kenz_reads_books's review
4.25
This was my first James Baldwin book and I absolutely loved his writing style. This was a very impactful, thought provoking, devastating book that explored some very tough themes. I kind of wish the book was longer actually. At the end I was left wanting just a little bit more. There were quite a few good quotes in here and I ended up tabbing them! I also listened to this on audio and the narrator was fantastic. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
evrythingoes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
So much love, love, love in this story. Pure & true love. Simultaneously, also, deep, bone-crumbling pain.
For Tish and Fonny, their companionship began as children and while nearing adulthood, eventually, evolved into lovers. In a way, they were always lovers—love in each exhale of their breath or when their eyes met the other—when they walked down the street without even realizing that their steps were one and the same; always a part and belonging together—they depended on each other. “Fonny loved me too much, we needed each other too much. We were a part of each other, flesh of each other’s flesh,” Simply by being there, they completed each other—loved and were loved by the other.
“I had always, without ever thinking about it, known that I would spend my life with Fonny. It simply had not entered my mind that my life could do anything else."
It was also beautiful to see the unconditional love Tish shared with her family members. She would refer to her elders by their first name in her narrative—maybe it’s because of a sense of comfortability, familiarity, and trust with them. She loves and values them not solely on a familial basis but for their personhood. It goes to show where she has learned to love unapologetically and wholeheartedly from.
Even as children, they were known to be inseparable. Mindlessly called “Romeo & Juliet”, by those in their neighborhood who witnessed their union. While for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, it was their families that were the driving force that wished to separate them—for Tish and Fonny, it was the police, the “justice” system, and white America that did so.
“they can make us lose each other by putting me in the shit—or […] by making you try to protect me from it”
It was so beautiful seeing the love brimming over the edge in their little world together but also, heart-wrenching—the way they could hardly have a moment to relish in their joy without the reality of the hatred and injustice given to black people by those outside of their circle, haunting them if they so much as try to buy some tomatoes or a pack of cigarettes.
“we just have to move it from day to day. If you think too much about it, you really are fucked, can’t move at all.”
This was my first read of Baldwin’s work and I am blown away by his prose and mastery as a writer. This piece of work commenting on systematic racism and injustice presented toward black men in the prison system is just as relevant now as it was back in the 70’s when this book was released. Deeply profound and heart-breaking work—I can't recommend it enough.
For Tish and Fonny, their companionship began as children and while nearing adulthood, eventually, evolved into lovers. In a way, they were always lovers—love in each exhale of their breath or when their eyes met the other—when they walked down the street without even realizing that their steps were one and the same; always a part and belonging together—they depended on each other. “Fonny loved me too much, we needed each other too much. We were a part of each other, flesh of each other’s flesh,” Simply by being there, they completed each other—loved and were loved by the other.
“I had always, without ever thinking about it, known that I would spend my life with Fonny. It simply had not entered my mind that my life could do anything else."
It was also beautiful to see the unconditional love Tish shared with her family members. She would refer to her elders by their first name in her narrative—maybe it’s because of a sense of comfortability, familiarity, and trust with them. She loves and values them not solely on a familial basis but for their personhood. It goes to show where she has learned to love unapologetically and wholeheartedly from.
Even as children, they were known to be inseparable. Mindlessly called “Romeo & Juliet”, by those in their neighborhood who witnessed their union. While for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, it was their families that were the driving force that wished to separate them—for Tish and Fonny, it was the police, the “justice” system, and white America that did so.
“they can make us lose each other by putting me in the shit—or […] by making you try to protect me from it”
It was so beautiful seeing the love brimming over the edge in their little world together but also, heart-wrenching—the way they could hardly have a moment to relish in their joy without the reality of the hatred and injustice given to black people by those outside of their circle, haunting them if they so much as try to buy some tomatoes or a pack of cigarettes.
“we just have to move it from day to day. If you think too much about it, you really are fucked, can’t move at all.”
This was my first read of Baldwin’s work and I am blown away by his prose and mastery as a writer. This piece of work commenting on systematic racism and injustice presented toward black men in the prison system is just as relevant now as it was back in the 70’s when this book was released. Deeply profound and heart-breaking work—I can't recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Rape and Violence
lene111's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape
mailyreads's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
5.0
Reading this book was such a beautiful experience. I got to feel the kindness, love, hope, and heartbreak that seeped out the pages. There was a certain type of helplessness I felt as the reader, only able to observe the events go down, that I believe Fonny’s loved ones felt facing off against this unjust system. At the same time, Baldwin stokes hope and passion— something needs to change, and is changing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
kalyndaanisha's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
aliciamalcomb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
It was recommended to me as cultural books that would or could be banned. I'm doing my best to read the stories written by human beings about our lives and lived experiences because when you have an experience that guides your beliefs are rarely going to falter when someone wants to argue that their beliefs are wrong because they differ. I would be incredibly ignorant to believe that my experience would be the same if I were in that situation because it would because what I look like is different. I am thankful for the opportunity to see through the eyes of someone who has experienced life differently than myself because I can learn empathy in a deeper way. We are all different but humanity should make us all the same.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, and Sexual harassment
stag's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
alsira98's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Antisemitism
marena02's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don’t know how to feel about the ending, but I liked this book. I enjoyed reading about Fonny and Tish’s love story, despite its sad and open ending.
For this to be my first James Baldwin book, I think the thing that stood out most to me was his writing from Tish’s perspective. She is seen by everyone around her as naive and overly optimistic, but it’s clear that while she goes through these new and traumatizing experiences of pregnancy and helping her man who is wrongfully incarcerated get out of jail, she is willing to change her mindset with every obstacle that gets in her way. Baldwin shows this in the way she he narrates her perception on the world and how she learns to navigate it alone with Fonny who has always been by her side. Her journey throughout the book was the most interesting to read about.
Like I said, I don’t really understand what he was trying to do with the ending, but everything else I enjoyed.
For this to be my first James Baldwin book, I think the thing that stood out most to me was his writing from Tish’s perspective. She is seen by everyone around her as naive and overly optimistic, but it’s clear that while she goes through these new and traumatizing experiences of pregnancy and helping her man who is wrongfully incarcerated get out of jail, she is willing to change her mindset with every obstacle that gets in her way. Baldwin shows this in the way she he narrates her perception on the world and how she learns to navigate it alone with Fonny who has always been by her side. Her journey throughout the book was the most interesting to read about.
Like I said, I don’t really understand what he was trying to do with the ending, but everything else I enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism