Reviews with content warning for Rape - If Beale Street Could Talk

It’s a modern classic for a reason.

This novel is a powerful and poignant exploration of love, justice, and racial inequality. The story follows Tish, a young woman whose fiancé, Fonny, is wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit. Baldwin’s lyrical prose captures the deep emotional connection between Tish and Fonny while also highlighting the crushing weight of systemic racism that affects their lives. The novel’s portrayal of family, community, and the endurance of love in the face of adversity is both heartbreaking and beautiful.

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chandler_reads123's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

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haleighp's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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dayslife143's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

It is completely terrifying to me that if you told me this book was written yesterday, I would believe you. 52 years sense if beale street could talk was firstpublished. .. and it would have the same story.

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anna_wiskerchen's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-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

This is the first James Baldwin book I have read, and I am obsessed at how he really captivates his audience into the characters he writes about. This was an incredibly emotional story to read, it really digs into so many different forms of racism and how it’s reverent in the everyday lives of Black people. It even had a few scenes where Black people are racist to Black people and I found that very interesting. Something that really stuck out to me. The most was how the story was very similar to To Kill a Mocking Bird, I almost feel like To Kill a Mockingbird might be where the story picks up after it finishes? I know it’s not, but it’s quite interesting to think about. I loved Tish and her family’s relationship, they were all so supportive of Tish and Fanny and stood up for him even when his shit family didn’t. The ending I was not expecting, I was actually suspecting something worse like death or a miscarriage, but I guess for Fanny sitting in jail, waiting for a verdict is almost like death. I think if you’re looking to read James Baldwin, this is a really great starter.

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amccartney's review

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challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

A complex and sad story about people caught up in tragedy

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casserole_cg's review

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challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

5.0

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evrythingoes's review against another edition

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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.

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