Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

61 reviews

amichellebee's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Police brutality

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

maurice_greenware's review

• 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

angel_ontheother's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

"If Beale Street Could Talk" by James Baldwin got me out of a reading slump!

"It was as though we were a picture, trapped in time: this had been happening for hundreds of years, people sitting in a room, waiting for dinner, and listening to the blues."

I'm glad I gave Baldwin a second chance. I had read Giovanni's Room a few years ago and didn't enjoy it much at all (I know, unpopular opinion), but this book sounded more like my taste so I picked up a copy from the library.

This hooked me in right away. When I sat down to start it, I thought I'd only read the first few pages, considering my slump-ish state, but I ended up reading almost 30 pages in one sitting! 

The plot is engaging but I think the narrative voice is what I liked most about it. This was written from the perspective of a young woman. The language feels believable, and I agree with the back cover describing it as "honest." Aside from a few slang words and phrases; it feels timeless. In some ways, the timelessness to the story is a bitter thing, considering the themes: systemic racism and sexual violence, corrupt "justice" systems, poverty; it's the type of thing you wish were outdated, but for many, it's no different from the present. This is also a story of love and hope, but my mind tends to hold on to the dim side of things.

There are no chapters, which I usually find to be challenging, but the mostly-casual yet sometimes-lyrical writing style kept the pace flowing smoothly. Some of the content was outside my comfort zone but the writing style and story made it worth it, this was a page turner for me. I finished in about four sittings. I would recommend this!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, and Alcohol

mayareadsxo's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Suicide attempt

carleyhammers's review

challenging emotional sad tense 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Sexual assault

kjordan96's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective 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? No

4.0

This is my first James Baldwin book. If Beale Street Could Talk is a short and powerful novel. The depiction of racial injustice and corruption was raw and you could feel Baldwin’s anger and sadness through the pages.The dialogue was gritty and to the point. The odds were stacked against the lovers from the start, but you feel the anger and sadness right along with them. I did struggle a bit with the lack of chapters. My favorite character was Sharon (tish’s mother) who I felt embodied family support and doing what needs to be done. The ending is left a bit open to interpretation, but I found myself wanting to spend more time with Fonny and Tish to see what happens. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicide

chandler_reads123's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

haleighp's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racial slurs

Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Antisemitism

dayslife143's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape

amccartney's review

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Violence, and Pregnancy