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A review by _darbi_
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
my second james baldwin novel!
romantic, familial, and communal love is the heart of if beale street could talk. sharon, ernestine, johnny, and frank overwhelmed me with their care and devotion to one another — and to tish and fonny. they suffer and rejoice in unity.
because giovanni’s room was my first read by baldwin, i was intrigued to read his writing from the perspective of a woman. outside of her devotion to fonny and the baby, i felt like the character of tish was not fully formed. just as i enjoyed learning about fonny’s intimacy to sculpture or upbringing with mrs. hunt, i would have enjoyed to read more about tish, especially as our primary narrator (and less misogynist comments!)
i’m heartbroken that fonny’s story isn’t fictional but realistically representative of so many who have been affected by racial prejudice, corrupt policing systems, and the perpetuation of the new jim crow.
(mouth was agape the entire time ernestine was insulting the hunts — carving out adam’s apples like stone fruit)
romantic, familial, and communal love is the heart of if beale street could talk. sharon, ernestine, johnny, and frank overwhelmed me with their care and devotion to one another — and to tish and fonny. they suffer and rejoice in unity.
because giovanni’s room was my first read by baldwin, i was intrigued to read his writing from the perspective of a woman. outside of her devotion to fonny and the baby, i felt like the character of tish was not fully formed. just as i enjoyed learning about fonny’s intimacy to sculpture or upbringing with mrs. hunt, i would have enjoyed to read more about tish, especially as our primary narrator (and less misogynist comments!)
i’m heartbroken that fonny’s story isn’t fictional but realistically representative of so many who have been affected by racial prejudice, corrupt policing systems, and the perpetuation of the new jim crow.
(mouth was agape the entire time ernestine was insulting the hunts — carving out adam’s apples like stone fruit)