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A review by evrythingoes
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
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