Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

53 reviews

mookiana's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

An engrossing read that tugs you between love and fear for the characters trapped within the clutches of the racist US carceral system and struggling to get out, literally and figuratively.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicide and Police brutality

Minor: Miscarriage

ariparip's review against another edition

challenging medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicide

mattyvreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? No

5.0

Gorgeously written and utterly haunting. One of the best books I have ever read, period. 

It’s a not-so-far-fetched fiction which is unfortunately, equally relevant today. It is so much more than a love story, although few succeed in painting as clear and honest a picture of humanity as Baldwin.

It’s hard to write a review for this book because words fail to describe it’s poignance and import. Absolutely everyone should read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, and Police brutality

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry

mpaterson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A beautiful and poignant prose that offers a brief window into the lives of two interconnected families and explores the interconnection of racism and sexism in 60s NYC. It’s tender in moments and tense in others, sometimes both simultaneously. Both nothing and so much happens throughout the book. Love, in all its forms - unconditional and unhealthy, and emotion carries the story with ease and depth. 

If you’re looking for a beautifully melancholy, yet even hopeful of a story, this is it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, and Alcohol

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, and Suicide

michelleka's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicide

biblioghoul's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Police brutality, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

belladonnashrike's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I feel like I know tish…the entire book, it’s like she was telling me the story of her, fonny, & the baby.  

I love how baldwin writes about love. + the commentary on our racist prison system is quite obvious, but I liked the more subtle nods to the concept of “doing time” / “time” as their baby grows and their family changes throughout the book. it was beautifully done. 

barry jenkins did a wonderful job with the film adaptation! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Rape

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

sophiaroesler's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, and Police brutality

amimhof's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

ktkeps's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage