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

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

83 reviews

_yllohm_24's review

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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mattyvreads's review

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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? Yes

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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mpaterson's review

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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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michelleka's review

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fast-paced

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

4.0

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carriewnettles's review against another edition

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challenging sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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biblioghoul's review against another edition

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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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belladonnashrike's review

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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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