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

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-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

Always nerve-racking to read one of your best friends’ favourite books. Fortunately I came to a similar conclusion! Man, reading this in the shadow of the George Floyd court case is heavy. But an important heaviness, a heaviness we need to feel and respond to, be motivated to do move against. Baldwin writes so lyrically and you feel the fresh heartbreak of every despondency whilst balancing the weary sadness of inevitability. And the space, the space to fill in the gaps, to confront your own feelings, like a Biblical ‘selah’. A classic and rightfully so.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

Minor: Death, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Death of parent