Reviews tagging 'Rape'

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

106 reviews

franzis_buecher's review against another edition

4.0

I saw the movie adaptation a few years ago and it was interesting to see some plot points resurface in my memory as I read the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Antisemitism, Homophobia, and Death of parent

bearbutch's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Beautiful and heartbreaking, a real insight into the cruelty of the police and their treatment of Black people.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Rape

keiaria's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Misogyny, and Homophobia

fictionalfrank's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Police brutality, Misogyny, Racism, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Rape

annamariesreads's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is not an easy read, but a worthwhile read.
I only wish I could've read it in 1974, when it came out because it has so much to say about the cultural context of that era.
This book shows us black love in every possible way- between two lovers, between family and between mother and unborn child. Despite the adversity, Tish is always looking for the positive that will come in the end. Even when all the lights are out.
Every character is interesting and necessary to the story.
James Baldwin has got to be one of my favourite authors, I could read his prose all day. 
No spoilers here but please check the trigger warnings I put on this review before reading. Description is not graphic but they are mentioned often and frequently.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Suicide

sankatoni's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Rape

tlaynejones's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

This is my first of Baldwin’s books, and it is easy to see why his work stand as modern classics. For the most part I thought this was a compelling and engaging novel. The sense of time, the love between Fonny and Tish, the examination of racist and unjust ’justice’ system were all very well done. I was however really dissatisfied and frustrated with the layers of sexism and misogyny that permeate every aspect of the writing. It will forever challenge me to understand how the ‘great thinkers’ who have worked so hard to shine a light of the reality of prejudice, power dynamics, systemic injustice, and biased social assumptions - in relationship to race - can be so blind to how all of these impact and influence gender as well. I’m glad to have read this, so I have the cultural knowledge, but it leaves me wanting to go back and reread An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, to reexperience and to compare a novel that examines some of the same social injustices, but from the perspective of a contemporary woman. 
Very cautiously recommended, check CW 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Police brutality

mauricekofi's review

challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

This is my first Baldwin book, and now I understand why he's one of the greatest authors of time. The sorrow I feel from the story he creates is sobering, a reminder that the romance of people of color differs so far from what white people may imagine. His call out to Romeo and Juliet represents how this a tragedy like none other, not one of faults of the characters themselves, but from the evil and darkness that is America, the way it murders and cannibalizes it's citizens so it can call itself "great"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Police brutality, and Racism

Minor: Sexual content

zgreyz's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Sexual content

Minor: Rape

aishallnot's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Rape

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Miscarriage and Suicide