If Beale Street Could Talk
Author: James Baldwin
Published by:Penguin Modern Classics
Pages: 173
Format:Paperback
My Rating ★★★★
‘Neither love nor terror makes one blind: indifference makes one blind’
Harlem in the 1970s: the black soul of New York City. Tish is nineteen and the man she loves – her lifelong friend and the father of her unborn child – has been jailed for a crime he did not commit. As their families come together to fight for his freedom, will their love be enough?
My thoughts:
If Beale Street Could Talk is a heart-wrenching story of family bonds and the strength of true love even in the most difficult circumstances. The book is narrated by Tish, pregnant at nineteen by her fiancé Fonny, a man she’s been close to since childhood and loves dearly.
After finding a place to live together in Harlem and having received a blessing from Tish’s father to marry, things seem quietly hopeful for the couple, until something awful and completely out of their control threatens t tear their world apart forever. Fonny is falsely accused of raping a Puerto Rican woman and sent to jail, and it is not clear how much time he will be forced to serve.
Their families (mostly Tish’s) work tirelessly to prove his innocence, and get Fonny out of jail. Sadly however, the odds are clearly stacked against a young Black man, particularly with a racist cop holding a grudge and looking to pin something on Fonny no matter what.
Tish is naturally eager to have her fiancé back by her side in time for the birth of their first child, and she turns to her family for love, comfort and support. The bond between these characters is really powerful. Their relationships and love for one other is clear and despite the odds against them, this allows Tish to hold on to a sense of hope for the future. I loved the dialogue between Tish and her siblings in particular, though all the characters are captured remarkably well throughout. With James Baldwin’s beautifully expressive writing, every moment of this story is emotional and compelling. Baldwin is able to effortlessly convey the perfect combination of sadness and unquestionable romance. The ending leaves many unanswered questions, but the story is undoubtedly a wonderful, beautifully written short novel about love in the face of brutal injustice.
If Beale Street Could Talk is a heart breaking read, but powerfully describes the bonds of family and romantic love in the most beautiful way. Once I’d gotten started, I honestly couldn’t put the book down. I loved reading this one!
Overall reaction:
Published by:Penguin Modern Classics
Pages: 173
Format:Paperback
My Rating ★★★★
‘Neither love nor terror makes one blind: indifference makes one blind’
Harlem in the 1970s: the black soul of New York City. Tish is nineteen and the man she loves – her lifelong friend and the father of her unborn child – has been jailed for a crime he did not commit. As their families come together to fight for his freedom, will their love be enough?
My thoughts:
If Beale Street Could Talk is a heart-wrenching story of family bonds and the strength of true love even in the most difficult circumstances. The book is narrated by Tish, pregnant at nineteen by her fiancé Fonny, a man she’s been close to since childhood and loves dearly.
After finding a place to live together in Harlem and having received a blessing from Tish’s father to marry, things seem quietly hopeful for the couple, until something awful and completely out of their control threatens t tear their world apart forever. Fonny is falsely accused of raping a Puerto Rican woman and sent to jail, and it is not clear how much time he will be forced to serve.
Their families (mostly Tish’s) work tirelessly to prove his innocence, and get Fonny out of jail. Sadly however, the odds are clearly stacked against a young Black man, particularly with a racist cop holding a grudge and looking to pin something on Fonny no matter what.
Tish is naturally eager to have her fiancé back by her side in time for the birth of their first child, and she turns to her family for love, comfort and support. The bond between these characters is really powerful. Their relationships and love for one other is clear and despite the odds against them, this allows Tish to hold on to a sense of hope for the future. I loved the dialogue between Tish and her siblings in particular, though all the characters are captured remarkably well throughout. With James Baldwin’s beautifully expressive writing, every moment of this story is emotional and compelling. Baldwin is able to effortlessly convey the perfect combination of sadness and unquestionable romance. The ending leaves many unanswered questions, but the story is undoubtedly a wonderful, beautifully written short novel about love in the face of brutal injustice.
If Beale Street Could Talk is a heart breaking read, but powerfully describes the bonds of family and romantic love in the most beautiful way. Once I’d gotten started, I honestly couldn’t put the book down. I loved reading this one!
Overall reaction: