Beautiful yet Tragic.
Lovely yet Unjust.

If Beale Street Could Talk tells the story of Tish and Fonny, the love they have for each other, the love that encompasses them from their families, and the prejudices they faced as being of color.

Where this book sails is in the writing of the love these two characters have for each other. Knowing each other their entire lives they were nearly destined to be together. The way Tish speaks of losing herself to Fonny. The way Fonny tells Tish’s family that he’s absolutely in love with their daughter and would love nothing more than to be her husband. Poetic.

Tish also happens to have the most supporting family you can ever encounter. Her dad is an honest hard working man who always knows the right thing to say and her mother couldn’t be more loving and nurturing. Not to mention her sister who would do anything for Tish and Fonny, even with her tougher exterior. Tish’s family welcomes Fonny in with open arms, giving him the family he never had.

Now where this story breaks your heart, ****** you off, and also makes you feel fearful is through the prejudices that they face because the color of their skin. They are marked by a certain officer and he makes it his mission to bring them pain- getting off on it as if it aroused him. This sheds just a fraction of light on real prejudices and injustice that people of color still go through to this day. It’s utter ******** and yet it continues to happen.

*spoiler below*

The story is left without resolve but you’re left with hope. Tish’s hope. Hope for their child. Hope that it gets better.

I must add that the title is so fitting. Blues has a significance with Beale Street and the prose in this story read like poetry, like music. You have huge prose, practically monologues, paragraph after paragraph and yet they don’t feel daunting. They don’t drag on. Beautiful, beautiful writing.

I came into this novel unaware of the kind of author that James Baldwin was and I came out being a huge fan! From one story he’s quickly climbed up on my list of favorite authors and I can not wait to pick up some of his other works!

If Beale Street Could Talk - Likewise Book Reviews

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