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If Beale Street Could Talk
If Beale Street Could Talk | James A Baldwin
In this honest and stunning novel, James Baldwin has given America a moving story of love in the face of injustice. Told through the eyes of Tish, a nineteen-year-old girl, in love with Fonny, a young sculptor who is the father of her (…more)
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lil1inblue
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Pickpick

I'm still processing this one, but damn, Baldwin is just a breathtaking writer. 🤌🏻

TheBookHippie Agreed. I‘ve read all of his published writings. 2w
lil1inblue @TheBookHippie That's my goal! Every time I finish another one, I text the friend who got me started to thank him. 2w
27 likes3 comments
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Jas16
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Pickpick

This book could have been written five days ago just as easily as 50 years ago. Fonny is in jail for a crime he didn‘t commit and Tish is pregnant and working to get him out. Everything seems stacked against them except for their love for each other and the faith of Tish‘s family. It is infuriating how little things seem to change at times. A heartbreaking but often lovely book.
#24in2024

41 likes1 stack add
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BookedBeyondMeasure
Pickpick

Always a favorite!

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Pinta
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Pickpick

Love spending time with these families. Fave reread: slim book thick with language & emotion, throwing shade & spreading tenderness. Arbitrary, wrongful incarceration. Gorgeousness & pain. Frank‘s end still feels abrupt & off, but offers up the families‘ despair while giving the lovers another day. 1974

143 “When two people love each other, when they really love each other, everything that happens between them has something of a sacramental air.”

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Pickpick

I went into this mostly blind to what it was about, an innocent man behind bars, his fiance pregnant and family fighting to get him out. I love Baldwin and his writing here is as impeccable as ever. The characters are vivid and you feel for each of them, there are some scenes that would not be written today, it has the definite feel of a book written before #MeToo but also the feel of books needed about our justice system.

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CogsOfEncouragement
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Pickpick

I‘ll be thinking about this one for awhile. Hopefully I can chat about it with my friend who also read it recently.

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CogsOfEncouragement
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Happy #independentbookstoreday
I listened to the tagged book on my way to and from, especially since it is #deweys24hourreadathon today too.

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Jilly6183
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Pickpick

A timeless story, both in terms of young love and, unfortunately, the oppression Black people are subjected to in this country. I really loved Tish and her family and what a true picture Baldwin paints of the lengths a supportive family will go to protect their loved ones.

Graywacke 💙 Baldwin! 2y
41 likes1 comment
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GatheringBooks
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#ArtfulAugust Day 8: #Choices Choices indeed from my recent book haul here in ‘Murrica. Too many books, too little time. Full book hunting expedition post now up today: https://wp.me/pDlzr-oyr

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks The struggle is real!! 2y
Eggs 👏🏻📚🥰 2y
62 likes2 comments
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Sydneypaige
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This book is a deep romance, and I loved it. Not an easy story, and set alongside the pain of reality as a Black family in the US. But this is a beautiful love story.

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BkClubCare
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“But these days, of course, everybody knows everything, that‘s why so many people so lost.”

vivastory One of my favorite books of the year! 3y
AvidReader25 I love this one! 3y
BkClubCare @vivastory - it sure packs a punch. 3y
BkClubCare @AvidReader25 - hope to see the movie 🎥 soon. 3y
AvidReader25 @BkClubCare They did a wonderful job with it. One of the few times when the movie lives up to the book! 3y
33 likes5 comments
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rjsthumbelina
If Beale Street Could Talk | James A Baldwin
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Pickpick

Brilliant. Beautiful, heartbreaking, lovely. My first James Baldwin, but it won't be my last

And the audiobook, read by Bahni Turpin, is wonderful

#authoramonth

Caterina I really enjoyed this one on audio too! Although of course it made me cry. 😭 3y
39 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Larkken
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Pickpick

This was my last book of July, and it was a doozie. Having never read Baldwin before, I was surprised at the smooth unveiling of the storyline, how it drifted from past to present seemlessly, and that mix of joy and love and heartbreak he delivered. “If it can get worse, it can get better,“ maybe, but that despair at the end! 😭
#AuthorAMonth

17 likes1 stack add
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Caterina
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#20in4 #Readathon starts today and goes thru Tuesday! Thank you, @Andrew65 , for hosting. 😊 I'm gonna try to make some progress on all these books I'm #CurrentlyReading. I don't know how much time I'll have, especially since today I'm chaplain on-call at the hospital, but at least my commute gives me about 3 hours of audiobook time each day! I'll definitely finish the tagged, and it'll definitely break my heart. #20in4Readathon

Andrew65 Good luck, great to have you with us. 😊👍 3y
42 likes1 comment
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rjsthumbelina
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The way James Baldwin writes about pregnancy, you'd think he'd been through it multiple times! I so deeply relate to Tish...This book is so beautiful and heartbreaking. I have less than 1.5 hours left in the audiobook, so I should finish it today.

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rjsthumbelina
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I'm less than 15 minutes into this audiobook, and I already love it so much...

Eggs So good-love the narrator! 3y
rjsthumbelina @Eggs yeah, Bonnie Turpin is pretty much always a good listen. And the character's voice is so strong so far! 3y
rjsthumbelina @Eggs I always misspell her name at first try! - *Bahni 3y
Eggs She is a busy narrator! Does the Angie Thomas books too! @rjsthumbelina 3y
26 likes4 comments
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staci.reads
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Pickpick

Read my first Baldwin novel for #AuthorAMonth. I've read a few short stories & essays previously. It was fantastic - powerful and moving. His writing is so distinctive, almost lyrical and stream-of-consciousness at times. The only thing that bothered me as a reader was writing from a female point of view, some of the thoughts he attributed to Tish & other women didn't feel "true." Especially some of their thoughts about the men. ⬇️ @Soubhiville

staci.reads I continued to remind myself "time and place," so as to try not to use my 2021 lens when considering ability to write female characters. ? 3y
64 likes1 comment
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MrsV
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Pickpick

#AuthorAMonth I can‘t express how maddening this story is. All too often this situation played out this way. I‘m ashamed I put off Baldwin‘s works until now, but so happy to correct this. 5 ⭐️

@Soubhiville

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vlwelser
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Pickpick

This is another beautiful story by James Baldwin. Written nearly 50 years ago, it's still relevant today. Which says something really not good about our society. The #audiobook is read by Bahni Turpin who is always amazing.

#AuthorAMonth with @Soubhiville

#BookSpinBingo square 18
@TheAromaofBooks

Prairiegirl_reading I put this audiobook on hold last summer and when it came in I was pleasantly surprised that Bahni Turpin was the narrator! I loved it too. Still so relevant. Sadly. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
45 likes2 comments
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #AuthorAMonth2021 @Soubhiville

This book was such a poignant beautiful read that left me broken and fixated on how relevant it still is to today, which also deeply saddened me because as a society I wish we had moved beyond the injustices portrayed in Baldwin's classic.

This is the first book I've ever read by Baldwin and I understand why he is so wildly cherished as an author. His words are powerful.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Skygoddess1
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Mehso-so

Baldwin‘s writing draws you in and you can‘t help but feel for these characters and want for them to be successful in getting Forney out of jail. As much as I enjoyed the story, I found the ending to be really abrupt and that brought down the rating. #AuthorAMonth #BookspinBingo

Deblovestoread I felt the ending was abrupt as well but the more I thought about it I was ok with it. The ending gave me the space to believe that everything is alright which is what I wanted for Fonny and Tish even as unlikely as that ending would be. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 3y
16 likes2 comments
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Melismatic
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Pickpick

So much of this is beautifully romantic prose - juxtaposed with anger, frustration & pain as a result of racism & police brutality. But the ending admittedly felt pretty jarring. Perhaps that was the point. #AuthorAMonth

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mom2bugnbee
Panpan

I wanted to like this. I did. I'm not a prude, but too much language just isn't my thing. But I was determined to finish it for #Authoramonth. However, as much as I appreciate Mr. Baldwin's contributions to literature, I won't be reading any more.

⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

AmyG I am reading this now and while I appreciate the story, I am just not “feeling” it. So…I get it. 3y
DivineDiana They must have toned it down for the movie. Because I liked it, and am not a fan of what I consider inappropriate language. 3y
mom2bugnbee @DivineDiana That's good to know! I thought that I might like to watch the movie now, especially since Regina King won an Oscar. 3y
33 likes3 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

This book was so well written. I loved how Baldwin showed us things with his words rather than telling us. The story itself was really sad. I can‘t believe we haven‘t fixed this yet. #AuthorAMonth2021

SamAnne I‘m waiting for my library hold to come in. 3y
BkClubCare I have this! Just hasn‘t made it to top of pile 3y
46 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Eggs
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Pickpick

Painful and bittersweet story of 19 yo Tish and young sculptor Fonny, the father of her baby. But their true love is interrupted by the wrongful arrest and imprisonment of Fonny for murder. Though it‘s a common theme, unjustified imprisonment is a familiar part of our real world 💔😥. Narrator Bahni Turpin is, as always, awesome 👏🏻
#authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! You are whipping through all these Baldwin books!!! 3y
70 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Simona
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Pickpick

Sad and painful story about racism, and at the same time very tender story about young love/lovers and the meaning of community. Prose is excellent, but the saddest part of this story is how relevant still is … #AuthorAMonth

DivineDiana The movie was excellent. 3y
Simona @DivineDiana I keep seeing good reviews for the movie too. 3y
48 likes2 comments
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Deblovestoread
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#JulyJourneys #JulyTBR

Looking forward to another great bunch of books. Along with these the rest will come off my #BookSpinBingo board. Happy July and happy reading everyone!

Eggs Your July is Booked 👏🏻📚❤️ 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚❤️ 3y
39 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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mariaku21
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Pickpick

"If Beale Street Could Talk" is my first James Baldwin book; I was unaware of everything he captured. This could have easily been a book about today's current climate and not something that he had written in 1974 - 1974?!?

This won't be my last James Baldwin, just the first.

#readharder

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licia.reads
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Pickpick

Still relevant after almost 50 years. #blitsy #blacklitsy

SamAnne I plan to read in July. 4y
14 likes1 comment
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licia.reads
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licia.reads
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“I look at myself in the mirror.”
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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Michael_Gee
If Beale Street Could Talk | James A Baldwin
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Pickpick

Wow this book. Discussed with my senior living bookclub tonight. Once we got past the language and crazy sex scenes (Fonny‘s parents 😳) we started talking about the meat of the story. One participant described it as a fairy tale love story structure, but where the obstacle is institutionalized racism. It‘s lyrically written, difficult, and powerful.

readordierachel Wow indeed. And I love that description from your participant! Very insightful. 4y
vivastory The pregnancy announcement scene.... 4y
Michael_Gee @vivastory incredible! 4y
See All 8 Comments
vivastory I think at one point my mouth literally dropped open. I do know that I said Holy Shit at one point. ...but yeah, Baldwin is a master. This is one of my fave books of the year, for sure 4y
SamAnne Haven‘t read this one yet but it is on my list for 2021. 4y
Reggie Awww I loved Tish‘s family. That whole scene with her mother telling Fonny‘s mother what being family is all about. I‘m glad your peeps read the book this time! 4y
Michael_Gee @Reggie I loved them too. The love and support they had for Tish and Fonny was unwavering. Powerful stuff. And yeah, I‘m glad they read the book this time! Lol. Third month in and we had the most participation for this one, though I guess one resident actually threw the book away after reading Fonny‘s parents‘ pillow talk. 😬 4y
Michael_Gee @SamAnne Oh, good! It was on my TBR for years. It‘s a fast read. There aren‘t any chapters so I found myself zooming through. 4y
35 likes8 comments
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KatieDid927
If Beale Street Could Talk | James A Baldwin
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The tagged book comes to mind! An American Marriage as well. My most recent read The Kindest Lie is also about a variety of different kinds of Black love.

#IntegrateYourShelf @ChasingOm @Emilymdxn

MeganAnn Recently read your tagged book and it was fantastic! 😍 I want to watch the movie now 4y
35 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TiminCalifornia
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Thank you @Chelleo How amazing to come home and find this waiting for me. #bhms #blitsyswap

Chelleo ☺️ you‘re very welcome 4y
SamAnne @Chelleo it made my day too! My partner has become jealous of all the Litsy mail and gift packages I receive... :-) 4y
35 likes2 comments
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breadnroses
If Beale Street Could Talk | James A Baldwin
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my first baldwin! what beautiful writing. i definitely want to rewatch the movie.

9 likes1 stack add
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TrishB
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Pickpick

As relevant today as the 1960s. Are we going backwards?

Smarkies Actually, every book I read of his, I find that the issues highlighted are still relevant today. A sad state of affairs that things have not progressed. 😞 4y
TrishB @Smarkies yes exactly, very sad. 4y
89 likes1 stack add2 comments
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SaniyyahK
If Beale Street Could Talk | James A Baldwin
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Pickpick

My first Baldwin and I‘m obsessed with his writing!

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Prairiegirl_reading
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Pickpick

This was my first Baldwin and it definitely won‘t be my last. I was blown away by it. Published in 1974 and still so relevant that it makes me really angry but the book itself is just brilliant. Tbh I‘m not sure I know exactly what happened at the end but I know what I want it to mean.
I found this on Libby and immediately put it on hold, when it came in I was pleasantly surprised to find out the narrator is Bahni Turpin! One of my favourites.

SamAnne I just read my first Baldwin this year—The Fire Next Time—and I‘m with you! I wamt to read more! 4y
Prairiegirl_reading @SamAnne I think that will be my next Baldwin. I‘ve had it on audio for a while and never got around to it. It‘s time! 4y
41 likes2 comments
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KatieDid927
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Pickpick

James Baldwin was a genius and this story is beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Whenever I hear James speak or read his words it always hits me how little has changed. This book could‘ve taken place in 2019.

47 likes1 stack add
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kellock
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Pickpick

What a wonderfully written book, poetic almost at times. A story of injustice that could unfortunately have been set now.

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meli.hooker
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"...her face began to change. It became bonier and more private, much more beautiful. Her long narrow eyes darkened with whatever it was they were beginning to see."

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WorldsOkayestStepMom
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Pickpick

This was my first exposure to James Baldwin's writing and I absolutely loved it. He flawlessly changed points of view and the story kept my attention. His writing style is so descriptive and beautiful. I want to read more of his work!

47 likes2 stack adds