Review: If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

Published: 1974

Publisher: Vintage

Format: via Overdrive

Rating: 5/5    

Synopsis

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 child, Baldwin's story mixes the sweet and the sad. Tish and Fonny have pledged to get married, but Fonny is falsely accused of a terrible crime and imprisoned. Their families set out to clear his name, and as they face an uncertain future, the young lovers experience a kaleidoscope of emotions-affection, despair, and hope. In a love story that evokes the blues, where passion and sadness are inevitably intertwined, Baldwin has created two characters so alive and profoundly realized that they are unforgettably ingrained in the American psyche.

My Thoughts

In this beautifully written novel, we get the story of Fonny and Tish, two young people in love who have to fight to be reunited. Tish has grown up in a loving family who will support her no matter what. Fonny is a guy who only has his art and Tish, his family especially his mom don't’ want anything to do with him they think he is trouble and worthless and has found a new family in Tish and her family. We see he is in jail but we don't know why until almost the end of the novel. We see what all happened that led up to his incarceration, the accusations and the fight that Tish and her family will do to bring Fonny home to Tish and their baby, she found out she was pregnant when he was first sent to jail. They try to get help from Fonny’s family but they basically disowned him so Tish’s family makes it their mission to seek out justice for him.

This novel is very short but so powerful and heartbreaking, we see the hurt and tragedy in Tish and Fonny’s story. Despite the world, they are living in Tish and Fonny believe in themselves and their love no matter how high the odds are against them. While this novel was written decades ago it is still so irrelevant to today. How racial injustice is still happening and the way James Baldwin gives us this gritty look at life is poignant yet thought-provoking. This is one novel that has stood the test of time and sadly still speaks to today.