If Beale Street Could Talk

By James Baldwin

From one of the most important writers of the twentieth century comes a stunning love story about a young Black woman whose life is torn apart when her lover is wrongly accused of a crime—"a moving, painful story, so vividly human and so obviously based on reality that it strikes us as timeless" (The New York Times Book Review).

"One of the best books Baldwin has ever written—perhaps the best of all." —The Philadelphia Inquirer

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9780804149679

James Baldwin

James Baldwin (1841-1925) was an American textbook editor and author who had enormous influence in the publication of grammar and history textbooks at the beginning of the twentieth century. Born into a Quaker family in rural Indiana, he was largely self-educated. After publishing his first work, The Story of Siegfried (1882) he wrote more than fifty books, including Old Greek Stories (1895) and Fifty Famous Stories Retold (1895).

Reviews for If Beale Street Could Talk

[bell7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"I hope that nobody has ever had to look at anybody they love through glass."Tish, a 19-year-old black girl, finds out she's pregnant. Her boyfriend Fonny is falsely accused and in jail, leaving Tish to try to keep his spirits up, fight for him to get justice, and nurture new life inside of her. She narrates the story of how they met, growing up in New York, and how her family bands together to support Tish and attempt to free Fonny.This spare novel packs a punch, all the more so because not much has changed in the forty-five years since its original printing. The overt racism in the city of New York, which we like to think of as diverse and modern, left me cringing and frustrated, as Tish's family navigates a legal system stacked against them. The system, more than an individual, is left as the bad guy, as we see Fonny's accuser also in a terrible situation. As Tish's mother says, "she's not lying." It was an uncomfortable reading experience, but the more I think about the story, the more I find it challenging and compelling. This is the first book I've read by James Baldwin and certainly won't be the last.

[laurenbdavis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Devastating. Should be required reading for everyone, everywhere.

[villemezbrown · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I went to the movie first, and despite the Oscar worthy acting and cinematography, I was pretty tired after a long day and was lulled into sleep by the stately pace. The bits I was awake for seemed like they'd be better as a book.Alas, I often found myself drifting out while reading the story also. And despite the relative shortness of the book, it took me several more days than I thought it would take to get through it.I liked the characters and the insights Baldwin has, but the prose struck me as dated and a bit clunky, and I never quite believed the narrative voice was that of a woman.I had never read Baldwin before, but the tone of his work seemed familiar. It sort of reminded me of some of the comics I read in the '70s and '80s with African American characters written by white men. I wonder if they read Baldwin as research?Anyhow, this book is worth reading though, and I might seek out something else of Baldwin's to try in the future.

[jimrgill · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’m not sure how—or why—this powerful work of narrative beauty escaped me until now, but I’m certainly grateful that Barry Jenkins’ film adaption has rekindled interest in this narrative. Despite some perplexing inconsistencies in narrative point of view, this story of unconditional love blends themes of romance, race, social class, gender, sexuality, and family in ways that only literary masters can manage. Baldwin was undeniably head of his time.In the early 21st century, this story has become familiar enough. Tish, the young, Black first-person narrator, is pregnant with the child of her lifelong love, Fonny, who has been unjustly imprisoned for the rape of a Puerto Rican woman. As Tish and her family band together to free Fonny, institutionalized racism, economic inequality, and social oppression (not to mention members of Fonny’s own family) conspire to keep the young lovers apart.Baldwin’s prose is by turns lyrical, minimalist, imagistic, and brutally violent. He orchestrates his diction with sublime precision; therefore, I must presume that there is some artistic justification for having Tish narrate scenes (such as Fonny’s private conversations with his friend Daniel, Fonny’s experiences in prison, and her mother’s ordeal in Puerto Rico as she attempts to track down the rape victim) that she could not have possibly witnessed. That stylistic quibble aside, I cannot recall another book this brief (fewer than 200 pages) that permeates with such intensity and insight.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fine balance of Love, Humor, and Hate as racism takes its horrible toll.The only major question mark is Frank's suicide ending the book: he simply would not have done this to his jailed son,knowing that the news could kill or destroy him.

[romonko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first time I've read a book by James Baldwin, but I don't think it will be my last. I had heard that they were going to make a movie out of this book this year, so I thought I should read it. Mr. Baldwin was quite the author! I don't think I've read anyone who is so sincere and straight-forward in his writing. The book was published in 1973, and it is very much a snapshot of that time in New York City. The story is told through Tish, a nineteen-year-old black girl whose boyfriend has been caught up in a very bad crime that he had nothing to do with, but because he had made an enemy of some police officers they were lying in wait to get him for something. The story is so sad and poignant, but with a very real undercurrent of hope and faith and trust and love, that bolsters up these two young people as they try to extricate Fonny from the web that he's been caught in. Tish, with the help of her formidable family, is doing everything she can to get Fonny out of jail and throughout it all we learn just how in love these two are. I can't wait to see this movie. I'm sure the score will also be something to hear. I felt like I could hear BB King singing in the background throughout the whole story. This book is built on the blues. Passion, sadness, hope and faith ripple through the pages of this book. Mr. Baldwin was a very formidable talent and a wordsmith that set the standard for those who have followed him.

[lauralkeet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tish and Fonny are young, in love, and expecting a baby. They’d like to get married, but Fonny was recently sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. Tish visits him twice a day to keep his spirits up, while their families try everything in their power to free Fonny. The narrative frequently shifts to the past to show Tish and Fonny growing from childhood friends into a couple, and then becoming embroiled in a series of events that led to Fonny’s arrest. Tish’s family rallies around the young couple and are the force behind the multi-faceted plan to free him. Fonny’s family has more difficulty coming to grips with and providing support for the situation. I loved James Baldwin’s writing, which was scathing in its indictment of the societal forces acting on Tish and Fonny, and at the same time, gentle and loving in its depiction of their relationship. Baldwin is also unconventional in his storytelling, ending this novel in a way that is far from cut and dry. I highly recommend this novel.

[signoraedie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heartbreaking!

[alexrichman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

 A powerful, if slight, story with one of the best literary rows I can remember. I didn't really like how the plot progressed but the writing was so good I'm excited to read more.

[kristykay22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This gut punch of a James Baldwin novel from 1974 is also one of the most love-filled, human, poetic, and relevant books I've read in a long time. Baldwin tackles the issue of mass incarceration and police brutality on the intimate background of an intensely endearing love story and a violently perfect family group. It's also a wildly readable narrative with some spot on sex scenes, a pivotal and unexpected trip to Puerto Rico, and a perfect ending. There are a few small mis-steps in dialogue that border on preachy, but I can forgive Baldwin anything for bringing us this work. Can't wait to see how Barry Jenkins brings it to the screen.

[deslivres5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to read an American classic and chose the audio book version of If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin, read by the fabulous Bahni Turpin.It's an African-American love story set in 1970s NYC.Tish and Fonny are in love and are set to be married when Fonny is set up/wrongly accused of a heinous crime by a crooked policeman.The story details the family's support of Tish and Fonny during his incarceration.Probably just me personally, but I was surprised/shocked by the excessive cursing. My first James Baldwin title. Did not expect that.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The writing is so beautiful. Despite the horrible subject matter, (a black man is wrongly accused of rape and sent to prison away from his pregnant girlfriend), it feels a bit like a ballet. Tish and Fonny are so in love and her family is fiercely supportive. His family is awful and there’s one particularly memorable scene between the two clans. Tish’s mother Sharon is a remarkable character, strong and supportive. The whole book just aches with intensity and heartbreak.

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Decades ago, I read If Beale Street Could Talk, and I must have been too young to understand what was happening. What a task, the book has no chapters, but over 200 pages of the ramblings of “Tish”. What a life in Harlem, where in the 1970’s, a black man can be arrested and imprisoned just for being black. The streets abound with deadbeats of whores and drug users, and life is difficult. Tish and Fonny love one another, but Fonny is arrested and thrown in prison, and a pregnant Tish must depend on her family. I did not like the continuous dialogue and no chapter breaks. The language descended in the street jargon, but not as bad as The Hate U Give. The story lacks strong emotion among the many family members, and the parent supervision seems nonexistent. Religion runs rampant in Fonny’s family, but the religion stands for outward appearance and not for Christian charity. A very stark view of a black person’s life in Harlem.

[streamsong_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fonny and Tish have grown up together as best friends, closer than siblings. Somewhat surprisingly their relationship matures into adult love. Their future looks bright as Fonny dreams of becoming a sculptor. The two have finally been able to find a landlord who will rent a space suitable as both art studio and apartment to a black couple. Now there’s going to be a child – and while Fonny’s parents don’t approve of his relationship with Tish, Tish’s parents are fully supportive. Then Fonny stands up for himself against a white cop. When the cop sees a way to pin a brutal rape on Fonny, he is arrested. At the cop’s urging the victim picks Fonny out of a photo lineup and then leaves the country.No one believes the word of a black man. Fonny’s arrest spins outward effecting his entire family. There is no way to raise the needed money for a competent lawyer without an illegal fiddle – and the family is further smashed.The relationships are strong and true. There’s a lot of love in this novel, but there’s also a pit of the stomach feeling of doom.

[gypsysmom_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I finished listening to this book a week ago but I held off doing my review because I wanted to think about it some more. James Baldwin wrote the book in 1974 and, to a certain extent, the novel is dated but in a much greater way this is a timeless story.Tish is a 19 year old African-American woman who falls in love with Fonny, son of neighbours who are good friends of her parents. Fonny is artistic and is trying to make it as a sculptor. Tish and Fonny have grown up together so falling in love is sort of a surprise to both of them but they are sure of themselves and plan on getting married. They want to rent a loft in Greenwich Village because it would be cheap (one of the ways the novel is dated) and there would be room for them to live and for Fonny to sculpt. But before they can make good on their plans Fonny is arrested for rape and he is kept incarcerated. No one who knows Fonny thinks he can be guilty and Tish is certain of his innocence. In one of their first prison visits after the book starts Tish tells Fonny she is pregnant. He is delighted and so are the families of both Tish and Fonny. Then comes the long months of trying to get Fonny out of jail while Tish gets bigger and bigger. We don't really know how the relationship works out because the novel ends just as Tish is in labour and Fonny is still in jail. I was left hopeful that they would survive and thrive but it could just as easily fail.I haven't seen the recent movie that is based on this novel but I would like to.

[sidiki-8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a beautiful love story and lovable characters full of passion. James Baldwin has written an unforgettable tale of love and family and sisters . One thing I do not understand how could Frank say such to a thing to his daughters “ you give yourselves freely to guys . You could sell yourselves to them and bail your brother out of jail.” He said in exasperation but was uncalled for. You don’t say that to your daughters even f you don’t mean it and that also in front of his best friend and father in law of his son. They were a normal Bronx family not prostitutes. It’s like from the frying pan into the fire. Out of jail into prostitution.

[brenzi_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the star of the show for me. My third Baldwin and my favorite by far. Lonnie and Tish are in love and looking for a loft apt in 1974 NYC when they cross paths with a racist police officer who vows to make their lives miserable. The next thing you know Lonnie is in jail, Tish is pregnant and life is undone. Beautifully narrated the most frightening thing about this story is that it could've happened today. Or tomorrow. Things have remained pretty much the same for generations with no improvement in sight as far as racism is concerned. Beautifully written, incredible narration, and a sad, lovely, hopeless constant in the U.S. today.

[castlelass · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Published in 1974 and set in Harlem, this book is part love story and part condemnation of racial injustice. Tish and Fonny have known each other since they were children. Tish narrates the story, telling how they became a couple and how Fonny ended up in prison for a crime he did not commit. Tish, her family, and Fonny’s father try their best to prove his innocence. This couple maintains a sense of optimism in the face of extreme hardship through their love for each other. It is a sad and disturbing story of racism and corruption in the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, these topics remain relevant in today’s society. This is the fifth book I have ready by James Baldwin and his writing is consistently strong.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If Beale Street Could Talk is a brief novel about a pair of young Black lovers, Tish and Fonny, whose plans for the future are interrupted when Fonny is thrown in jail for a crime he did not commit. Tish’s family and Fonny’s father band together to try to win the young man’s freedom.The writing is impressive and the narrative kept me reading, but, as a the whole, the novel didn’t work for me. The first-person narration purportedly by 19-year-old Tish makes the young woman sound like a much older man. The scenes set in Puerto Rico are preposterous. Even the married life that Fonny proposes to Tish—she will work while he stays home and sculpts—doesn’t sound like anything a level-headed woman would agree to instantly, no matter how much in love she is.This dated novel is still worth reading, however, for Baldwin’s observations about police brutality, mass incarceration, and the power of a Black family’s love.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Part One: Troubled About My SoulNineteen year old Clementine breaks the news to her incarcerated twenty-two year old boyfriend she is pregnant. Then she has to tell Lonny's family and her own. What follows is a typical commentary on out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancy when one parent is in jail. Of course the families do not agree on anything.This is a stark portrayal of what it means to be black and poor in New York City. What we discover about Lonny is that he has been accused of rape by a woman who picks him out of a lineup. It's an open and shut case thanks to a cop who has it in for the oft-in-trouble teen. Clementine's mother is the most heroic, amazing character in the whole book.Part Two: ZionQuestions. Will Fonny and Clementine's families raise enough money for bail? Will Fonny survive prison? What are his chances of receiving a fair trial in such an unfair society? What is to come of his unborn child?

[greeniezona · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Baldwin is one of those writers I am always meaning to read more of in a vague way. I mean, he is an incredibly powerful writer, but I also know he is going to break my heart. And how often are you in the mood to have your heart broken? Anyway, all the ads for the new movie adaptation were making me feel guilty I hadn't read this one yet, so when I saw this striking paperback in my favorite used bookstore, I had to add it to the stack.Heartbreak hangs on this one from the very second page. That's when we find out that Fonny, the man Tish loves, is in jail. And Baldwin gives us this: "I hope that nobody has ever had to look at anybody they love through glass."But this book is about more than heartbreak. It's an indictment of racism and the prison/policing/bail system. But fundamentally it is a story of love and hope and family and perseverance in the face of unjust systems. It's a profound reminder that the world has long been messed up, but that it is better to be brave and love fiercely than to fold yourself into self-righteous contempt.An amazing read.

[librolindsay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love how Baldwin picks at all the emotions here as we witness Fonny's and Tish's growth, together and separately. Bahni Turpin's voice for the audio made it all the better, perfectly conveying the dynamism of this heart-wrenching story. I did feel that Tish was infantilized a bit much in parts--something I wasn't quite expecting from Baldwin, but it was published in 1974...

[drfuriosa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a complicated book to read in our current cultural moment. Baldwin has a specific point to make about power and inequality but doing so through the guise of a rape accusation gets tricky, and it does not translate well at the moment. Further, Baldwin's use of a female protagonist was not convincing to me. This is not the place to start if you've never read Baldwin (Go Tell It on the Mountain showcases his strengths proficiently).

[corinnet-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

That's a story where the characters don't give in to despair; they struggle on, hold on to their dignity till the end, even if that means being beaten down by the system. His characters and their stories inspire us, give us hope. At no point, the author takes recourse to showing extreme violence, even though one can feel that happening underneath; nor does he use an over-abundance of vulgarity or repeated obscene language.

[suesbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a lovely, very tragic story of two young lovers whose lives are ruined by racism. The fact that this book is so relevant today is very upsetting.

[gracez-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

SO SO SO SO SO SO SO GOOD.

Yeah I used all caps. This book deserves them. Also I am not as good a writer as Baldwin, and so I have to resort to typography to make some points, while he uses expert word choice and pinpoint metaphor to make everything real and close to home. Even when describing how it is impossible to explain something, he captures the vagueness of the problem.

And then there's the fact that this book was so eye-opening, and made me feel like a spoiled child living a life of luxury. But I don't mean that in a bad way. It was... motivating. Moving, and motivating.

[veracite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Baldwin writes the best characters ever. No, he writes characters best. I could have done without the odd little sections where he has Tish go on about the sanctity of blokes bonding and how it's better than anything else ever but such a small out of character moment next to everything else that is gutting and amazing.

[sherri68-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This novel is filled with love, beauty, sorrow, frustration, and anger. Although it was written in 1974, the story could have taken place in today's world. There has been some progress in our race relations, but not even close to enough. There are still those who have too much power. A terrific book, which I recommend everyone to read.

[foomy_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In summer 1991 I was in Harlem, not knowing I was pregnant with a black man, and this book seemed like a prophecy. It is hard for me to remember my pregnancy without thinking of this book. Sometimes I seems like "Beale Street" was much bigger than my own self. After reading it, I made my decision to write to my parents and make a statement about how I view life, love and racism. It has definitely shaped my preceding years.

[kingabrit_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well. Let’s face it: we have read enough love stories already. What new revelation can be said about this topic?Oh, but it can be. Seriously. And to prove my point let me tell you about two short novels by James Baldwin I have read lately: If Beale Street Could Talk (1974) and Giovanni’s Room (1956).The title of Beale Street is a bit misleading: the novel is definitely not about one particular street but rather about the world of Harlem, or probably even more.After taking stock of the main ingredients we might just shake our heads: no, no, no! What clichés! What stereotypical characters! What boring schemes! The inhuman, wicked (and what’s more: albino!) policeman; the quasi altruist priests (who do not shy away from a little bit of stealing either – but that’s OK as the greatest classics in literature have already “legalized” stealing for the poor’s sake); a loving couple whose love is of course based on devotion and trust, unconditional belief in each other; the conformity of an overly ambitious family that is ready to sacrifice its most appealing member, the innocently accused son; and so on and so forth. But not so fast. Baldwin was one of the greatest writers of our times (died in 1987), and we realize once again the truth in what I mentioned not a long ago about Cervantes: the subject matter is really secondary; the most important factor of a great work is the talent that creates something outstanding in the end from an otherwise trite stuff.This Romeo & Juliet story is presented with a very passionate, moving writing style and with totally credible psychological and sociological insights. The seemingly stereotypical characters and situations are nicely balanced by other features and figures, like the protagonist’s lonely sister with her rich and pretty assertive personality, Baldwin’s sympathy for the mother who escapes into bigotry and social pretense (an otherwise typical negative character), or the lawyer who is pretty indifferent and solicitous at first but then gets very keen about “doing the right thing” (and endangering his career at the same time), etc. The construction of the novel also adds to its greatness: Baldwin cleverly feeds the story’s antecedents and context bit by bit and it surely makes us want to read on and on. And the result? This initially (and seemingly) not too exciting and ambitious novel gradually becomes a truly magnificent work of art in the hand of an outstanding writer. (I am planning to write about Giovanni’s Room next week.)