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  • If Beale Street Could Talk

  • A Novel
  • Written by: James Baldwin
  • Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
  • Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (114 ratings)

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If Beale Street Could Talk

Written by: James Baldwin
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
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Publisher's Summary

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

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 is 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.

©1974 James Baldwin. © renewed 2002 by Gloria Baldwin Karefa-Smart (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
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What listeners say about If Beale Street Could Talk

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
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If Beale Street Could Talk

This is a work of fiction but it could just as easily be a true story. The characters are so genuine and relatable. I laughed, smiled and cried. Listen to it, you’ll be glad you did

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it!!!

Just a joy to listen too. James Baldwin is a master of imagery and the language.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A stunning, poetic story

I loved this book and the narrator infused the story with life. So many scene stopped me in my tracks. the writing was breath-taking, almost cinematic in the description of places and people. A triumph!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Stunning. Beautiful. Haunting. Devastating.

A book that is as meaningful today as it was in 1973. Quite possibly one of the greatest books I have ever read...but oh how my heart breaketh to realize how very little things have changed.

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  • Overall
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Beautiful, but so sad

The writing is magnificent. The reader Bahni Turpin does a wonderful job. The tone is intimate and thoughtful. A definite must read.

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Masterfully Written

Baldwin captures the grittiness of day-to-day living and his words paint such a vivid reality you feel as if you are there with Tish and Fonny. Bahni Turpin's narration adds life to the characters and helps you to really feel their struggles.

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So real at times

The story, as a whole, is so upsettingly real, that it made me want to scream at the way things are. Other times, it felt embellished in order to make the point more clear, and at those times I found myself annoyed or bored. Overall, I’m glad I engaged with this text. Worth the read. Good narrator.

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If Beale Street Could Talk

struggled to finish. I enjoyed the narrator though. was disappointed in the ending as one left no knowing the outcome for all.

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Really Great!

I found some of the transitions between timelines to be a little confusing but otherwise I did enjoy this book a lot!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Powerful narrative of life and love

I feel sheepish about admitting this, but this is my first James Baldwin book. Boy do I have work to do! His lyrical language and acuteness in racial conflict observations makes for a wonderful narrative. Bahni Turpin is superb. This is my third book narrated by her, and she is very much a favourite narrator of mine. A must read/listen.

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