I sort of want to 'But Why, Baldwin?!'

But I know exactly, what, why and how.

Our story follows Tish and Fonny, two lovers separated by cold bars of steel as Fonny is accused of and imprisoned for rape of a Puerto Rican woman.

This book is very beautifully written. It's poetic and almost spiritual in its depiction of love. There's a little detective fiction going on at times as well. Main themes are anti-blackness and carceral punishment of black men, but many others as well.

To be pedantic for a minute: One thing I did not like is how the chapters are so long, but he's moving between people and time, scenes, dialogues within the same chapters. I would like to think this kind of blurring was intentional, but I can't figure out what the purpose would be, if I'm honest.

The other thing was that at times I couldn't wipe Baldwin's voice in my head to get into Tish's. Then became a little over-conscious of a man writing a woman's voice, especially in first person, and how much I wasn't sure I was okay with that (her thoughts about love? sex? children? safety in the streets? all of it). But another part of me wants to be like - that kind of isn't the point.

Overall, it's pretty and bleak and dreadfully honest.

3.5/5