Reviews tagging Sexual content

Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin

20 reviews

imaginefishes's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i don’t know what else i can say about this except it resonated hard. im gay

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Murder, Infidelity, Grief, and Death

Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content

lk3ssaf's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A painful story of love and hatred between two men. Beautifully written. The novel is a witness to the main character's fear, his all consuming fear of love. 

I was so sad reading the second part. I knew how everything was going to play out, how it would all fall apart. It was heartbreaking to see how David had so many moments he could've chosen to stop it, but he could not overcome his internal struggle in time. 

Giovanni was such a beloved character to me, which made it so much harder to watch him try so hard knowing it was futile. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, and Sexual content

goldenjunegem's review against another edition

sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexual content

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Death, Homophobia, and Infidelity

Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Classism, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Blood, Child death, and Pregnancy

Not sure how to tag it, but whether it's a reflection of the author's biases or an extension of the book's core themes, this book has a lot of negativity toward effeminate/GNC gay men.

leethrp's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

4.3 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Baldwin's writing has a style which, once you get acquainted with—characterized by fragmented sentences separated by commas and clauses—flows elegantly from page to page. As for page count and readability, the book is under 200 pages, with each chapter being fairly self-contained, making it easy to read in segments.

The plot does not attempt to avoid tragedy and, at times, can be especially somber, but never dull. Despite its gloomy feel, I truly couldn't help but fall in love with this book and how atmospheric it could be without drowning the reader in long-winded descriptions. Also, it goes without saying that I appreciated its inclusions of French phrases and common colloquialisms as a French student, which gave it a worldly feeling that really drew me into its romantic universe.

The narration kept me engaged within a close emotional range. Poignant and raw, extremely intimate yet not often sexual, Giovanni's room is a candid exploration of the heart's passions and faults set against the background of 1950s Paris.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Violence and Sexual content

hanna_hllqvist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

fleebugs's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Miscarriage

Moderate: Car accident, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Death of parent

corvoid's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Sexism, Grief, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

ocean's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying and Violence

shimikonde's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Some of the most beautiful language I've ever read. The protagonist of the story is horrible and self-centered in a way that feels both humanizing and perfectly hateful, and the setting is colorful and interesting. It's a very critical book that feels, in a lot of ways, ahead of its time, particularly in regards to how it challenges Americanism, and the constructs of gender and sexuality.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Infidelity, and Sexism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Sexual assault