Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Giovanni's Room

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

56 reviews

rafdee13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

GOD (I screenshot quotes from the text after I got blasted hearing them in the audiobook. I have folder of these. Please help.)

Content Warnings

bearbutch's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely beautifully written. Casually drops in the most incredible analysis of life in a single sentence in the middle of a random paragraph. All the characters are complex with obvious flaws.

Content Warnings

gvstyris's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

No matter how it seems now, I must confess: I loved him. I do not think that I will ever love anyone like that again.

I'm very grateful to Baldwin for this book's existence, and will be fighting to protect its rightful place in the queer literary canon going forward 🥲

The non-linear structure, Baldwin's beautiful prose, the overwhelming and lowkey cloying atmosphere (I'm so nostalgic for Paris!), the parallels drawn between homophobia and misogyny...man. Baldwin's portrayal of internalised homophobia is powerful and endlessly relevant, particularly considering Giovanni's Room was published almost 70 years ago.

I'll definitely be checking out more of Baldwin's work!

I dropped my brick and went to him. In a moment I heard his fall. And at moments like this I felt that we were merely enduring and committing the longer and lesser and more perpetual murder.

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ashgalwoah's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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ryanmerchant's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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simplythegirl's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is definitely my favorite James Baldwin book. He explores questioning and denying one's sexual identity, power dynamics, class differences, citizenship, the American dream, homophobia, and racism. Racism can be seen when you decode his characters I believe if Baldwin was alive today he definitely would have made David obviously African American since he would no longer have to worry about audiences laughing him off/not taking him serious for having an African American man who questions his sexual identity as a main character. The writing is beautiful and I love the symbolism.

By the end of the book it seems like how David identifies (gay straight or bisexual) is still up for debate. His decision in the end can be seen as further denial of his true self especially during times where it wasn't accepted to be anything but straight but others can interpret his decision as ending an experimental time for David.

His decision could also be symbolic of a part of himself dying much like Giovanni died.

Content Warnings