Reviews tagging 'Death'

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

203 reviews

vaguelyredhead's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

Minor: Miscarriage, Transphobia, and Death of parent

noonanjohnc's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Transphobia

alice666's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

‘People are too various to be treated so lightly. I am too various to be trusted.’

Wonderful and remarkably vulnerable, Baldwin gives his insight into the complexities, anxieties and passions that exist beneath the skin of our most palatable and performative natures. And, how we can be so convinced and hypnotised by a separate safe idea of ourselves that it can be seen to be corrupted and imperilled by our most genuine and intimate selves.

In short, be prepared for many tears.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Murder

Minor: Miscarriage and Transphobia

itsjadenbaby's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I can officially say that a book has  put me in a reading slump for being too good! The novel is perfection. There were lines in this that had my jaw on the floor because of how hard hitting yet beautiful they were.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

mar's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

GOD.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

jmichaelw28's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A well-deserved classic, Giovanni's Room is a deep dive into the psyche of a White, queer man's struggle with masculinity and his own sexuality. Baldwin authentically ties together desire, self-loathing, and love into an unblinking character study. I would highly recommend pairing this book with Byung-Chul Han's The Agony of Eros.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Homophobia

josiee123's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Not because I don't love James Baldwin but because at times I found the plot a bit dry and slow. But because I want to read more Baldwin I'll be moving onto some Parisian essays

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

apthompson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol

tenbgale's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

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

2.5

definitely a gay classic imo, but just not my cup of tea. i found the main character really annoying, but that was kind of the point.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

sarah_kula's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Murder