Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

El cuarto de Giovanni by James Baldwin

29 reviews

dniespal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A brilliant, poetically written book on hardships of love. The language is astonishing and the portrayal of characters is quite vivid.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

thomasdj's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcoholism

rachelbug's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Minor: Child death

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.

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Content Warnings

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

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

williamgideon's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

I noticed with this book, Baldwin's writing made me forget I was reading a book, and made me feel like I was watching a movie. The way he seamlessly moves between scenes, describes the Parisian scenery and writes dialogue is just so effortless. The writing is so atmospheric and captivating, he sets the scene perfectly, to the point where I feel like I'm there myself. The main character sucks, but to write the emotions such a shitty character in such a detailed and complex way is merely a testament to Baldwin's skill.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Transphobia

Minor: Domestic abuse

abrose2001's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia

sofipitch's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-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

I just finished it and my mind is numb but god this is an absolute masterpiece

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Transphobia

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

omemlette's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment

curatoriallyyours's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Although this book is, in many respects, about the tragic relationship between the narrator, David, and Giovanni, I think it’s more about the anguish within David as he tries to navigate who he truly is without bearing the burden of making decisions. I know I have been in the situation of not wanting to hurt someone but doing so anyway through my apathy and unwillingness to take decisive action - of allowing life to happen to me because I didn’t really know what I wanted.

I don’t really see this as a love story either - Giovanni is manipulative and David is in no place within himself to be able to love anyone. I think the relationship is more of an awakening for David - his realisation that he is gay and he cannot keep running from it. He’s driven by guilt in all things and that guilt is a reflection of the time in history and the realities of being homosexual in a world that tells you it’s wrong.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Outing

I was not a fan of the casual sexism and transphobia, and I can’t decide if it’s a deliberate airing of questionable ideas by the author to prompt reflection in the reader (this book would have been a shock at the time it was published), a mirror of the values of the time or the genuine feeling of the author.