Reviews with content warning for Murder - El cuarto de Giovanni

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

El cuarto de Giovanni by James Baldwin

143 reviews

clarkg's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

It's hard to find the language to describe the devastation that this book wrought upon me. Achingly beautiful. I miss James Baldwin.

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brynalexa's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

Mundane but tragic plot. The characters are beautiful painted even though there is nothing likable about them except for what they hate about themselves. Unique POV.

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mosswood's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

The emotions in this book are so thoroughly and clearly explored through the slightest observations over dialogue. I loved the exploration of gay male love and it’s translation into misogyny. It poses many questions for modern queers. Unfortunately my lack of understanding for the main characters motives sometimes led me to care less about his subsequent actions and therefore story.

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benjiisabookworm's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

A beautiful depiction of queerness in the 1950’s - the danger and codependency of living as a gay man in secret. Also a lovely Paris setting.

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lettucelaugh's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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kell_xavi's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

Read for book club. Beautiful descriptions, frustrating and heavy exposition, a disconnect between character actions and ruminations, and difficult emotional tensions to move through despite the short length.

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uparrowhead's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

"Nobody can stay in the Garden of Eden"

I feel like there's nothing that I can truly put into words about this book that can do justice to the experience of reading it. Traversing through the pages of sorrow and melancholy of this novel felt like an unraveling journey that was slowly breaking me apart with each turn.

A classic which I think is a necessity to read for any queer person, James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room explores the turmoiled life of David – a man who left America in search of a more free life in Paris – and the developing relationship between him and Giovanni. Through the meandering narrative of David's life and the memories which he slowly recalls of both the past and the present, you're thrust into a story of depressing beauty laced in love and pain.

Conflicting sadness between desire and disgust mixes within the incredible writing and language of this novel, creating a fantastical read that I loved from start to finish. Reading through David's hatred for his own sexuality and the perpetual limbo he seems to be in when it comes to how he feels for Giovanni makes for a truly heart wretching story that I don't think I'll ever forget.

Accelerating, tragically romantic: an incredible story that I will never recover from, which brought me to tears by the end. I can't stress enough how masterfully crafted this is, and all I can ask is for more people to read the sickeningly beautiful narrative this remarkable novel puts through.

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