Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Otro país by James Baldwin

14 reviews

fynn_jls's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual content

dizzzybrook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

mayze's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Cursing, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Classism, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Sexual content, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

Another amazing book by James Baldwin. Another Country tells the story of a social circle of NYC bohemians in the 1950s. Rufus a black jazz musician, Vivaldo an Irish-Italian write, Cass a wealthy liberal housewife, Ida a singer and Rufus' younger sister and Eric, an actor who just returned from some time off in France. While reading this book it's easy to understand why it's held in such high regard. The gripping writing and its clever way to interweaving different themes (racism, sexism, homosexuality/bissexuality) was decades ahead of its time and still does it better than the average book who tries to connect themes today. The characters were well written, they all have clear faults (some of them heinous) and even though none of them were overall likeable, I didn't find them particularly unlikeable either. They just felt like three-dimensional characters were the complexity and themes of the plot make some of their actions understandable from their POV. As usual, Baldwin's descriptions of NYC are very effective, you can easily picture Seventh Avenue, the dive bars the characters are fond of, coast towns in Southern France, and even how chaotic and smelly the characters' living quarters are. I highly recommend this, it's very uncomfortable at times but I feel that readers can learn a lot from it and easily put themselves in the characters' shoes even if they don't necessarily agree with their actions.

lauralfp's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-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: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia and Racism

rinasangel's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Infidelity

lazlio's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, and Death

_cararichardson'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? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed savoring this book. This book talks about discrimination, complex relationships, and surviving in an increasingly difficult world. Baldwin’s writing is really poetic, reflective and nuanced. None of the characters are like-able, per se, because they’re very real. They’re complicated and messy and make poor decisions. The racial and societal observations in this book are still relevant to today, not much has changed (Although his opinions of women are quite indicative of his time). I also loved the musical aspect in this book, the jazz club scenes and lyric interpolations were great and really set the scene. My only complaint is that it is quite slow, and it’s definitely a book that is “no plot just vibes” so it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I will say that the last 50 pages or so were really quite beautiful and were a standout of the book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol

slayalicious's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective tense 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

3.5

The book is meant for a certain type of person who loves literature and can withstand the boring parts and long chapters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Grief

polestick's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racism, Misogyny, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Took me an entire fall to read this (not intentionally, just got really busy with school and life and lost myself a bit within all of that). James Baldwin's writing is truly a blueprint— one that many nowadays try to recreate, but no one can quite capture. The authenticity, the raw naturalness of it all, and the use of songs and lyrics to enhance an experience. Another Country's beauty lies in the pure excess that makes up a lot of the book. The characters navigating new lives and settings. The exploration of bisexuality and the world. the violence that comes in heterosexual or interracial relationships. It's a beautiful book that left me thinking about so much. there are some lines that I think will never not stick with me having read them. Above all, Baldwin's talent lies in capturing the feelings of what it means to live, and what it means to feel like you haven't quite lived enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Racism, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol