Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Another Country by James Baldwin

72 reviews

_m_a_r_a's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

It is impressive the depth of social political analysis Baldwin can lay bare within characters that feel still contemporary and in some ways relatable. There is a balance of universality and specificity. It was interesting to read the short introduction after finishing the book which ties Baldwin real life experience to certain aspects of the novel. 

The first chapter was difficult to read due to the graphic scenes of sex, domestic violence and extreme misogyny (which continues throughout the book but not to the same intensity) but it is also required to build the context of the time and place the novel is set. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicide

cecdex's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Suicide

freckled_frog_boi's review against another edition

5.0

This is probably the most raw depiction of love (in its many forms: familial, sexual, platonic, etc) I've ever seen. It's a mess. It's angry. It's heartbreaking. It's disgusting. Of it's time and also transcends it. 

I was going to originally start this review with "messy bitches doing their messy bitch activities" but I think we find a lil bit of ourselves, maybe the parts we dislike the most, in these characters in some form. Turns out, we were the messy bitches all along. That said, everyone in here could benefit from a few years of therapy and couple's counseling. An intervention or two. 

This definitely warrants a reread, and I highly recommend listening to the music mentioned in the book while reading. It's such a curated vibe that Baldwin put together that I fear I will never hear Cigarettes and Coffee by Otis Redding without thinking about this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

cmcrockford's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Going full five here, the last fifty to sixty pages are just extraordinary writing about love and race and sex and fidelity and really salvation. So far this is the best Baldwin novel I've read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit

This must have driven people in 1962 into an absolute frenzy.

soupyyy's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, and Suicide

Moderate: Domestic abuse

moranguinhos's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Racism, and Grief

kirkspockreads's review against another edition

There is nothing wrong with this book. It is just taking me forever to get through and I want to move on but don’t have the brain space for it right now. Great book, powerful writing, not the right time for me to be reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

catherine_thegreat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

cthulhu_calamari's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcohol

pabi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol