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amkclaes's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
camimonae's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I couldn't find much to love about this story except for the way JB delves into the realism of life experiences.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
aliannavelezzzz's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
whatisrubyreading's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Another Country by James Baldwin
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
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I was told to read this by one of my professors in my master’s and I’m so glad I finally got round to it! CW for mention of suicide in this review.
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🌃 The plot: Rufus Scott is a Harlem jazz musician adrift in New York after his destructive tendencies irreparably harm his girlfriend and shipwreck his life. His sister and his friends attempt to get through to him, but he ultimately dies by suicide in the Hudson river. The rest of the novel charts the fallout—for his white friends whom he saw on the night of his death and whom he had relationships with in the past, and for his sister Ida who nurses a burning anger over his passing.
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This novel is an unbelievable achievement. For starters, the writing is beautiful—if you like Fitzgerald’s prose style, you’ll love Baldwin’s descriptions of New York. However, what Fitzgerald lacks in clarity around the nuance and complexities of privilege and race in America, Baldwin has in spades. This is a novel about the traps we find ourselves in, and whether we can ever really connect to each other across the gaps in our experiences—particularly when those experiences diverge so wildly when it comes to race. It contrasts the experiences of each of the characters expertly and this gives the novel a depth of humanity that is really amazing. I’m SO glad I read this and I can’t wait to read more from Baldwin.
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🌃 Read it if you like Fitzgerald (I thought the delicacy of the prose was similar) but like novels to explore in more complexity issues like race, gender, and sexuality.
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🚫 Avoid it if you’re avoiding stories about suicide, grief, sexual assault, and perhaps especially racism and violence against women. Violence is treated somewhat as part of women’s lot in this book, and it animates much of the story without leaving much of a mark on many of the main male characters. There are women in this story, but I would say this is still a novel about men - take that how you will!
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Grief
namizaela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was a beautiful book. James Baldwin is an amazing writer and I feel like I can't appreciate him enough, like it would take multiple rereads to discover how wonderfully he crafted this novel. He handles the theme of racism without shielding the reader from the flaws of the white liberals in the book, and without painting the black characters as people who can do no wrong. Each character interacts with their race, gender, and sexuality in their own unique way.
His writing style is also really beautiful, as shown by the quote above. Baldwin makes his prose poetic and lyrical, while still communicating his messages clearly. This book is incredible, and the only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the slow, meandering pace.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse