Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Another Country by James Baldwin

21 reviews

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

---

Content Warnings

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

_caragibson'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.

---

Content Warnings

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

ismaymacklin's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

5.0

it took me so long to read this but i really did love it. there were times when i was like omg this is so long, but i’m so glad i read it. it’s not as digestible and attention grabbing as giovanni’s room, but it is so so so good. <i love how the first “book” is like a prequel to the other books?? like idk if you get it you get it>

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, 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.

---

Content Warnings

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

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

This book was a well written but challenging read. At times it was hard to parse the emotions of the characters, which seems so volatile. Modern readers might struggle to understand the way Baldwin writes about love and sexuality if the context of the period he is writing in is not taken into account. the human heart and mind are strange and complex creatures, and Baldwin’s writing makes clear how muddled and confusing that make our world. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Alcohol

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. 

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

amkclaes's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

5.0

this is maybe the best book ever written, it is so beautiful and gut wrenching and tender and horrifying, and each character feels so completely real, as if baldwin could know others better than they know themselves, each small tic and feeling going completely within the character's universe, it was just haunting, in the best way

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

signeskov's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

‘“Pray? Who, pray? I bet you, if I ever get anywhere near that white devil you call God, I’ll tear my son and my father out of his white hide! Don’t you ever say the word Pray to me again, woman, not if you want to live.”’

This novel is not for the easy-hearted, its main themes being racism and human estrangement. Sex, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and violence is the interwoven fabric of the story, and the characters are one big, unlikeable mass of suffering. Often, these elements of the book disgusted me or provoked some pretty heavy reactions in me. Despite Baldwin’s identity as a black gay man, one must announce that the book is still a product of its time - though this of course also adds to the historical depiction of racism and patriarchy, which definitely interested me. Finally, this is a novel that doesn’t say a whole lot as you’re sitting with it, but only truly revealed itself to me as I finished it and had left it to brew for some days.

What brings this novel up from a pretty standard 4 rating to a 4.25 is Baldwin’s writing. It is simply put immaculate, constantly blending love and hate into shattering contrasts of existential crisis, human loneliness, and, of course, racism. It is forceful, violent, and at once beautiful - and is sure to stay with its reader for a while as a literary shot of refreshment to the brain.

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, and Alcohol

camimonae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

JB knows how to write a tortured love story and sensual, yet not explicit sex/intimate scenes. 
I couldn't find much to love about this story except for the way JB delves into the realism of life experiences. 

---

Content Warnings

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

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

---

Content Warnings

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