Reviews

Another Country by James Baldwin

froggin_around's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Suicide

prolixity's review against another edition

5.0

A complex, tangled masterpiece. Really this is probably closer to four stars but I can’t bear to give it less than five. Difficult in theme and subject but radiant in language—the writing sings, it wails. Characters are deep and intricate and the world through which they move pushes up against them at every turn, the way the world pushes up against all of us, the way we have to steel ourselves just to be people in this world, like walking in the wind.

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Global Challenge: United States of America

em_thegem's review against another edition

5.0

Baldwin’s winding prose is as relatable as ever, even in the next millennium. I found myself sometimes taking breaks from this book at the beginning, and I didn’t know where it was going, but I absolutely devoured the end. The fantastic dialogue and vivid descriptions combined to be at once both transporting and arresting.

aklanger_18's review against another edition

3.0

I've been meaning to read James Baldwin for the longest time. The writing in Another Country is gorgeous and it's powerful to think about how the themes of race, sexuality, and class would have been read in the 1960s -- I can see how the book was groundbreaking. I struggled with the plot, though, which made this less accessible/readable. I am definitely going to try another Baldwin book.

avhn's review against another edition

3.0

The writing is beautiful, but the misogyny got to me. Most of the women characters felt very flat while the men had more dimensions to them. There's also some sexual violence I wasn't prepared for. It almost could be read as a critique of traditional gender roles in heterosexual relationships, but it didn't quite work as such for me.

Eric and Yves were the only two characters I really liked, which made the rest of the book a bit of a slog.

mamaforjustice's review against another edition

5.0

No words.
This book does so much so well.

pagenick's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-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

4.5

areeba107's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

Bhut hi complex aur dark laga  to start reading about American racism 

caspertheeghost's review against another edition

5.0

altered my soul on a molecular level

_bb's review against another edition

4.0

I'll keep it short -

At first I was a little turned off by the tone and harshness. It's set in a gritty 1950's New York and a lot grief transpires. Ultimately though Baldwin's delivery, story telling, observations on life and society are superb and thought provoking. He has a lot to say and doesn't hold back.