Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

48 reviews

centauribound's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment

caseyjayner's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Oof. Beautifully written but terrible to read- I didn’t understand a lot of the social things that I think were customary at the time so I felt a little lost sometimes when people were interacting with “friends”.  I think my least favorite part is thatt we everyone is described to hate each other and use each other anyway.  As adults this seems a horrible way to live and confusing.  
Idk, wasn’t for me. Misogyny and homophobia everywhere

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, and Sexual violence

simplythegirl's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This is definitely  my favorite James Baldwin book. He explores questioning and denying one's sexual identity, power dynamics, class differences,  citizenship, the American dream, homophobia, and racism. Racism can be seen when you decode his characters I believe if Baldwin was alive today he definitely  would have made David obviously African American since he would no longer have to worry about audiences laughing him off/not taking him serious for having an African American man who questions his sexual identity as a main character. The writing is beautiful and I love the symbolism.

By the end of the book it seems like how David identifies (gay straight or bisexual) is still up for debate. His decision in the end can be seen as further denial of his true self especially during times where it wasn't  accepted to be anything but straight  but others can interpret his decision as ending an experimental time for David.

 His decision could also be symbolic of  a part of himself dying  much like Giovanni died.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Rape, Murder, Homophobia, and Sexual violence

graecus_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

i felt so many things while reading this. i dont know when the last time a book made me want to cry in the way that this one did. the portrayal of internalized homophobia really did something to me in a way that i did not expect. amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Murder and Violence

marija_m95's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Child death, Homophobia, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

theprinceofdenmark's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Outing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

saskia_ej's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, and Homophobia

honeybeewitched87's review against another edition

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Death, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Alcohol, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Violence

serena_hien's review

challenging emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Death

anothersun's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

this book was heartshattering, devastating and cruel. i can't remember when i last felt so much and so deeply from consuming any kind of media. james baldwin has the most beautiful way around words and form i currently can imagine. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Miscarriage, and Alcohol