Reviews

Another Country by James Baldwin

Only show reviews with written explanations

dnandrews797's review against another edition

4.0

James Baldwin’s works are always of the highest quality, but the poetic prose of this novel blew me away particularly in the first half. I love morally grey heroes of the book who are forced into positions to hurt others because of societal standards and their own past traumas. I think it’s a good way of remembering that you can’t judge people off a single act when you might not know the struggles that person has gone through. Excellent novel.

dreaming_ace's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This was a fascinating and powerful exploration of the many intersections and intersectionality that occurs between individuals. I will say it is a little sad how totally relevant the story was and how with a few tweaks could have been set in the present day here in 2024.

I overall enjoyed reading this book and found parts very powerful but I did struggle with the interpersonal complications that occurred between people who should have been aware those interpersonal complications were going to occur based on their choice of actions. Though there was much more nuance to the interpersonal complications than in many books.

I did appreciate that one of the characters who would be clearly defined as bisexual today (that language was not explicitly used in part because the story was written before that language was supper common) and who was the most comfortable within their identity ended up with the most hopeful ending.

kendallheldt's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.5

mitskacir's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I listened to the audiobook, which had an excellent reader who brought each character to life. Baldwin’s writing is passionate and descriptive, and I was astounded by his ability to write so perceptively from different perspectives (especially the women characters - I often can’t stand women written by men). This book so artfully articulates many of the conversation points I hear in 2020 on race and the intersections of race, sexuality, and gender: Particularly Ida’s final speech about her deep understanding of her brother and why a white person could never have known him the way she did - not because they are white, per se, but because they are not black. The anger that Vivaldo struggles with throughout the book at being called out for his whiteness, frequently saying that he cannot help being white, also felt particularly relevant. The only reason I took of one star was because the pacing is very slow, which made it difficult for me to finish the book.