Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

155 reviews

nad_books623'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Homophobia, and Classism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Misogyny

Minor: Child death

getyourghosts's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Homophobia and Alcohol

Minor: Transphobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

mcicenia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

damn bitch that’s what you get for beating your wife

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Content Warnings

Minor: Grief, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Transphobia, Miscarriage, and Homophobia

everesto's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

I read this book for school and really enjoyed it. All of the characters (except Hella) were all awful people and like half of them were pedophiles BUT I was very invested in the story and really wanted to know how the story got to the point where Giovanni was getting executed. Baldwins writing style is very beautiful and the way he uses repetition of words to reinforce and highlight certain ideas really stuck out to me. I also really liked the way he switched between tenses so often, not many other writers would not have been able to pull that off without it being really confusing. I was not a fan of the portrayal of trans/genderqueer people or the ideas on women but I think that's due to just who David is as a character and also the time this book was written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Grief, Murder, Death, Pedophilia, and Sexism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Transphobia, Rape, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

kitandink'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

5.0

not heterosexual, not pro-gay rights, but a secret, third thing

(okay on a serious note, this is my first time reading baldwin and it was brilliant. his prose - there's an urgency in it. like he's sat in a chair across from you, holding your gaze intensely, and going, "listen. listen to this.")

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

amy_q13's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Classism, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Murder

sashasghost's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

i think it’s the best written thing i’ve ever read. the prose are beautiful. it was so raw and brutal

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Transphobia

lou_bbn's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

le style d'écriture est incroyable 

un peu plus confuse avec comment je me sens par rapport à tout le reste 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Transphobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

bookworm_sarah's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, and Homophobia

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

Minor: Child death and Miscarriage

aseel_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I'm really glad I've read this now and I'm was very surprised about Giovanni's demise (the cause of it). Obviously all the problematic stuff was ick to read and there could have been a more substantial plot 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual harassment