Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

48 reviews

laurendenton's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Alcohol, and Misogyny

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

Minor: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

lizziaha's review against another edition

sad

• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.25

This is an interesting look at masculinity, and perhaps because of that, I was put off by its rather bleak view of femininity. But the innate struggle of queerness that was woven through the story was frightening familiar and tugged at my heartstrings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Death, Infidelity, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicidal thoughts

noblekylie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Violence

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Death, Homophobia, and Infidelity

Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Classism, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Blood, Child death, and Pregnancy

Not sure how to tag it, but whether it's a reflection of the author's biases or an extension of the book's core themes, this book has a lot of negativity toward effeminate/GNC gay men.

leethrp's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

4.3 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Baldwin's writing has a style which, once you get acquainted with—characterized by fragmented sentences separated by commas and clauses—flows elegantly from page to page. As for page count and readability, the book is under 200 pages, with each chapter being fairly self-contained, making it easy to read in segments.

The plot does not attempt to avoid tragedy and, at times, can be especially somber, but never dull. Despite its gloomy feel, I truly couldn't help but fall in love with this book and how atmospheric it could be without drowning the reader in long-winded descriptions. Also, it goes without saying that I appreciated its inclusions of French phrases and common colloquialisms as a French student, which gave it a worldly feeling that really drew me into its romantic universe.

The narration kept me engaged within a close emotional range. Poignant and raw, extremely intimate yet not often sexual, Giovanni's room is a candid exploration of the heart's passions and faults set against the background of 1950s Paris.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Violence and Sexual content

malsguth's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexism

jessbasuthakur'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
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book should be required reading for high schoolers. 
It's been a year since I've read a Baldwin novel and I forgot what I was missing.  This book is truly a work of art. It's been a while since I've read a book that truly moved me and I am so glad I finally decided to pick this up.  This book follows our main character David as he tries to navigate his relationship with his girlfriend he proposed to, Hella, and a boy he meets in a gay bar while she is away, Giovanni.  Throughout the book, themes of masculinity, sexuality, patriarchy, foreignness, and isolation are explored with depth and ease in this short novel.  And the prose!!!! The definition of lyrical yet substantive.  My only real gripe with the book is the overt transphobic language when speaking of the trans community in and around the area of the bar, however I feel there is reason to look around this as the mindset is par for the course of the times (doesn't make it right at all though).  One can also complain that all the characters in the story are white, but I find that Baldwin did well exploring the themes already presented in the novel that he didn't necessarily need to explore race. I also believe that just because he was a Black author, he is not obligated to speak on race in everyone of his works and he did plenty of exploration on life as a Black person that we can forgive this omission in the book.  Overall, I really loved this book and has definitely made on my list of all time favorites. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Transphobia

izzthicc's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I hated almost every character in this book more than I liked them (except Hela) and even then, I loved this book. Baldwin’s writing is heartbreaking and intentional. Though David’s cynicism infects you throughout the pages, you can’t help but glimpse the slight hopefulness that I think is prevalent in the subtext. In the end,

David is still unlikeable, still running away from that which scares him, but he’s still changed in a way, though you can see that he has no plans to deviate from his habits.

I just really liked this book. It’s the first of Baldwin’s works that I’ve read and I’m now looking forward to reading some more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Infidelity, and Gun violence

marinapaso11's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, Violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity

Moderate: Murder and Death

kaitisbooknook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Homophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment