Reviews with content warning for Death - O Quarto de Giovanni

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

Reviews tagging 'Death'

O Quarto de Giovanni by James Baldwin, Paulo Henriques Britto

186 reviews

newvegas's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

AAAHHHHH.

Content Warnings

zara89's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

samcanuel's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

James Baldwin is an extremely talented writer and in this book he tackled many difficult themes. I truly disliked almost every character, but I still found myself completely invested in their stories. I really liked the structure of the plot itself, going back and forth between the current time and the flashbacks to give context. This story is heartbreaking, but Baldwin’s telling of it is perfection.

Content Warnings

mariebrunelm's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

This well-known and well-loved novel tells about David, an American in Paris in the 1950s, and especially about his relationship with Giovanni at a time of hypocrisy when queer love is not tolerated but is everywhere in the capital. It’s hard not to succumb to Baldwin’s lyrical prose and the ease with which he talks about the human experience. David is certainly not a perfect man (his relationship with women has its dark spots, let’s put it that way), but his humanity shines through the pages and rings very true.

I was surprised to read that the two main characters were white, having been led to believe Baldwin tackled the intersection of the queer and Black identities, but I know he has many other books to have a look at, and Giovanni’s Room is certainly not the last one of his that I read.

Content Warnings

dugfromthedirt's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.25

This took me soo many attempts to read with there being so much about both the characters and the happenings that was uncomfortable, often without reprieve, but god. The way it was all drawn out was beautiful. I wish I had the language for and practice at literary crit needed to delve into this the way I want to.

Before Giovanni's Room I was only familiar with James Baldwin's work as a political thinker/speaker, and his way with words in that context has always captured me. It's so interesting to find the same ring true in such a different place, such a different way.

Content Warnings