Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - O Quarto de Giovanni

Some of the most beautiful language I've ever read. The protagonist of the story is horrible and self-centered in a way that feels both humanizing and perfectly hateful, and the setting is colorful and interesting. It's a very critical book that feels, in a lot of ways, ahead of its time, particularly in regards to how it challenges Americanism, and the constructs of gender and sexuality.

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abrose2001's review against another edition

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4.5

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julesloyola's review against another edition

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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

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sukriti's review against another edition

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5.0

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omemlette's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

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tinyjude's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Tw // internalized homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, sexual assault

The first and last parts were the ones which I found more heart wrecking and relatable. There are so many feelings and thoughts here to which, unfortunately, queer people can still relate. The fear, the pain, the desire to hide, to be different, the lies you tell yourself, how you desperately want to believe them and how all of this affects your relationships with everyone and yourself. The emptiness, the void was one of the things that broke me into pieces.

Many queer people are unable to accept themselves and continue viewing themselves and other queer people as monsters and it is terrible. It is terribly sad.

I felt so incredibly sorry for Giovanni, who deserved so much better and even though I kind of hated David through the novel, I could also understand why he acted the way he did. Because of society. Because he was unable to fight what society believes and be himself.

I think this book can help a lot of people understand the pain some, if not almost all, queer people go through as they discover themselves and learn to love themselves. It is not the most positive or optimistic novel about it, but I still think that is important, especially for other queer people out there. There are just so many things one can find that hit home and make you feel less lonely in your pain.

Baldwin had a gorgeous writing style and this novel proves it once again. David's thoughts and feelings, his descriptions, the way the narrative is framed and presented in one final night in which he recolects the most important months of his life, are just gorgeous.

I also can't ignore the way I was fascinated by the title's significance as I kept reading. The intimancy, the love, the detail.

What a wonderful novel

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