Reviews

O Quarto de Giovanni by James Baldwin, Paulo Henriques Britto

wesleylebakken's review against another edition

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2.5

i know what you’re thinking: really? another classic you didn’t like??

but yes unfortunately here i am. i was just bored, especially though the first 3/4 of the book. the beautiful prose explaining how nothing is happening just doesn’t fill my book heart with joy. at the end it picked up some, but it was too late to redeem the feelings i already had

micareads123's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

wesbian's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.5

Baldwin's writing in this novel is beautiful, cannot wait to read more of his works. Love to see troubled queer characters navigating life.

vinicoelho's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

Visceral and profound. Baldwin examines masculinity, gender roles, and the anguish that results when the two don't align. David, the main character manages to ruin all that is good in his life, and the lives of others, due to his inability to accept himself and love who he truly loves, getting everyone around him involved in his self pity and despair. Baldwin's writing style takes a bit to get used to as he is long winded at times and constructs long sentences with a dozen commas. This might be a me problem though (dumb). But once this hurdle was cleared Baldwin's writing was brilliant and visual and emotional

braskubas's review against another edition

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5.0

Hated the protagonist

julia_shugart'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? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kalbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the best books I’ve read this year

shubagar's review against another edition

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5.0

The writing was perfect... like, literally perfect. Flawless. Metaphors in all the right places. Nothing bland, nothing unnecessary. Beautifully portrayed emotions, such that there isn't anything that escapes the reader. Well rounded, humane plot. Baldwin is one of my favorite authors now, can't wait to read more of his work!

book_busy's review against another edition

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5.0

This novel is so elegantly tragic; I devoured it in two days like arsenic-laced cookies.

neavevmcc_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

4.0