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mahhias's reviews
31 reviews
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
5.0
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, one of my favorite reads this year so far!
"Giovanni's Room" revolves around the protagonist, David, an American living in 1950s Paris. Whom it’s struggling with his identity, conflicted feelings, and societal expectations. The narrative intensifies as David becomes entangled in a complex situation of relationships, particularly with Giovanni, a bartender. This story explores themes of love, desire, shame and the societal pressures that can shape and constrain relationships.
God, this book is heartbreaking, so tragic and I was hoping to not cry my eyes out! I loved every single character in this novel and I could deeply relate to each one of them individually, how great is that? No book is able to achieve such things. The book is super well done, there were some parts that I wanted to just sob and contemplate. The writing is immaculate and BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT. There were so many moments that I loved! So many emotions were flowing within me! It’s such a gut-bunch of a book, it’s so beautifully crafted. There is no preparing anyone for the sheer inexorable force of Baldwin's language. It burrows into you: It reaches deep down into your stomach, making that painful feeling. To read Baldwin's words is to be ambushed by a grief both personal and historical.
Such a poignant exploration of identity, love, and societal expectations and the shame, suffering, and guilt that comes with it. Baldwin's prose is both evocative and introspective, delving into the complex emotions of the characters, and I LOVED THAT! No review can do justice to this beautiful piece of Literature! Such a timeless work!
"Giovanni's Room" revolves around the protagonist, David, an American living in 1950s Paris. Whom it’s struggling with his identity, conflicted feelings, and societal expectations. The narrative intensifies as David becomes entangled in a complex situation of relationships, particularly with Giovanni, a bartender. This story explores themes of love, desire, shame and the societal pressures that can shape and constrain relationships.
God, this book is heartbreaking, so tragic and I was hoping to not cry my eyes out! I loved every single character in this novel and I could deeply relate to each one of them individually, how great is that? No book is able to achieve such things. The book is super well done, there were some parts that I wanted to just sob and contemplate. The writing is immaculate and BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT. There were so many moments that I loved! So many emotions were flowing within me! It’s such a gut-bunch of a book, it’s so beautifully crafted. There is no preparing anyone for the sheer inexorable force of Baldwin's language. It burrows into you: It reaches deep down into your stomach, making that painful feeling. To read Baldwin's words is to be ambushed by a grief both personal and historical.
Such a poignant exploration of identity, love, and societal expectations and the shame, suffering, and guilt that comes with it. Baldwin's prose is both evocative and introspective, delving into the complex emotions of the characters, and I LOVED THAT! No review can do justice to this beautiful piece of Literature! Such a timeless work!
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
medium-paced
4.0
What a good book! This was hard on my stomach at times!!! Fucked up but really liked it honestly! The plot was super interesting. I loved it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, and Death
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
What a book! Such a new perspective and storytelling. This is my first Ottessa book and I loved Moshfegh’s techniques in story telling!
I will say however that I felt the book lacked some good-quality writing, there was stilted, almost blunt dialogue, and it made the experience a bit frail. The plot was a bit more mediocre than I expected and there was nothing remotely off-putting or grotesque as people were suggesting. Had my hopes very HIGH: so I was utterly disappointed by this. I think a lot of people say this since it’s probably their first book with this sort of sensitive topics and odd, wicked elements.
So, people, don’t be so sensitive. You guys have not read books that are GROTESQUE and truly DISGUSTING yet. Do not be that dramatic. There is so many books out there that would perfectly fit the description that Lapvona is depicted as way better.
I am fond of Lapvona in a way: but it’s not enough for me to really, really like it: there is gross imagery, most of it relating to bodily fluids and excrement, which I found super: disgusting (and this is the only disgusting thing I found in this book even though I was promised more) and it’s darkly comedic prose, which I did liked this, sometimes, but it was done so many times that I found it super banal.
I feel this book could’ve been a bit better: but overall, this book was enjoyable and it had me very motivated to keep reading. Had me disappointed: of course, but It’s so bleak and satisfying at times. Good book!
I will say however that I felt the book lacked some good-quality writing, there was stilted, almost blunt dialogue, and it made the experience a bit frail. The plot was a bit more mediocre than I expected and there was nothing remotely off-putting or grotesque as people were suggesting. Had my hopes very HIGH: so I was utterly disappointed by this. I think a lot of people say this since it’s probably their first book with this sort of sensitive topics and odd, wicked elements.
So, people, don’t be so sensitive. You guys have not read books that are GROTESQUE and truly DISGUSTING yet. Do not be that dramatic. There is so many books out there that would perfectly fit the description that Lapvona is depicted as way better.
I am fond of Lapvona in a way: but it’s not enough for me to really, really like it: there is gross imagery, most of it relating to bodily fluids and excrement, which I found super: disgusting (and this is the only disgusting thing I found in this book even though I was promised more) and it’s darkly comedic prose, which I did liked this, sometimes, but it was done so many times that I found it super banal.
I feel this book could’ve been a bit better: but overall, this book was enjoyable and it had me very motivated to keep reading. Had me disappointed: of course, but It’s so bleak and satisfying at times. Good book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Cannibalism, Ableism, Pedophilia, Incest, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse
Moderate: Murder, Miscarriage, Excrement, Drug use, Blood, Death, Abortion, Self harm, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Gaslighting and Suicidal thoughts