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miller8d's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
2.5
I like James Baldwin’s poetic language and poignant emotional description but I found the ending of this book quite disappointing and I really wish there had been more plot to this book. It felt like nothing really happened in comparison to how much of the book was spent explaining— it was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing, which isn’t bad, it’s just not my preference. James Baldwin is incredible and brilliant and this book is historically significant, but I did not enjoy it very much.
Note: I pictured James Baldwin as Giovanni, and Hugh Dennis as Jacques.
Note: I pictured James Baldwin as Giovanni, and Hugh Dennis as Jacques.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
onmalsshelf's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Some of the best writing I’ve ever read in a classic, but with the most insufferable cast of characters. Oi with the misogyny already
Also The Atlantic lied in their blurb, ‘Exciting…a book that belongs in the top rank of fiction’
Exciting? Where?
Also The Atlantic lied in their blurb, ‘Exciting…a book that belongs in the top rank of fiction’
Exciting? Where?
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism