Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Giovanni's Room

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

68 reviews

biobeetle's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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wildflowercrypt's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

man, i’m having a hard time digesting this one. a sobering look at the pain and self-hatred queer people lived with and internalized, even in places like mid-1950s France where homosexuality was no longer criminalized but still came with massive social stigma.

David was hardly a likeable protagonist, and yet part of me still felt such compassion for him even as i watched his self-loathing destroy, not only himself, but everyone around him. a complex, tragic story of a man unable to accept himself, or the love he desires. Baldwin is a masterful writer; looking forward to reading more of his works.

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ellie_1997's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

4.0

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devilsminion's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Eu queria ler esse livro há décadas e finalmente consegui, embora fosse em português e não em o idioma original.
É incrível como em um livro tão curto Baldwin aborda tantos assuntos relevantes da experiência queer. Em muitos pontos da leitura, tive que fazer pausas para respirar e reflexionar, porque ele capturou tão perfeitamente aquele medo e paranóia de não se permitir ser quem você é e francamente é deprimente quão relevante ainda é hoje em dia.
Apesar de ser um livro muito triste estou feliz por ter lido.

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unique_polarizer's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

love can really destroy people and be dishonest damn

actions have consequences I guess and communication or lack of it can really impact people, also being honest both to yourself and others amid societal standards against your desires are what struck out to me

apart from the problematic views (I'm certain it's the time period) and all but this was a great book, poetically vulnerable and unafraid of what love means for the characters involved.

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