Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

152 reviews

everesto's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I read this book for school and really enjoyed it. All of the characters (except Hella) were all awful people and like half of them were pedophiles BUT I was very invested in the story and really wanted to know how the story got to the point where Giovanni was getting executed. Baldwins writing style is very beautiful and the way he uses repetition of words to reinforce and highlight certain ideas really stuck out to me. I also really liked the way he switched between tenses so often, not many other writers would not have been able to pull that off without it being really confusing. I was not a fan of the portrayal of trans/genderqueer people or the ideas on women but I think that's due to just who David is as a character and also the time this book was written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Grief, Murder, Death, Pedophilia, and Sexism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Transphobia, Rape, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

kitandink's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

not heterosexual, not pro-gay rights, but a secret, third thing

(okay on a serious note, this is my first time reading baldwin and it was brilliant. his prose - there's an urgency in it. like he's sat in a chair across from you, holding your gaze intensely, and going, "listen. listen to this.")

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

amy_q13's review against another edition

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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Classism, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Murder

sashasghost's review against another edition

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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i think it’s the best written thing i’ve ever read. the prose are beautiful. it was so raw and brutal

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Transphobia

lou_bbn's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

le style d'écriture est incroyable 

un peu plus confuse avec comment je me sens par rapport à tout le reste 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Transphobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

bookworm_sarah's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, and Homophobia

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

Minor: Child death and Miscarriage

aseel_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-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

3.75

I'm really glad I've read this now and I'm was very surprised about Giovanni's demise (the cause of it). Obviously all the problematic stuff was ick to read and there could have been a more substantial plot 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual harassment

gvstyris's review

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

No matter how it seems now, I must confess: I loved him. I do not think that I will ever love anyone like that again. 

I'm very grateful to Baldwin for this book's existence, and will be fighting to protect its rightful place in the queer literary canon going forward 🥲

The non-linear structure, Baldwin's beautiful prose, the overwhelming and lowkey cloying atmosphere (I'm so nostalgic for Paris!), the parallels drawn between homophobia and misogyny...man. Baldwin's portrayal of internalised homophobia is powerful and endlessly relevant, particularly considering Giovanni's Room was published almost 70 years ago.

I'll definitely be checking out more of Baldwin's work! 

I dropped my brick and went to him. In a moment I heard his fall. And at moments like this I felt that we were merely enduring and committing the longer and lesser and more perpetual murder.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Homophobia

rionstorm's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Beautifully written. I found the narrator, David, absolutely vile, and Giovanni and Hella so charming. The characters all reminded me of elements of people I have known in real life, as they feel very alive. I found parts of it challenging, particularly the intense homophobia (& transphobia?) from David himself towards the other queer people around him.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Infidelity, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage

Minor: Domestic abuse and Murder

pinksreads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.25

This book moved me like no other queer book did. It captures so many emotions, all at once. Giovanni’s room represents so much - and the main character’s will to run away from it speaks volumes. David is deplorable, but there is something so real about his inner monologue.

I’m glad I read this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Dysphoria, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts