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beansrowning's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's not really up my alley as a romance-driven novel (and as cis-gendered white male), but as a fan of Baldwin I read it with no prior research.
Some of the themes were particularly challenging, bordering on the misogynistic. I think some of these more shocking depictions work well because they force the reader to consider the trials and tribulations of Rufus in the context of his life and the realities of a black man living in those times, and I found that my initial opinion had shifted as I read on, a great signal of a thought provoking novel.
Unfortunately, there is still relevance today concerning white liberalism and LGBTQ acceptance.
Some of the themes were particularly challenging, bordering on the misogynistic. I think some of these more shocking depictions work well because they force the reader to consider the trials and tribulations of Rufus in the context of his life and the realities of a black man living in those times, and I found that my initial opinion had shifted as I read on, a great signal of a thought provoking novel.
Unfortunately, there is still relevance today concerning white liberalism and LGBTQ acceptance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
tedney's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
daja57's review against another edition
5.0
Greenwich Village, New York ("that city which the people from heaven had made their home." - 3.2), late 1950s. Rufus is a black jazz drummer in a love-hate relationship on a downward spiral with a white girl from Georgia. Other characters include Rufus's sister Ida who wants to be a singer Vivaldo, a wannabe novelist of Italian extraction, Richard, an older novelist and his wife Cass, and Eric a gay actor with a French boyfriend. These artists live a bohemian life but at the bottom of it all they yearn for love; but love involves another person and that creates problematic power dynamics, especially when there is the complication of race.
A deeply troubling analysis of inner city life and the problems involved when a boy meets a girl (or a boy). Baldwin's other books include Giovanni's Room, a masterful treatment of repressed homosexuality, and If Beale Street Could Talk, a superb novel about racism. This novel seems to encompass both. His characters leap off the page in their brutal glory. His settings both shape and resonate for the characters. This is writing at its best.
A deeply troubling analysis of inner city life and the problems involved when a boy meets a girl (or a boy). Baldwin's other books include Giovanni's Room, a masterful treatment of repressed homosexuality, and If Beale Street Could Talk, a superb novel about racism. This novel seems to encompass both. His characters leap off the page in their brutal glory. His settings both shape and resonate for the characters. This is writing at its best.
drbillbongo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
iainlynn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
mylou's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dnandrews797's review against another edition
4.0
James Baldwin’s works are always of the highest quality, but the poetic prose of this novel blew me away particularly in the first half. I love morally grey heroes of the book who are forced into positions to hurt others because of societal standards and their own past traumas. I think it’s a good way of remembering that you can’t judge people off a single act when you might not know the struggles that person has gone through. Excellent novel.
dreaming_ace's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fascinating and powerful exploration of the many intersections and intersectionality that occurs between individuals. I will say it is a little sad how totally relevant the story was and how with a few tweaks could have been set in the present day here in 2024.
I overall enjoyed reading this book and found parts very powerful but I did struggle with the interpersonal complications that occurred between people who should have been aware those interpersonal complications were going to occur based on their choice of actions. Though there was much more nuance to the interpersonal complications than in many books.
I did appreciate that one of the characters who would be clearly defined as bisexual today (that language was not explicitly used in part because the story was written before that language was supper common) and who was the most comfortable within their identity ended up with the most hopeful ending.
I overall enjoyed reading this book and found parts very powerful but I did struggle with the interpersonal complications that occurred between people who should have been aware those interpersonal complications were going to occur based on their choice of actions. Though there was much more nuance to the interpersonal complications than in many books.
I did appreciate that one of the characters who would be clearly defined as bisexual today (that language was not explicitly used in part because the story was written before that language was supper common) and who was the most comfortable within their identity ended up with the most hopeful ending.
kendallheldt's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
mitskacir's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook, which had an excellent reader who brought each character to life. Baldwin’s writing is passionate and descriptive, and I was astounded by his ability to write so perceptively from different perspectives (especially the women characters - I often can’t stand women written by men). This book so artfully articulates many of the conversation points I hear in 2020 on race and the intersections of race, sexuality, and gender: Particularly Ida’s final speech about her deep understanding of her brother and why a white person could never have known him the way she did - not because they are white, per se, but because they are not black. The anger that Vivaldo struggles with throughout the book at being called out for his whiteness, frequently saying that he cannot help being white, also felt particularly relevant. The only reason I took of one star was because the pacing is very slow, which made it difficult for me to finish the book.