Mini-Review! - Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

Title: Giovanni's Room

Author: James Baldwin

Genre: Classics (Modern), LGBTQ+ (M/F; M/M)

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

This was an exceptionally good book.

It will however tear your heart out and then show it to you. Yep. That is the level of feels we are dealing with here.

(HFBGIETLJHIOETMHBL!!!!!! WHYYYYYY?!?!?!)

So, this about a young American, David, who gets involved with an Italian bartender, Giovanni, in Paris.

Apparently this book was controversial (to say the least) in the 1950s, when it was written, not only because it was about a romantic relationship between men, but also because it was a black author writing about white men.

And for that fact alone, you should read this.

Because James Baldwin refused to be restricted in the people he could write about - he refused to play it safe and only ever write about black people, as he was expected to.

(And you know me guys, I like a rebel!)

David, as a character, isn't all that likeable. Putting it plainly, he's a bit of a jerk.

But you can still see his perspective - he's a selfish jerk, but that's because of the internalised homophobia and ideas of masculinity that he won't let himself let go of.

And, in his own way, he really does love Giovanni. I'm not sure whether that makes things better or worse, you'll have to read it and decide for yourself.

But Giovanni... argh! He totally broke my heart. Like HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO HIM?!?! *Ahem.* Sorry.

There are a couple of issues with this book:

It can be very dismissive, to the degree of disgust, towards men who are perceived to be more feminine in their mannerisms. 

And it's very offensive to the transgender women who hang around the bar.

It actually describes them as disgusting, which is obviously NOT GOOD, and transphobic.

And the attitudes towards women wanting equality (I mean, how dare they?!) are clearly that of a narrow-minded, and fairly misogynistic, man from the 1950s. Sorry, I call them as I see them.

BUT, for all that: this is a good book. And it was an exceptionally important stepping stone for diversity.

I'm not giving it carte blanche for jerkiness, this book was written in the 1950s, and it bl**dy well shows.

But I will be looking out for more James Baldwin books - once I've recovered from the feels after what happened to poor Giovanni. *Sniffles*

Oh, and quick warning: there's a lot of implied sexual assault, and some implied rape.

There are also some male/female sex scenes. And I think there might've been swearing? Maybe? I really need to pay more attention to these things...

So that's Giovanni's Room - not a perfect book, by any means, but an important one, and largely worth the read - the writing is quality, and the offensiveness is annoying and harmful, but brief (thank God.)

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

Liked this post? Try these:

• Mini-Review! - Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
• Review! (Classics Edition!) - Orlando by Virginia Woolf

Mini-Review! - God Help the Child by Toni Morrison

Title: God Help the Child

Author: Toni Morrison

Genre: Contemporary, Magic Realism* (*ish)

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

This was a pretty damned awesome book.

And, I'm told, by pretty much everyone, that Toni Morrison's other books are even better - so I'm totally going to check out more!

This follows Bride, who always felt unloved by her mother, Sweetness, as she tries to deal with her falling-apart relationship with boyfriend Booker.

It's really quite difficult to explain what this book is about - except childhood, and how it relates to everything else.

Because Bride's childhood, Booker's, even Sweetness', affects everything that comes after. And in Rain, the girl adopted by the hippie couple, we see the current face of a traumatised child.

Huge warning guys: child abuse is a big theme here.

There is child abuse of every type in this book - emotional, physical, and sexual. There's even some child murder.

It's handled well - but I figured I'd let you know in case that's going to be a problem for you.

There's also a butt-tonne of swearing.

Generally though? This book is fantastically well written, and infinitely readable.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

Liked this post? Try these:

• Review Time! - Nina Is Not OK by Shappi Khorsandi
• Review Time! - Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan

Nerd Church - We Are Strong

It's been a rough week for millions of people. There is nothing I can say to change that.

America's new president is a symptom of the worst of what people are capable of. There's always been bad cr*p in this world, my dearest nerdlets.

BUT life is not all grimness and despair. I promise you.

Because just as there are millions of people who have done something terrible, there are millions of people who will stand up and make themselves heard, make themselves counted, and make the world a better place.

Sometimes it seems like I spend a lot of time on this blog combatting the ills of the world.

But if that's what I have to do, I will do it. I will keep typing until it's not needed any more.

Because I'll let you into a secret - we are strong.

All those who are scared, who are worried - we are here for you.

All those who are marginalised, victimised, persecuted - we will stand up for what's right in your name.

via GIPHY

There is good in this world. I strongly believe that.

Please never give up, because there are people out there sending you all the love that they can.

There are people who care.

There are people who will do everything that they can to turn this world around. Join us. And make the world beautiful.




Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - Sing It For The World
• Nerd Church - Mae Hi'n Bwrw Eira
• Friday Fics Fix! - For You, America

Friday Fics Fix - For You, America

OK, I think we've all had about enough of the curse of 2016 now.

But on the plus side, 2016 is also the year we're not gonna let the as*holes win. We may have lost some serious battles, but the war? The war is ours guys.

(And if you have no idea what I'm talking about? Go look at... pretty much any news website or channel.)

So, let's have a piece of fanfiction that shows the good in the world, yes?

(And if you think that what happened in the US this week is good, then we can't be friends sweetheart.)

via GIPHY

You know the hero that somehow always ends up pulling me through the sh**? It's Captain America.

Now, Cap, in the Marvel Universe (aside from the recent Hydra Nazification, which I refuse to accept as canon because - no,) is a figure of hope and rebellion.

Yep, Cap's a rebel. Hence Civil War. #TrueStory.

via GIPHY

Cap's also great at pointing out when people are subverting the symbols that they claim they're standing up for.

And Cap? Well, the guy who, in his very first appearance, punched Hitler in the face, would probably be smacking Trump right now. (And would never turn into a Hydra Nazi #JustSaying.)

via GIPHY

So, let's have Cap standing up to some homophobia shall we?

This fic is a little clunky in places, but read it through to the end. It's worth it, if only for the last 2 lines.

So, this week's fic is:

Darling, Where's My Suit? by honestlydarkprincess

Enjoy, I'll see you next week for more fanfiction.

Remember that there are millions of people throughout the world wishing you all the luck and love in the world right now.






Liked this post? Try these:

• Friday Fics Fix - That Changes Everything I See
• Friday Fics Fix - Pure Comfort (With Some Randomness)

Comics Wrap-Up - Something Strange

Film Trailers

A bunch more Doctor Strange trailers/clips for you guys:

I actually saw Doctor Strange on Monday - it was awesome BUT there are two things which CAN'T be ignored:

Tilda Swinton's character is whitewashed. (I love her, but it's true.)

And this film fails Bechdel.

via GIPHY

Get your act together Marvel.

-0-

And there's a new Wonder Woman trailer:

Looks pretty cool, and clears up that this is supposed to be WW1 not WW2.

(The uniforms still look more WW2 in places guys, I know, but *sighs* anachronisms)

-0-

And the trailer for Logan came out last week!

This is the wonderful Hugh Jackman's last film as Wolverine :'O

It looks really awesome, and I always love me an Old Man Logan storyline.

(Oh, and the reason he looks older than Prof X? That's because he is older than Prof X - see X-Men Origins: Wolverine for details ;P )

Single Issues

This week I read Suicide Squad #1 of the 2011-2014 run. (US link)

One thing in particular I liked about this issue? Diablo doesn't speak much English in stressful situations (because why the hell would he?!)

Graphic Novels

This week I reviewed Who Killed Kurt Cobain?: The Story of Boddah by Nicolas Otero (UK - US.)

It's an interesting read, but I did have some issues with it. Check out my review here.










Like this post? Try these:

• Wonder Woman and the UN
• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Who Killed Kurt Cobain?: The Story of Boddah by Nicolas Otero

Reading Roald Dahl in Welsh (Part 2)

You may remember, dearest nerdlets, that I'm attempting to read 5 books in the Welsh language in 2016, using translations of Roald Dahl.

Why Roald Dahl books? Well, a) he's a Welsh author, what could be better? and b) I already know the story, so am less likely to get completely and utterly confused.

So, this time around, it was Matilda.

Turns out Matilda is a damn sight harder than Moddion Rhyfeddol George (George's Marvellous Medicine) - so thank God I know the story in my sleep!

The translator, once again, was Elin Meek, and once again she did a great job.

Since the language is more complex though, this took me a lot longer to read than Moddion Rhyfeddol George - it did feel just a little bit like I was wading through it.

Still, all the more time to notice the quirks of the language that come with reading a book in translation.

Honestly, I really like reading books in more than one language - it definitely brings different aspects to the fore, and makes you look at things through a different lens.

Plus, you notice funny things that make you laugh nerdishly - like that one of the Welsh words for 'that' is hynny - which sounds like honey. This made a lot of sentences with Miss Honey far jollier and more rhyming than they were in the original.

Oh, and another quirk of Welsh? We have no literal word for 'rat.'

Rats are not rats in Welsh, they are simply 'big mice.' Interesting enough to begin with, no?

Combine that with imagery, and, long story short, Mr Wormwood in the Welsh version of Matilda is, in fact, 'big-mouse-faced,' rather than rat-faced ;)

Mouse = llygoden
Rat = llygoden fawr






I personally think this rat/big mouse debacle is a significant act of denial on the part of my ancestors:

"Oi, butt, was tha' a rat?"

"Noooo.... just a big mouse."

"Are you sure? It looked like a-"

"No. IT WAS A BIG MOUSE, OK?"

"Alright butt, duw! Big mouse it is mate."

via GIPHY

(Honestly, my head is a weird - and very Wenglish - place sometimes)

So, that was my experience of book #2 - book #3, here I come!

Like this post? Try these:

• Reading Roald Dahl in Welsh (Part 1)
• St. David's Day - My Top 5 Roald Dahl Books

Fluid FAQs: 'What Is Sexually Fluid?' And Other Things You Probably Wanna Know

I'm probably going to end up using a lot of lousy metaphors here. Because explaining fluidity to people who aren't fluid isn't exactly straight-forward guys, so bear with me - I'll do my best!

Also, fluidity is, by it's nature, not something that can be set in stone.

These opinions and experiences are my own - someone else who's fluid may say something completely different and we'll both be right. That's just the way it works.

Also, I may have a completely different view of my own in a week or so's time, who knows?