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A review by justinlife
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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
5.0
James Baldwin is an incredible writer.
In Giovanni's Room, Balwin explores sexuality without the intersection of race. His protagonist is a white man in the 50s living in Paris, trying to find himself- or hiding from himself. He meets Giovanni and his world changes.
Reading this and considering the history at the time, this book was considered salacious and scandalous even though that scandal doesn't translate as well. It's a good example of seeing progress.
The story is told in first person narrative and the character, David, is working through his guilt as we find out that the next day Giovanni's set to be executed. David fell for Giovanni months earlier and left him as we get to experience through the novel.
Baldwin does a great job exposing the burden of heterosexuality on people who don't want it. He's not necessarily kind to the queer people though. The elder gay men in the book come across as envious, manipulative, and rude- which, I mean... isn't far off, LOL. Maybe they come across this way because they've been ostracized by society and now it still hurts. The problem with being different in a world that wants conformity hits David and he struggles to find balance and acceptance.
The novella is short and tragic, but it's written so beautifully. It's like you should be listening to a jazz record and relishing each sentence. Baldwin writing as a white man adds a layer where he can play with sexuality without having to worry about race. To me, it came across that it was important for him to have this time to work through his own issues with society's problem with queerness.
It's a masterful work in concise storytelling.
In Giovanni's Room, Balwin explores sexuality without the intersection of race. His protagonist is a white man in the 50s living in Paris, trying to find himself- or hiding from himself. He meets Giovanni and his world changes.
Reading this and considering the history at the time, this book was considered salacious and scandalous even though that scandal doesn't translate as well. It's a good example of seeing progress.
The story is told in first person narrative and the character, David, is working through his guilt as we find out that the next day Giovanni's set to be executed. David fell for Giovanni months earlier and left him as we get to experience through the novel.
Baldwin does a great job exposing the burden of heterosexuality on people who don't want it. He's not necessarily kind to the queer people though. The elder gay men in the book come across as envious, manipulative, and rude- which, I mean... isn't far off, LOL. Maybe they come across this way because they've been ostracized by society and now it still hurts. The problem with being different in a world that wants conformity hits David and he struggles to find balance and acceptance.
The novella is short and tragic, but it's written so beautifully. It's like you should be listening to a jazz record and relishing each sentence. Baldwin writing as a white man adds a layer where he can play with sexuality without having to worry about race. To me, it came across that it was important for him to have this time to work through his own issues with society's problem with queerness.
It's a masterful work in concise storytelling.