lauravreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
4.0
Giovanni’s Room follows David, an American living in Paris who finds himself sharing a room with Giovanni. David finds himself conflicted with his attraction/relationship with Giovanni and the expectations from his family and society.
This book is a powerful read as it delves into the complexity of love and companionship and their coordination with marriage and having a life partner. This book was published in 1956 and I feel that it makes this book even more powerful. The way Baldwin describes the love, affection, desire, and attraction that David feels towards men is so deep. Especially how he describes the shame and guilt that he felt for leaving his loved ones to peruse his relationship with a woman is profound.
I found that this book had very slow pacing, which is okay, but I did find myself being a bit bored while listening at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Classism, Drug abuse, and Grief
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