A review by leethrp
Giovanni's Room, by James Baldwin
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
4.3 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Baldwin's writing has a style which, once you get acquainted with—characterized by fragmented sentences separated by commas and clauses—flows elegantly from page to page. As for page count and readability, the book is under 200 pages, with each chapter being fairly self-contained, making it easy to read in segments.
The plot does not attempt to avoid tragedy and, at times, can be especially somber, but never dull. Despite its gloomy feel, I truly couldn't help but fall in love with this book and how atmospheric it could be without drowning the reader in long-winded descriptions. Also, it goes without saying that I appreciated its inclusions of French phrases and common colloquialisms as a French student, which gave it a worldly feeling that really drew me into its romantic universe.
The narration kept me engaged within a close emotional range. Poignant and raw, extremely intimate yet not often sexual, Giovanni's room is a candid exploration of the heart's passions and faults set against the background of 1950s Paris.
Baldwin's writing has a style which, once you get acquainted with—characterized by fragmented sentences separated by commas and clauses—flows elegantly from page to page. As for page count and readability, the book is under 200 pages, with each chapter being fairly self-contained, making it easy to read in segments.
The plot does not attempt to avoid tragedy and, at times, can be especially somber, but never dull. Despite its gloomy feel, I truly couldn't help but fall in love with this book and how atmospheric it could be without drowning the reader in long-winded descriptions. Also, it goes without saying that I appreciated its inclusions of French phrases and common colloquialisms as a French student, which gave it a worldly feeling that really drew me into its romantic universe.
The narration kept me engaged within a close emotional range. Poignant and raw, extremely intimate yet not often sexual, Giovanni's room is a candid exploration of the heart's passions and faults set against the background of 1950s Paris.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Violence and Sexual content