A review by williamgideon
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I noticed with this book, Baldwin's writing made me forget I was reading a book, and made me feel like I was watching a movie. The way he seamlessly moves between scenes, describes the Parisian scenery and writes dialogue is just so effortless. The writing is so atmospheric and captivating, he sets the scene perfectly, to the point where I feel like I'm there myself. The main character sucks, but to write the emotions such a shitty character in such a detailed and complex way is merely a testament to Baldwin's skill.
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