A review by sophiederoode
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? No

3.5

I was very excited to read this popular classic, especially since it’s a queer book and i read it in pride month. Unfortunately i found it really hard to get through and didn’t live up to my expectations..

I realllllyy loved Baldwins’s writing, his way with words, timing etc was very beautiful. The book was also full emotion and melancholy which i really liked. Also the story itself didn’t bore me
and i liked the way of finally figuring out why giovanni was going to die.


I find it hard to connect with a book when i don’t like the characters, and this was one of those books. I wasn't a fan of the main character David but also the love interest, which is supposed to be an adored person but he just felt really dependent and pick-me. Also i felt the whole homosexuality storyline got lost when there were misogynistic and transphobic comments in the book?? i get that it’s an old book but DAMN cool it down… I also felt that their relationship, as well as david’s other relationship, weren’t very grounded and so i couldn’t be very invested. I also wish they zoomed in a bit more on David’s dad and life in america. 

Anyway, maybe i should sit with this book a while longer or i just didn’t get it. I definitely didn’t dislike it but unfortunately also didn’t like it a lot. I loved Baldwins writing though so maybe i will read another one of his books.
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