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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Their flaws is what will make you like them.
Heart-wrenching
Heart-wrenching
There needs to be support groups specifically for people who just finished this book
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The character work was amazing, Baldwin did a fantastic job at making David mostly unlikeable but relatable.
The themes of shame, fear, and isolation shone though with not a word to spare devoted to developing those ideas.
The themes of shame, fear, and isolation shone though with not a word to spare devoted to developing those ideas.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
initially gave 4.75, but then thought about it… if this book isnt a 5, then i don’t know what is!
i love baldwin’s use of commas, it really sucks you in; first to the imagery, to a place you’ve never been, second to the internal monologues, the deepening shame, grief, regret, self-hate, and ultimately, love, that moves the book forward
i love baldwin’s use of commas, it really sucks you in; first to the imagery, to a place you’ve never been, second to the internal monologues, the deepening shame, grief, regret, self-hate, and ultimately, love, that moves the book forward
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rarely does such a short book seem to pack a huge punch for me but Giovanni’s Room not only did this, it did it in such a well written fashion. I didn’t know a lot about the plot going in, just that a lot of people swore by it and talked highly about Baldwins writing. In short it is a novel about how shame and societal pressures can keep a person from experiencing love to its fullest form. As someone not apart of the LGBT+ community, I enjoyed the portrayal of the same sex love in a way that didn’t scream a “gays can love to” message but just portrayed it as love regardless. For me the plot also has themes of how indecisiveness can be dangerous in relationships and how people who feel cornered can often act in destructive ways.
The story, plot and characters aside, this was one of the most well written books I’ve read so far. I loved how elegantly Baldwin was about to paint scenes and emotions without his paragraphs becoming too convoluted and hard to decipher. This novel is covered in amazing quotes I’m sure to never forget. Very excited to dive into more of James Baldwin’s novels.
Favorite quote -
“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition”