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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
(After finishing at 1am ramble) This book showcases how nebulous sexuality can be as well as the effect that societal expectations place on oneself. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book where the main character isn’t redeemed, isn’t an overall great person with characteristics that keep them loved and trusted throughout the book. David is human but he is human in the way that he always runs away, he lets things happen *to* him even when he is unsure. He sees other people as objects at times, a means to achieve his goals at others. He has so many flaws and I think that he provides an understanding for many gays. Understanding the one crush who could never accept themselves, never step over the line in a definite way. Baldwin writes David as (annoyingly) human.
But he also punishes him.
Giovanni doesn’t die because he is gay, he dies because David cannot overcome his inner homophobia. Hella leaves David because he won’t face the truth of his sexuality, because he will not tell *her* the truth or anything at all. Baldwin even uses Jaques to punish David, forcing David to go through several awkward moments, keeping him aware of Giovanni’s execution date.
It gives the message of “you can run, but there will be consequences.” As well as “accepting oneself is the ultimate answer.”
It’s hard to say that whether Giovanni and David were any actual good for each other. But the truth is, that Giovanni was willing to change for David (change his room, renovate, grow) whereas David was not. In the end, even if they grew to hate each other, they could have learned to accommodate the other and eventually broken up.
But sadly they won’t. And it looks like David will end up just like his father anyway.
But he also punishes him.
Giovanni doesn’t die because he is gay, he dies because David cannot overcome his inner homophobia. Hella leaves David because he won’t face the truth of his sexuality, because he will not tell *her* the truth or anything at all. Baldwin even uses Jaques to punish David, forcing David to go through several awkward moments, keeping him aware of Giovanni’s execution date.
It gives the message of “you can run, but there will be consequences.” As well as “accepting oneself is the ultimate answer.”
It’s hard to say that whether Giovanni and David were any actual good for each other. But the truth is, that Giovanni was willing to change for David (change his room, renovate, grow) whereas David was not. In the end, even if they grew to hate each other, they could have learned to accommodate the other and eventually broken up.
But sadly they won’t. And it looks like David will end up just like his father anyway.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
tense
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
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was written so beautifully and the story is so tragic. I loved it, it’s gorgeous, and I think everyone should read it in high school.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Maybe this is accurate for the time it was written but I couldn’t look past the hate against drag queens and women. I also didn’t care about any of the characters or the way this was written, why was there a one page long description of the people at the post office that have nothing to do with the story in a 150 page long book. Maybe I will try to read this again in the future because I really wanted to like this.
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes