20.5k reviews for:

Giovanni's Room

James Baldwin

4.36 AVERAGE

struwos's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

loganh913's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

murder_bot's review against another edition

4.5

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

taytaythetalkingduck's review against another edition

3.5

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I need to reread and give it my proper attention (I started a new job this week so it’s been hectic); I’m very interested in Hella as a character but not so interesting in Gio and David which is where the rating comes from: excellent prose to be sure! 

kykythebookworm's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

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my first James Baldwin! good classic story, the themes of guilt/not knowing yourself anymore once you realize you’re gay are unfortunately timeless and it was all written so beautifully. i have so many sections highlighted in this book. want to give both David and Giovanni a hug. 

srcnwk's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

charizarddd's review against another edition

5.0

dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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One of the saddest, most beautiful books I’ve ever read.

georgiabritton's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rabbitmotifs's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

laura_martens's review against another edition

4.0

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“And yet – when one begins to search for the crucial, the definitive moment, the moment which changed all others, one finds oneself pressing, in great pain, through a maze of false signals and abruptly locking doors.” (p.9)