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calicos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Sexual violence and Miscarriage
michaelion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Negative points also for the main characters, all characters being white. I understand that the story couldn't be told without them being white. It's just hard for me to relate to white stories. I don't understand them. Usually when I read them I think "Okay but you don't have real problems. Why are you complaining?" Which is only halfway a joke. 55% a jape.
I did relate to the main character however. For future me reading this, you just broke up with your first girlfriend. You only related in some, a few ways, not completely, but it was noticeable.
Despite my criticisms the writing was lovely. It feels like thee queer/gay book that mothered or grandmothered queer books. I loved the brief analysis into gender and heteronorms. It came out of nowhere but it really stood out. Every thing you feel for the first time has already been felt by the rest of humanity a billion times over. I also love when classics can still be relatable.
Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Miscarriage, Confinement, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Car accident, Biphobia, and Death of parent
midnightmarauder's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book touches on many topics. The three main issues it covers is internalized homophobia/biphobia, what it means to be a 'real man', and confinement.
The book takes place in the 1950s, when attitudes of gay people were shifting—more for the worse than better. These strong homophobic attitudes further lead David into self-hatred.
David's earliest experience of same-sex attraction happened with a friend of his named Joey. They
In my perspective, David felt that his attraction to Joey was just a one-time thing, but, after meeting Giovanni and almost instantly being attracted to him, he feels ashamed of himself.
His same-sex attraction makes him feel emasculated, which he displays by mocking other gay/bi individuals that he encounters. He refers to the gay and bi men by the word 'fairy', which is another way of saying 'sissy' or the f-slur. He feels as though he is different from them, despite also being same-sex attracted. This attempt to separate himself from the other men shows how insecure he is about being who he is.
He also pushes himself away from Giovanni because of his shame. While Hella, David's girlfriend, is off finding herself in another country, David and Giovanni spend a lot of time together. But the moment Hella returns,
On top of all of this, growing up, David's father constantly expressed his want for David to be a
'real man'. David's father never elaborates on what he meant by that, but through his letters to David, it can be assumed that he wanted David to find a woman, get married, and have children. David tries his best to achieve this expectation by trying to make things work with Hella.
One last topic that is covered in Giovanni's Room is confinement. Giovanni has big windows with no curtains, so anyone is able to see inside. Because of this, he keeps the lights off in the room and him and David stay low to the ground. This is not just for the need of regular, personal privacy, but also to conceal the homosexual acts that take place in the room. They both know that if anyone were to find them, they would no longer be safe.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It showed a deeper side to homosexuality and how those who happen to experience same-sex attraction struggle with acceptance, but inward and outward.
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Confinement, Grief, Abandonment, Child death, Infidelity, Sexism, Murder, Biphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content
Minor: Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
kell_xavi's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Car accident, Sexual assault, Murder, and Transphobia
Minor: Bullying
thecatconstellation's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Homophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Murder, Sexism, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy, Infidelity, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, and Sexual assault
miller8d's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Note: I pictured James Baldwin as Giovanni, and Hugh Dennis as Jacques.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Classism, Outing, Sexual harassment, Violence, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Sexism
laurendenton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexism, Alcohol, and Misogyny
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
shoohoob's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Giovanni’s Room comes to me at a very interesting point in my life. I resonate so much with David - searching for “home” and wanting to return to place that doesn’t exist anymore. Just like him, I want to understand myself and what I want but am uncertain on how to get there. I don’t know if this book helped in figuring things out, but it resonated with me in a way I didn’t realize I longed for.
I’m so glad I read it. I think this book has aged so well and is still accessible as a classic. I think everyone should read it!
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Death
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Death, Homophobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Classism, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Blood, Child death, and Pregnancy
Not sure how to tag it, but whether it's a reflection of the author's biases or an extension of the book's core themes, this book has a lot of negativity toward effeminate/GNC gay men.li_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Alcohol, Death, Infidelity, and Homophobia
Moderate: Classism, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Confinement, and Alcoholism