Reviews

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

marleyrollins's review against another edition

4.0

My first Baldwin didn’t disappoint- I loved this.

Such a fantastic examination of the ways that denial of your true self can eat away at you and have huge repercussions that ripple outwards.

The language is also so lush and beautiful- it perfectly captures the glamour and magic of Paris in the 1950s, when it was a hub for artists, eccentrics and adventurous flaneurs. It really made me want to be young and drunk, stumbling through the streets of Paris with a partner, feeling like the night could go anywhere.

It can’t be underestimated how brave it was to write a novel like this in the 1950s also- Baldwin was so incredibly before his time that this novel still feels fresh and timeless now.

achro's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.5

david eat shit and die. i support giovanni's rights and wrongs

jessicagloe's review against another edition

5.0

just absolutely stunning, heart wrenching, and raw

lararosemary's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

kayceeskidmore's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

chasenmarley's review against another edition

Some of my favorite writing ever 

octophile's review against another edition

4.0

Picked this book up on a whim - turned out to be a great decision. Author knows what he's doing.

joansoleekang's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

librero_paula's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bethany_jane_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5