Reviews

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

graygraves's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

5.0

An emotional gut punch delivered with exquisite, deeply moving prose. To dull yourself on repression leads to dulling all of your other emotions until you are left with nothing at all. 

nellps's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

genuinely the best book i have ever read. i used up two purple highlighters and like nine purple tab things because the language was so good. if it was a song it would be "the gold" (phoebe bridgers cover)

ponderinganas12's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

parsasofi's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

i am not the same person anymore

meryalizabeth's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

melisbooked's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

By far, one of the BEST books I've ever read. 
Jimmy sure knows how to paint a beautiful picture of an idyllic Paris where the MC David explores his sexuality, and proceeds then to punch you in the kidneys with one of the most powerful love stories of all time. He masterfully weaves exploration of love, identity, culture, and self awareness through the story. And although you know what's coming, it will hit you hard by the end. 

cardbuck1720's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.5

edwardmoney's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

deenisee's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad medium-paced
  • 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

5.0

cardeee's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Both beautiful & heartbreaking.
Finding love but being destroyed at the same time.
It just goes to show that being able to accept your own sexuality may prove difficult.
Beautifully told with a sad ending.