Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Giovanni's Room

it took me almost to the end to really understand this story, which i find upsetting (for me) because i want to enjoy this story for what it is - an exploration of too little, too late; the impact of internalized homophobia on the self in the 1950s; the morality and immorality of love, and the impact that has on relationships.

giovanni and david’s relationship was doomed from the beginning. giovanni, i’m convinced, had depression (whether from his stillborn child or otherwise); david was stuck much too far in his head, shutting out and denying every signal of possible reciprocity to men he realized.

i read another review where the reviewer said that baldwin intentionally creates the confusion that david is feeling throughout the book, and i’m inclined to agree. whether that’s through the strange, jumping timeline; the long-winded and run-on sentences and paragraphs; the usage of french without providing translations (i refuse to believe that isn’t intentional).

Content Warnings

everesto's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

I read this book for school and really enjoyed it. All of the characters (except Hella) were all awful people and like half of them were pedophiles BUT I was very invested in the story and really wanted to know how the story got to the point where Giovanni was getting executed. Baldwins writing style is very beautiful and the way he uses repetition of words to reinforce and highlight certain ideas really stuck out to me. I also really liked the way he switched between tenses so often, not many other writers would not have been able to pull that off without it being really confusing. I was not a fan of the portrayal of trans/genderqueer people or the ideas on women but I think that's due to just who David is as a character and also the time this book was written.

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sashasghost's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

i think it’s the best written thing i’ve ever read. the prose are beautiful. it was so raw and brutal

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lou_bbn's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

le style d'écriture est incroyable

un peu plus confuse avec comment je me sens par rapport à tout le reste

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bookwhore07's review against another edition

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sad

this is just what happens when u go to paris

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aseel_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I'm really glad I've read this now and I'm was very surprised about Giovanni's demise (the cause of it). Obviously all the problematic stuff was ick to read and there could have been a more substantial plot

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gvstyris's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

No matter how it seems now, I must confess: I loved him. I do not think that I will ever love anyone like that again.

I'm very grateful to Baldwin for this book's existence, and will be fighting to protect its rightful place in the queer literary canon going forward 🥲

The non-linear structure, Baldwin's beautiful prose, the overwhelming and lowkey cloying atmosphere (I'm so nostalgic for Paris!), the parallels drawn between homophobia and misogyny...man. Baldwin's portrayal of internalised homophobia is powerful and endlessly relevant, particularly considering Giovanni's Room was published almost 70 years ago.

I'll definitely be checking out more of Baldwin's work!

I dropped my brick and went to him. In a moment I heard his fall. And at moments like this I felt that we were merely enduring and committing the longer and lesser and more perpetual murder.

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rionstorm's review against another edition

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dark 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? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Beautifully written. I found the narrator, David, absolutely vile, and Giovanni and Hella so charming. The characters all reminded me of elements of people I have known in real life, as they feel very alive. I found parts of it challenging, particularly the intense homophobia (& transphobia?) from David himself towards the other queer people around him.

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