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rionstorm's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Infidelity, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
Minor: Domestic abuse and Murder
pinksreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I’m glad I read this.
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Dysphoria, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
e_r_q's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I feel in myself now a faint, a dreadful stirring of what so overwhelmingly stirred in me then, great thirsty heat, and trembling, and tenderness so painful I thought my heart would burst."
Despite being only 150 pages long, it did take me a while to read Giovanni's Room. It's definitely a lot to digest, it's very literary and emotionally intense, but those are also exactly the reasons I love this book so much.
With his powerful prose, it feels as though James Baldwin is reaching across time, right into the depths of my Queer soul. Honestly, sometimes it even hurt to read this (in a good way).
Giovanni's Room is a story of self-destruction, identity, shame, repression, alienation, gender and sexuality. It's a tale that examines the destructive forces of toxic masculinity, and internalised homophobia and misogyny. To quote Baldwin himself:
"It's about what happens to you if you're afraid to love anybody."
"But if I were still able to feel affection and if he had seen it in my eyes, it would not have helped, for affection, for the boys I was doomed to look at, was vastly more frightening than lust."
Baldwin is a master at writing. The way he plays with tense/chronology/structure is especially ingenious. While very literary, his writing isn't impenetrable, and is still filled to the brim with complex themes, intensity, symbolism and poeticism. Every sentence is so perfectly crafted, and there are so many quotes that just took my breath away.
I honestly can't do this book justice with words. Just read it. It's life changing.
As I finished this book in a graveyard, bathed in the gleam of the Spring sunlight, the striking potency of the climax involuntarily caused me to frantically hold the book closer to my face. And when it was over, with that haunting denouement, I closed the book and sat there for a while in silence.
"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."
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Misogyny and Sexual content
klearlly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny
quiettalker's review against another edition
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia
Minor: Child death
caseyreadslol's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Misogyny and Homophobia
caseyjayner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Idk, wasn’t for me. Misogyny and homophobia everywhere
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, and Sexual violence
lerburger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death and Homophobia
simplythegirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
By the end of the book it seems like how David identifies (gay straight or bisexual) is still up for debate. His decision in the end can be seen as further denial of his true self especially during times where it wasn't accepted to be anything but straight but others can interpret his decision as ending an experimental time for David.
His decision could also be symbolic of a part of himself dying much like Giovanni died.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Rape, Murder, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
marissasa'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
4.5
Graphic: Outing, Sexual content, Alcohol, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship