A review by deafchipmunk
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

reflective 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

5.0

Giovanni's Room is not just a 'gay' story, or a story about two homosexuals in which one of them is in denial about being gay. This is a story about a man who has trouble fitting into the norms of society, a man who has difficulty making up his mind on how he should live life. Although the subject may seem too broad or intimidating, at its core it's quite touching and even relatable. The underlining messages and themes of this book make this such an interesting and explorative read that is immensely thought-provoking, making me wonder and ponder on foreign concepts I would've never even had the slightest thought of if without this book.

So very unforgettable and wonderful. As I am assigned to write an essay on this book, I am thrilled to get to know this story more with each reread. Though I'm worried my copy will get too full of notes and annotations that it'll fall apart...