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A review by crybabybea
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautiful. If you've read any contemporary queer novel, it's immediately apparent how foundational Giovanni's Room is, and for good reason. Without even getting into the depth of Baldwin publishing this in the 50s, the novel is such a raw, human depiction of the experience of being queer.
Okay let me say though, don't go into this thinking you're going to love the main character and enjoy lots of gay frivolity. It's sad, and David is an asshole. Like a mega asshole, he hates everything and spends the entire book complaining about everything and everyone. All he likes to do is sit in his chair and drink brandy and complain. Be prepared for that okay loves.
I think most critics nearly unanimously agree that Baldwin's prose is beautiful and haunting. He has the ability to show reality without cutting corners or pulling punches, and he makes it interesting and cinematic as he does so. Besides that, his ability to create depth, layering meaning on top of meaning, is part of why his books are so foundational and relevant. His writing begs the reader to digest and think, and he writes things just so; without holding your hand and without sugarcoating, forcing you to reflect and wonder his intentions. It makes for lots of time in thought, and lots of interesting discussions.
So my favorite "layer" I suppose, is the way Baldwin uses the concept of "rooms" to show the isolation of not only being queer, but what it does to people who refuse to accept their queerness and instead project it as hatred onto the world. David basically ruins his own life because he refuses to take agency for the way he feels, and instead of facing his fears, runs away and numbs the pain, until he has nowhere left to run, and nobody left but himself. Not only does the narrative show this, but the way Baldwin is able to take the suffocating setting of Giovanni's room and translate it into a reflection of this deeply nuanced feeling, left me moved. There are obviously other parts to this story than this but I wanted to point this out as something I really loved.
Anyway. Read it. It's foundational for a reason and I feel like I want to read every queer book in the world now and compare/contrast it with this.
Okay let me say though, don't go into this thinking you're going to love the main character and enjoy lots of gay frivolity. It's sad, and David is an asshole. Like a mega asshole, he hates everything and spends the entire book complaining about everything and everyone. All he likes to do is sit in his chair and drink brandy and complain. Be prepared for that okay loves.
I think most critics nearly unanimously agree that Baldwin's prose is beautiful and haunting. He has the ability to show reality without cutting corners or pulling punches, and he makes it interesting and cinematic as he does so. Besides that, his ability to create depth, layering meaning on top of meaning, is part of why his books are so foundational and relevant. His writing begs the reader to digest and think, and he writes things just so; without holding your hand and without sugarcoating, forcing you to reflect and wonder his intentions. It makes for lots of time in thought, and lots of interesting discussions.
So my favorite "layer" I suppose, is the way Baldwin uses the concept of "rooms" to show the isolation of not only being queer, but what it does to people who refuse to accept their queerness and instead project it as hatred onto the world. David basically ruins his own life because he refuses to take agency for the way he feels, and instead of facing his fears, runs away and numbs the pain, until he has nowhere left to run, and nobody left but himself. Not only does the narrative show this, but the way Baldwin is able to take the suffocating setting of Giovanni's room and translate it into a reflection of this deeply nuanced feeling, left me moved. There are obviously other parts to this story than this but I wanted to point this out as something I really loved.
Anyway. Read it. It's foundational for a reason and I feel like I want to read every queer book in the world now and compare/contrast it with this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent