A review by jayisreading
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This was such a stunning read. Baldwin sent me into the depths of the mind of the protagonist, David. It felt as though time disappeared because I was that immersed. Baldwin painted such incredible scenes that felt as though they were taken out of films, demonstrating his incredible show-but-don’t-tell talent. He crafted such complex characters and intimate settings, on top of exploring fascinating themes such as homosexuality/bisexuality, loneliness, (toxic) masculinity, among others. It’s amazing how much breadth and depth there was in such a short book.

In many ways, reading Giovanni’s Room felt as if I was in the titular character’s room as well, where, as David pointed out, hours and days had no meaning. I was in a room that encapsulated so much: claustrophobia, intimacy, sensuality, the sense of being unmoored—a room filled with complex desires and struggles.

And I absorbed every bit of it.
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