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A review by alv_co
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
5.0
I think this might be one of the best books I’ve ever read.
At a sentence level, f**king magnificent. There are so many passages that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. A great Pride month read which really speaks to the self-repression in the queer community, as well as the ways that young queer people are used (in various ways.) David, the protagonist, is an absolutely despicable person but his perspective is so consistent and so so well written. Every character jumps off the page.
I don’t have enough good things to say about this book. My one complaint is that the female characters are pretty weak here, but that said this is a book focused pretty squarely on romantic relationships between men.
At a sentence level, f**king magnificent. There are so many passages that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. A great Pride month read which really speaks to the self-repression in the queer community, as well as the ways that young queer people are used (in various ways.) David, the protagonist, is an absolutely despicable person but his perspective is so consistent and so so well written. Every character jumps off the page.
I don’t have enough good things to say about this book. My one complaint is that the female characters are pretty weak here, but that said this is a book focused pretty squarely on romantic relationships between men.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol