Giovanni's Room (Penguin Great Loves) by James Baldwin(2010-05-01)
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin is a groundbreaking novel set in 1950s Paris, where a young American expatriate named David grapples with his repressed desires and conventional morality. As David becomes involved in a doomed affair with a bartender named Giovanni, Baldwin's narrative delves into the complexities of love and identity, offering a deeply moving exploration of the human heart.
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Community Reviews
Going by Goodreads' ratings, "it was ok."
I really like how he writes, and how real his characters felt. But I hated all the characters, and I wasn't a fan of the plotline, even though I partially get its significance. Only partially though.
I really like how he writes, and how real his characters felt. But I hated all the characters, and I wasn't a fan of the plotline, even though I partially get its significance. Only partially though.
This book is wonderfully written and I loved everything about it, even the sad parts... until the end. Then I felt like Helen said a lot of weird unrealistic things about wanting to feel like a woman (?). And I wanted a more realistic future for the easy-to-love Giovanni too.
I was instantly enthralled by Baldwin's writing style. As I kept reading, I couldn't help but notice similarities between this novel and Oscar Wilde's "The Portrait of Dorian Gray," both in story and style (particularly nearing the end), so I'm curious to know if there was any inspiration there. Nonetheless, it was a very meaningful and enjoyable read!
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