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Giovanni's Room

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1956

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Book Brief

James Baldwin

Giovanni's Room

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1956
Book Details
Pages

159

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Paris, France • 1950s

Topic
Publication Year

1956

Publisher

Laurel Leaf

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin follows American expatriate David in 1950s France as he grapples with his sexual identity and relationships. Torn between his love for an Italian barman, Giovanni, and his engagement to Hella, David's indecision leads to tragic outcomes. The novel explores themes of sexuality, identity, and societal norms, in a setting deeply affected by prejudices against LGBTQ+ communities.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Mysterious

Bittersweet

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.5

189,406 ratings

86%

Loved it

11%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room is largely praised for its profound exploration of human desire and complex portrayal of same-sex relationships. Critics commend Baldwin's eloquent prose and emotional depth. Some readers find the narrative pace slow and the protagonist's introspection heavy-handed. Overall, it's a poignant, beautifully written novel with enduring relevance.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Giovanni's Room?

A reader who would enjoy Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin is likely attracted to deeply emotional, character-driven narratives that explore complex themes of identity, sexuality, and existential anguish. This reader might also appreciate the works of authors like Virginia Woolf (Mrs. Dalloway) and André Aciman (Call Me by Your Name).

4.5

189,406 ratings

86%

Loved it

11%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Character List

David

An American expatriate in France and the story's protagonist, who grapples with his sexual identity while narrating his experiences and relationships. He is conflicted about his future and struggles to reconcile his desires with societal expectations.

A charismatic and young Italian émigré living in Paris, who becomes David's love interest. He works as a bartender and his relationship with David explores themes of passion and inner turmoil.

An older, wealthy, Belgian-American friend of David, who frequently pursues younger men and provides financial support to David. His loneliness and perspective on love offer a contrast to David's internal conflict.

An American expatriate and David's female love interest, known for her intelligence and independence. Her relationship with David challenges both of their perceptions of traditional roles and desires.

The owner of the bar where Giovanni works, perceived as flamboyant and predatory. His interactions with Giovanni are primarily rooted in power dynamics and manipulation.

A minor character who exerts traditional expectations of masculinity and heterosexuality on David. He struggles with personal issues following the death of David’s mother and desires for David to settle down.

A friend and brief romantic interest of David's, representing his anxieties and struggles with his sexual identity. Her interactions with David are marked by ambivalence and transient connection.

David's childhood friend and the first boy with whom he explores his sexuality. His memory serves as a significant part of David’s backstory and internal conflict.

David's father’s sister, with whom David lives after his mother’s death. She is concerned about the morality and behavior of both David and his father.

Fun Facts

Giovanni's Room was published in 1956 and is notable for being controversial at the time due to its frank depiction of homosexuality and bisexuality.

Although James Baldwin was an American writer, he set Giovanni's Room in Paris, drawing on his own experiences and the expatriate community he encountered there.

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Giovanni's Room was initially met with skepticism by publishers who were concerned about its focus on complex themes of identity and sexuality, but it has since become a classic in LGBTQ literature.

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Book Details
Pages

159

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Paris, France • 1950s

Topic
Publication Year

1956

Publisher

Laurel Leaf

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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