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A review by stillwaterrotter
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I finished this book off in less time than it took for Giovanni to pour someone a drink — a cognac most probably. It took me less than twelve hours to devour it and it took less than a couple of pages for it to become one of my favorite books.
The way James Baldwin took to describe certain things makes this book exist in an impenetrable space like the tip of a needle as it disappears into flesh. A narrow, liminal space that only James Baldwin can find a way to.
The resistance and reluctance and reservation of the main character is reflected in the way the story is told by him as if even what transpired in the story wasn't enough to make him face himself completely. He is still reserved. He is still stilted by his own presumed “vileness,” but perhaps now he knows that it has more to do with his person than his “goût particulier.”
I could say so much about this book, but I'll refrain until what I have to say is more coherent.
For now I can only see a gray sky, sticky mist, and a bus running late.
The way James Baldwin took to describe certain things makes this book exist in an impenetrable space like the tip of a needle as it disappears into flesh. A narrow, liminal space that only James Baldwin can find a way to.
The resistance and reluctance and reservation of the main character is reflected in the way the story is told by him as if even what transpired in the story wasn't enough to make him face himself completely. He is still reserved. He is still stilted by his own presumed “vileness,” but perhaps now he knows that it has more to do with his person than his “goût particulier.”
I could say so much about this book, but I'll refrain until what I have to say is more coherent.
For now I can only see a gray sky, sticky mist, and a bus running late.