A review by ronpayne
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

An absolutely beautifully written book about an expat American living in Paris in the post-war period. The story details the damage main character causes to the people around him—his fiancé, his friends, and especially the Italian immigrant man he has a relationship with—because of his inability to deal with his internalized homophobia. It's a vivid, raw, and emotional experience. I must read more Baldwin!