Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Giovanni's Room

Giovanni’s Room delves into identity, repression, and the consequences of denied love. Set in 1950s Paris, it follows David, an American grappling with his sexuality, as he becomes entangled in a relationship with Giovanni, an Italian bartender. Baldwin’s prose is both lyrical and introspective, exploring themes of shame, self-destruction, and the weight of societal expectations.

While I appreciated the novel’s message and its historical significance, I found the experience of reading it somewhat frustrating. Much of the book felt like it dragged, and I struggled to connect with most of the characters. David’s emotional distance makes sense for his character, but it also made it harder for me to fully engage with his story. The relationship between him and Giovanni often felt more told than shown, which made it difficult to feel the depth of their love beyond what was stated. That being said, the ending was powerful and tied everything together in a way that left an impact.

Overall, I respect what Baldwin was doing with this novel, and I can see why it’s so highly regarded. However, as a reading experience, it felt slow and emotionally distant for me. That said, I would like to revisit it sometime because I feel like I wasn’t as focused as I could’ve been, and that may have influenced my perception of the book.

Content Warnings

charlieeew's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

tpwreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Kicking myself for waiting so long to read Baldwin. Such tragedy described in such beautiful words. Absolutely brilliant pose. Baldwin’s ability to place you at the scene is magnificent to witness. You can almost feel the anguish and sorrow of the characters. Everything is so believable it hurts. Love the Macbeth reference. Everything about this is perfect. A literary masterpiece! Excited to explore more of Baldwin’s work.

Content Warnings