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A review by shimikonde
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Some of the most beautiful language I've ever read. The protagonist of the story is horrible and self-centered in a way that feels both humanizing and perfectly hateful, and the setting is colorful and interesting. It's a very critical book that feels, in a lot of ways, ahead of its time, particularly in regards to how it challenges Americanism, and the constructs of gender and sexuality.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia