It's a book from the 50s about an American man who moves to Paris and has a love affair with another man named Giovanni. From the beginning, you know that the story will end in tragedy, but the book is about how that plays out and the forces that leads to it. I honestly wasn't really expecting to like it that much- I don't normally read older books, and I especially avoid classics because I kind of assume I'll be let down because surely they can't live up to their hype. But as soon as I started reading, I was hooked and finished it in just a day.
It has this really emotional, gripping writing style that sucked me in. It ties together things we think of as opposites- hatred and love, joy and tragedy, beauty and ugliness- and shows that they are in fact inseparable. There's so many lines that just punched me in the gut and astounded me at how relatable and profound it was.
I thought the main character's arc was so fascinating. It's slowly revealed how empty of a person he is. He's so alienated and aimless, with no real passions or goals. He's terrified of his own sexuality, he wants freedom but he abhors it at the same time, he wants to be able to go home but he doesn't want to go home. He regrets his mistakes yet can't help but repeat them. He resents all the older men in his life (his father, Jacques, Guillame) and yet knows he will either die young or become one of them. He doesn't really love people, he just wants to fill the hole inside of him. I think this is supposed to be a commentary on youth in general, which is still very salient today.
The backdrop of Giovanni's room itself had a claustrophobic feeling, with Giovanni's constant and fruitless renovation projects symbolizing failed hopes and lack of direction. I also think the uncleanliness of the room is linked to David's feeling of his own sexuality being unclean. The tension between dirtiness and cleanliness is a constant motif. There's some generally very fascinating commentary on queerness, repression, intimacy, class, etc that I could write several papers on (if I had the time and energy). Would definitely love to hear other people's thoughts on this. And if you haven't read the book I'd highly recommend it.
by moss42069
36 Comments
As a lesbian growing up in the Midwest, many of the feelings around shame and sexuality the character expresses still resonates today.
I’ve yet to finish the book since I had to return in to the library, but I hope to finish it sometime soon
James Baldwin’s writings are simply a blast. The guy wrote with such an incredible inner passion, I wish I was capable of writing like that.
Just bought it.
Giovanni’s Room, and James Baldwin’s other really well known book, ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’ are two books I think about incredibly frequently, even though I read them the better part of ten years ago now. I should reread them again soon, and some of his other things.
James Baldwin was a phenomenal writer and person that I wish more people knew about (though I sincerely hope they never make some lame-ass biopic film like they have with so many other historical figures in the past ten years or so…)
I’ve read this 3 times in the last 5 years…it’s so good. And bleak.
I absolutely loved this book. I was there with him the entire time. It was like an out of body experience.
I love listening to James speak. He was so good at getting others to see his point of view. I imagine his writing is just as poignant.
I think the room itself serves as a powerful symbol throughout the novel. Its claustrophobic nature and Giovanni’s futile attempts at renovation represent the stifling nature of societal expectations.
My senior year English teacher assigned it to me when I told him that I simply could not get through The Grapes of Wrath. He knew I was a voracious reader and it wasn’t just an excuse so he said “This is a great book, read it instead.” I just devoured it but it is tragic, no doubt.
Oh no one ever quite wrote like Baldwin. An original.
I finished Giovanni’s Room a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it as well, it’s hardly left my mind since 😅
Something I don’t usually hear discussed that I really respected was Baldwin’s depiction of Hella — she is well fleshed out, with her own motivations and values, and absolutely a victim in her own right. Her appearance in the novel challenges the on-page misogyny shown earlier, and she really stood out to me as a testament to Baldwin’s sensitivity with his characters, even if the whole novel is filtered through David’s unreliable narration.
What a read, the atmosphere of both Paris and Giovanni’s room itself is so strong!
One of my favorite books! I first read it in college and I was so affected by it that I decided to come out myself about a month later. So, it will always have a special place in my heart.
Personally, I always thought Giovanni was a much more engaging and easy to empathize with character, for the most part. David, the protagonist, is pretty objectively awful in a lot of ways. He is complex and interesting but his behavior and choices are so off putting. But, I think that’s ultimately what makes him a sad soul. It shows how much damage that kind of repression can wreak on someone’s psyche and how it can hurt those around them.
I always recommend it if I think of it in time. It’s unique. And the odd thing is, Baldwin kind of appeared out of nowhere. There’s nothing leading up to Giovanni’s Room, not that I can see. And if you look at Invisible Man, and Sula, you — well, I — start to get the impression that these people are inventing writing out of nothing. They’re not following anyone. They’re not trying to impress anyone. They’re just trying to get down on paper what it feels like. Man. It’s powerful.
I read it for the first time a few months ago and was *devastated*! It was a fantastic story with some beautiful prose. I really felt for the characters, my heart was broken for Giovanni.
James Baldwin’s books exist perfectly at the intersection of storytelling and poetry, as all great novels aspire to do
James Baldwin is one of the best American writers of the 20th century, hands down. His other books (and non-fiction) are just as gripping and thought-provoking.
Wow this book sounds incredible. I’ll need to check it out!
Giovanni’s Room is brilliant. It’s crazy it hasn’t been turned into a movie yet. But Another Country is his best work, though. It’s a genuine masterpiece. It’s set in the late 50s/early 60s but it’s as relevant as ever. Everything about that story and the characters just feels so real. I really recommend it you read that next.
the fire next time is a really interesting and thought provoking read that you might like as well.
James Baldwin was brilliant. Just absolutely brilliant.
I think this book helped me get over some latent homophobia that I didn’t know I had. It was very impactful to me and I highly recommend it.
If you like it
Read: If Beale Street Could Talk
>Giovanni’s room itself had a claustrophobic feeling
Yes exactly.
Baldwin’s masterpiece **Another Country** is the opposite of that, big and expansive.
Old books are good. Time winnows out bad material.
Read the picture of Dorian grey if you haven’t
You avoid old books and especially the classics?!
You know, they aren’t classics because they suck, right?
To make it even better, consider that Baldwin wrote a great novel about Black religious America first (Go Tell It On The Mountain), and then when his publishers were like, “ok, u write more about black people now, that’s what u do for us, be the black experience guy,” he’s like fuck off, I’m going write a book about being gay in Paris and I’m going to write it in the **fucking 50s**. While being black.
If you liked this, read I Am Not Your Negro next! that was my first read by James Baldwin, and I’ve been hooked since!
Baldwin is incredible he should be on the syllabus in every English class in the world
There’s a LGBTQ bookstore in Philly called Giovannis Room, named after the novel. It’s about 50 years old and is in the center of the city’s gayborhood.
My question is why did Baldwin choose to write from the perspective of a white man and how different would it have been if from a black man?
I read this book and found myself a new favourite author. The essence of his writing is everything I aspire to achieve with my own pieces.
I had the EXACT SAME REACTION as you. True work of art.
James Baldwin is an American hero and his books should be required reading.
“You don’t have a home until you leave it and then, when you have left it, you never can go back.”
Never heard of this boook but I enjoyed reading this post!
Baldwin’s prose is undeniably beautiful. He paints a vivid picture of Paris, capturing both its allure and its seedier underbelly. The emotional turmoil of the characters is rendered with a raw honesty that resonates deeply. We see David’s struggle with self-acceptance, his desperate attempts to deny his true nature, and the devastating consequences of his choices. Giovanni, on the other hand, embodies a more carefree acceptance of his sexuality, but his life is ultimately defined by the limitations placed upon him by a society that rejects homosexuality.
The novel’s strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of the societal pressures that force individuals to repress their identities. In the 1950s, homosexuality was not only taboo but could lead to social ostracization and even legal repercussions. Baldwin masterfully depicts the suffocating atmosphere that drives David to self-destruction. His internalized homophobia warps his relationships, particularly with Giovanni, whom he both desires and fears.
However, the novel is not without its weaknesses. Some critics argue that David, as the narrator, is not a particularly sympathetic character. His journey is one of self-pity and denial, and his actions often cause pain to those around him. Hella, the fiancée, can also be seen as a one-dimensional character, solely representing the societal expectation of heteronormativity. Additionally, the lack of Black characters in a work by a prominent Black author has raised questions about representation.
Just for fun, An American goes to Paris brought to my memory a Hollywood film titled”An American in Paris”. The movie makes much entertainment. A classic 1951 musical film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, the story follows an American ex-GI who stays in Paris after World War II to pursue his passion for painting. He falls in love with a young French woman, but complications arise when his wealthy American friend also becomes enamored with her. The film is known for its stunning dance sequences, colorful musical numbers, and romantic storyline set against the backdrop of post-war Paris.
Do watch I recommend.
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