Published: January 1, 1956
Pages: 170
Genre(s): Fiction, LGBT
Set in the contemporary Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, a young man finds himself caught between desire and conventional morality. James Baldwin's brilliant narrative delves into the mystery of loving with a sharp, probing imagination, and he creates a moving, highly controversial story of death and passion that reveals the unspoken complexities of the heart. - Goodreads
This is a piece of literature that evolves one's perception over time, as they gather life’s experiences – heartbreaks, happiness, wins, and losses. When I read this book for the first-time years ago, what stood out to me then doesn’t hold a candle what stands out to me now. I had to go through some shit! I had to hurt people and I had to be hurt.
Giovanni’s Room, to me, captures the dangers in hiding who we authentically are – suppressing the way in which we love and who we love. This brings about a war within oneself that places trauma at the doorsteps of everyone we encounter. Displaced anger is projected upon those we claim to love, those who we are forced to love based on society’s standards. So, we hide and continue to build a life surrounding said standards. Every so often, we collide with people who exude the freedom we wish we had the courage to revel in. We latch on to these people, but we latch on in envy, anger, and regret. These are dangerous grounds and the only thing that can come of it is pain.
"I understood why Giovanni had wanted me and had brought me to his retreat. I was to destroy this room and give to Giovanni a new and better life. This life could only be my own, which, in order to transform Giovanni's, must first become a part of Giovanni's room.”
Baldwin delivered a very thought-provoking story here. A timeless story, as even in today’s society, people are closeted, hurting themselves and those around them – when all they truly want is to be their authentic self and love who they love.
I rated this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads!
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