Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (1958): A Review

Title: Giovanni's Room

Author: James Baldwin

Publication Year: 1956

Pages: 176

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Classic, Literary Fiction, Queer, Psychological Fiction

Awards: BBC's 100 Most Inspiring Novels

Source: Ebook

"Giovanni's Room" is my first novel by James Baldwin. I've heard about this book and its author for a long time, so I finally decided it was time to read it for myself rather than just relying on others' praises. James Baldwin is one of those authors I've been curious about, and after being inspired by other friends on Fable, I decided to give it a try. Now, I regret not reading it sooner.

I went into reading this novel completely blind; the only thing I knew was that it was going to break my heart. From the very first line, the novel evoked the feeling of classic black-and-white films, despite modern advances in technology. The narrator looks out of the window while smoking and drinking, sharing the story with us before immersing us in the events. Then, we return with the character to that lonely room. Does that make sense?

The story revolves around themes of identity, sexuality, masculinity, internalized homophobia, alienation, guilt, and shame, among others. It follows an American character, David, who confronts an identity crisis. Instead of addressing his struggles, he pushes away his problems and develops a deep-seated resentment towards everyone who loves him, including himself. The narrative is filled with suspense, as it hints at a significant, tragic event without revealing the exact details, keeping readers on edge.

As we follow David's journey to come to terms with his sexuality, it becomes evident that his refusal to understand himself leads to the alienation of those around him. He silences his true self and identity, which prevents him from growing into a healthy, mature individual. Consequently, he misses out on opportunities to connect with others, driving them further away. In the end, Baldwin challenges readers to reflect on their own feelings of frustration. We may find ourselves judging David and others, yet we are also left with a sense of helplessness, realizing that we cannot entirely blame anyone—yet we feel complicit in the unfolding drama.

I won’t go into the details of the story; instead, I want to focus on the impact of shame on David. Shame, especially when rooted in internalized social norms, can be profoundly traumatizing. It can lead individuals to view themselves as inherently bad rather than recognizing that it is their actions that are flawed. This perception often causes people to isolate themselves from others, or they may find that society isolates them instead. In either case, the result is devastating. Additionally, the story highlights the stark differences between American and European societies in the 1950s, as if they were two entirely different worlds. We can see the clashes and the harmful effects of these cultural divides, particularly how Americans experienced Europe in the works of James Baldwin and Henry James.

Why should you read it? It's simply too profound to overlook. It breaks your heart and evokes feelings of anger towards others and even towards yourself, leaving you grappling with pain without knowing how to process your emotions or thoughts. This masterpiece illustrates the struggle of dealing with identity and sexuality in an unhealthy manner, highlighting how society (primarily) and individuals themselves (potentially) share the blame.