Read the entire book on an airplane last week. Didn't know a thing about it going in -- just wanted to try a novel by James Baldwin. My god, it was so thoughtful, so rich, so sensitive and conflicted and human. How could he have been so bold as to write this in the 50s?

rereading this book for the first time in years and was so excited to find this review

Yes, it was Elli's review that caused me to buy this book!! And then I think one of your videos mentioning it that made me start reading it! Such a brilliant review. I didn't think of the metaphor of Giovanni's Room as coming out of the closet, but now that you mentioned that it seem so obvious! It fits so perfectly. Especially as it was only read in Giovanni's room that David was "open" about his sexuality. I didn't read that edition, I read the Great Loves one, and now I really want to see if my library has it just to take it out and read that foreword, it sounds really interesting. I adored this book and your wonderful review has got me all emotional about it again, and reminded me just how much I want to read more of Baldwin's work! His writing is just phenomenal. I think I'll be seeing what my library has in stock the next time I visit.

I appreciate this review so much. It gave me so much more insight on Giovanni's Room and is actually making me consider rereading it soon. I didn't like it much when I completed it, but you highlighted the moments I enjoyed about it, and I want to read it again and see if I experience a deeper connection to it.

Great review! Lovely passage you read out and i found it super interesting to hear about more of Baldwin's life and getting this book published! Also great idea for doing a giveaway! Thanks for mentioning my review :) I wish my copy had an introduction!

I finished this book this month and really enjoyed it. It was great that you included details of the context of his writing because I have a second hand copy without that intro and it’s really interesting to learn more about the context of the book being published at that time

I finished Giovanni's Room last week and really enjoyed it. It is now one of my favorites. Great review!

Wonderful Review. I was waiting for this review since I knew that you were reading it ;-). I LOVED the book.

Great review. You have convinced me to reread it! I don't think I was ready when it was assigned to me at school at age 15 or 16.

Oh man, I've been meaning to read James Baldwin forever, so this giveaway is perfect. Great review!

i just finished it and needed to know beyond what i read and other people's reviews. Loved your thoughts and it's my first baldwin book, def excited to read more from him!!

Great review! Can definitely relate with the struggle of coming out. I want to win the book (:

Great review! I bought this on Friday and can't wait to get it now and get reading!

I love James Baldwin.

Another Country was my first JB read. I loved it!

Excellent review Didi, I am eager to read this one. I need to read more LGBT lit and I think this one would be very significant. It's scary to think that what if this had not been published or if it had been altered to skew its meaning and make it more palatable to the public at the time. I really love reading into book titles too because often it reveals so much and it's nice to speculate why the author chose that particular title to represent their work.

I have been hearing about this novel for years. Enjoyed it.

Oh that is so great, I've been so interested in this already after Elli's review! Put me down for the giveaway, I'd love to read it! Thank you! Even if I don't understand the French anymore. Tried to read Le Petite Prince yesterday and was amazed at all the notes in French I wrote in it, unfortunately I couldn't understand enough anymore to read it. Lol.

I loved, " Another Country." by James Baldwin, and all his interviews. The Fire Next Time by J.B. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse on the Buddha. I speak Spanish as a second language, so I know what you mean about the French. 😊

I wanna win this book!! even though it was 9 years ago lol I love your review video! Giovanni's room is so well written, I loved the details, Baldwin's writing and I'm glad he got to publish this book without changing it!! It is so good!

frenchiedee Very good review of Giovanni's Room. I do plan on reading the book and I want the edition you read, because these eyes can't take the smaller print.

Fantastic book!! Great review too :)) Well done.

Baldwin is timeless and timely!!! We had a tertulia facilitated by the amazing Kate Rushin on If Beale Street Could Talk in 2016. The discussion was on point!

Thank you. I look forward to reading it.

I know I'm commenting on a video that's 2 years old but this has been on my TBR forever and based on this review I want to read it next. I read 'Go Tell it on the Mountain' about three years ago and was blown away by how engrossing it was. I expect no less from 'Giovanni's Room'.

Excellent review. My favorites are Go Tell it on the Mountain and Just Above My Head. I prefer his fiction to his essays, though most people wouldn't agree.

I want to win it! (Awesome review, by the way. I've been meaning to start reading some James Baldwin).

Oh i love your reviews you always show me new books and authors :) I want to win!

Awesome review Dee. I want that exact cover. Another one I will need to read, Thank you.

This book sounds really good. I've never read a book by James Baldwin before. I've only read a short story by him called "Sonny's Blues" and I thought that was really good.

This was also my 2nd Baldwin Book and If Beale Street could Talk was also my first ! Both amazing Books. James Baldwin really hit it out of the park with this one.

6 years later. Here i am, looking it whether its a good read or not.

This book sounds right up my alley, I would love to have a chance to win it.

I just love Baldwin. I even love his face. His face is so cute lol. -S

This book is 🔥

+frenchiedee Great review!! I think I will pick up the edition you read because the supplemental materials sound very interesting. Especially the bits about Wright and Baldwins relationship. Wright was something else! ( especially when you consider how critical he was of other black writers ie: Zora Neale Hurston.) I will defiantly pick this up. Thanks for sharing!

I love your review sweet lady

Great review as always. I wont enter the giveaway as my local library has it, last I checked, and so leave it for someone else to hopefully win.:D

Great review. I wanna win it. 😉

The history of the book is more interesting than the book itself.

Great review, Didi! And I wanna win it ;-).

Excellent review!

Great review. I think it is time for me to reread this book. Have you read Baldwin's "Another Country"? I would be interested in hearing your response to it.

Great review. I want to win that book.

I love Caryl Phillips! I want to win it. Very insightful review!

Great review as usual, I want to win it!

I have never read a James Baldwin novel...I'm ashamed. He's been suggested but I wasn't open to it at the time (I was in my teens and in adult fantasy land) I want to win.

I want to win it!!!

Nice review!

Hi Didi, great review. I want to win!! :)

I have had this on my maybe-buy list for a very long time but I have been sort of accidentally staying away from it. I think it's because of the overload of Gay Love Can Never End Happily in any era, anywhere. While I understand on an absolutely logical level that there are certain eras where this is absolutely true (I really do, honest!), I would just love to see a (forbidden) gay love affair end not even really HAPPILY but at least HOPEFULLY. So despite your beautiful review, I think I'm going to put this one off again for a little while. I'll get there eventually, it's too much of an LGBT classic for me to ignore.

Never heard about this book... or author. I would love to have an opportunity to win, and read it

I want to win it!

I wanna win it..😉

I want to win!

I want to win

Coucou, tu es toujours sur Paris?

I want to win it! Lovely review. I think it's interesting that white people have such a problem with black people expressing their perception of them especially when you consider white people's huge impact on our lives past and present. #blackfolkscantgetnorest

Totally not feeling this story at all. I'm listening to it because my school didn't have us read any of his work. It's hard to understand because I am not a gay man... I don't know what it's like to love someone and cheat on them either. The sexuality is just one part... The connection between the lovers is not healthy at all. I pray that everyone can be free in healthy relationships and love. Don't use any woman as a cover. If nobody loved me- I love me so I'm not recommending this and I hope Amen Corner is something I can relate to....

frenchiedee And yet Toni Morrison gets smack because she DOESN'T write about white people? Lawd, the struggle.

Great review!!! I want to win it!!!