Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
The novel explores themes of identity, sexuality, and societal norms in mid-20th century Paris. The protagonist, an American man, grapples with his homosexual identity while engaged to a woman. His life takes a turn when he becomes involved with an Italian bartender, leading to a tumultuous relationship filled with passion, guilt, and self-loathing. The story is a poignant examination of the human struggle for acceptance and the destructive consequences of denying one's true self.
The 308th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1956
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 150-200
- Words
- 62,000
- Original Language
- English
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 11th on The 50 best books of the past 100 years (The Times)
- 16th on 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 (Counterpunch)
- 373rd on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years (Parade Magazine)
- The Great American Novels (The Atlantic)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- A Hundred Novels to Change Your Life (The Daily Mail)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC)