corner corner Giovanni's Room

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Giovanni's Room
by James Baldwin | Literature & Fiction
Registered by winglakelady2282wing of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Average 7 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by lakelady2282): available


11 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by winglakelady2282wing from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, November 27, 2007

This book has not been rated.

This is on loan to Cat. 

Journal Entry 2 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, November 27, 2007

9 out of 10

I found it difficult to believe that this was written more than fifty years ago, and by a man with a different heritage. It feels so recent. I shared his fear and his guilt - I was there with him!

Thank you Debbie, for sharing such a beautiful book. X 

Journal Entry 3 by winglakelady2282wing from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Friday, November 30, 2007

This book has not been rated.

This book is brilliant! Like Cat I can't believe it was written over fifty years ago. It is so immediate, so real. Not many books have the force of narrative of this novella. I can only think of two at the moment: Sophie's Choice and Rebecca. And I'm talking about not merely a case of what happens next but an inexplicable power that permeates the text. He writes with so much insight into the fine balance that is a relationship: who gives the most, who loves more, the guilt and the betrayal. This book has definitely got to find more readers.
 

Journal Entry 4 by winglakelady2282wing from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Friday, November 30, 2007

This book has not been rated.

International bookring for this 1001 book. Pm me to join with mailing preferences.



iliotropio - Belgium - read
TonyAlmeida - Portugal - read
OpheliaPhillips - UK - read
flambard - UK - read
jubby - NSW - read
Linda1 - NSW - read
livrecache - VIC - read
tqd - NSW - read
Pixette - NSW - the book is here!
bosslady2283 - NSW 

Journal Entry 5 by winglakelady2282wing at Bookring in by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 11, 2007

This book has not been rated.

Released 4 yrs ago (12/11/2007 UTC) at Bookring in by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 6 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Thursday, December 20, 2007

This book has not been rated.

Arrived safely in Brussels.Thank you lakelady2282!
I'm flying this evening to Greece to spend X-mas holidays with my family and I'm taking this special book with me!
Happy holidays! 

Journal Entry 7 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Friday, February 01, 2008

This book has not been rated.

A masterpiece, an absolute must-read!!!
On its way to TonyAlmeida. 

Journal Entry 8 by TonyAlmeida from Vagos, Aveiro Portugal on Monday, February 11, 2008

This book has not been rated.

I just took it from the mailbox!

I have two books ahead but I'll try to read as soon as possible.

Thank you iliotropio for mailing me the book! :-D 

Journal Entry 9 by TonyAlmeida from Vagos, Aveiro Portugal on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

5 out of 10

It took me a while to finish this book because I've not been reading as much as I like and also because the story of Giovanni's Room did not please me at all.

About the book itself: the first part of the book did not catch my attention and I was very close to quit reading the book. The second part is more interesting, with dialogs sometimes very interesting. However, much of the story is somewhat predictable.

I'd like to highlight the relationship between David and Giovanni, the key feature of this story. Two lovers that have different feelings about their homosexuality, a theme very actual nowadays. Considering that this book was written in the late 1950's, it is very impressive. I think this is the particular reason why this book is listed in the "1001 books to read..."

I'll post this book today to OpheliaPhillips.

Thank you lakelady2282 for the opportunity of reading this book. 

Journal Entry 10 by TonyAlmeida at on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 4 yrs ago (3/12/2008 UTC) at

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This book is moving to meet its next reader in the UK!

Once again, thanks lakelady2282 for sharing this book. 

Journal Entry 11 by OpheliaPhillips from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Arrived in the post today - thanks tonyalmeida, for posting this on to me. I have one bookring ahead of this, then will start reading it. 

Journal Entry 12 by OpheliaPhillips from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 28, 2008

7 out of 10

Well, Giovanni's Room or the tale of why love stinks. I'd never read any of James Baldwin's books before, so I didn't really know what to expect. In some ways, it reminded me of what I've read of Anais Nin's work; and also the atmosphere in it of Americans travelling round Europe in the 50s reminded me of Patricia Highsmith's books.

Thinking back over it now that I've read it, I think the plot was great - this love triangle, with passion, betrayal and discovering what you really want when it's too late. And you could tell from the writing style that this is high quality stuff.

Yet.... whilst reading it a lot of it left me cold. There was something detached and cold about the narrator, and the slow move of the book whilst I was reading it that just didn't grab me. So whilst I do agree that it's a great book, it isn't going to be one of my favourites.

However, you don't know until you try these things, so many, many thanks for setting up this ring!

I remember someone saying that in any relationship, there's always one who loves more than the other in it. Very true.

Anyways, I have flambard's address so I will get this in the post in the next couple of days. 

Journal Entry 13 by flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, April 03, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Arrived with me! Many thanks! 

Journal Entry 14 by flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 08, 2008

8 out of 10

Captivating and engaging, but joyless. The mood reminded me of Death In Venice. The characters were pitiable, grabbing small physical comfort where they could. However, loneliness and tragedy were inevitably the only winners. Many thanks for the bookring - well worth a read! 

Journal Entry 15 by flambard at To the next participant in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 12, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 4 yrs ago (4/12/2008 UTC) at To the next participant in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 16 by jubby from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, April 20, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Yay! This book arrived in the post today.

Thank you. 

Journal Entry 17 by jubby from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, May 12, 2008

9 out of 10

Wow!

This book really was not what I expected. I had only heard of James Baldwin in relation to his book 'Go tell it to the mountain', and had expected a dated piece of American Black literature. So, you can imagine my surprise when I started reading this book, and found the themes to be far more modern and controversial.

I got sucked right into this book, and could not put it down. I read it in two sittings (which was very naughty, because I actually had an awful amount of work to do). The only reason I'd held onto to this book for so long, was because I am bogged down with bookrings are present (but doesn't it feel good to get another one out the door?).

David was a convincing and believable character in my opinion and so was Hella. Although set in 1950s Europe, this is still very much a modern and current story today. I also felt that it is not a story that was written with bias or prejudice towards one group or set of social values. This must have been a difficult book for Baldwin to write and publish, but a very brave effort - especially considering that he was writing for the 1950s American audience.

An amazing book, and one worthy of the list '1001 books to read before you die'. 

Journal Entry 18 by jubby at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 12, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 4 yrs ago (5/12/2008 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Popped into the post for L1nda on Sunday. 

Journal Entry 19 by wingL1ndawing from Newcastle, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, May 13, 2008

This book has not been rated.

arrived safe and sound, thanks! 

Journal Entry 20 by wingL1ndawing from Newcastle, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, May 22, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Like Jubby, I read this in 2 sittings. I was entranced by this book, I thought James Baldwin captured David's anguish and pain brilliantly. Thanks for the chance to read it LakeLady.

I've pm'd livrecache for her address. 

Journal Entry 21 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Friday, May 30, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Arrived safely a couple of days ago but I've only just got to JE it. Apologies. I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm going to have to devote this weekend to reading to catch up on my backlog of bookrings. What a chore. (Not! :)) 

Journal Entry 22 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Tuesday, June 17, 2008

8 out of 10

Amazing book. Apart from the narrator's attitude to women, it was WAY ahead of its time. I'd not read any James Baldwin before and it was a pleasant surprise. I do love Americans who can see how they can appear outside their country, in The Europe.

A most impressive book and I understand why it's on the 1001 list. Many, many thanks to the list starter. I'll post it on to the next person as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 23 by livrecache at Malvern Post Office in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 23, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (6/23/2008 UTC) at Malvern Post Office in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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Setting of in company with the Southern Cross Book Exchange for this month. 

Journal Entry 24 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, June 23, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Thanks livrecache, it arrived safe and sound today! I've been looking forward to this bookring for a while, so I'm happy it arrived today, without too many books I have to read before it on my Mt TBR. I might just bump this one up the pile a little so I can hand-deliver it to Pixette at bookdrinks this coming Tuesday... 

Journal Entry 25 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, July 20, 2008

9 out of 10

Allow me to join the chorus of: this was written when???

A still remarkably powerful piece of writing, and shockingly honest. I was expecting something a bit more The Well of Loneliness, which was filled with all sorts of bizarre euphemisms for lesbianism ("inversion" I think was the main one). And the previous Go Tell it on the Mountain also skirted the whole homosexuality issue (my Mum read it years ago, and had no idea what it was about). But, no, absolutely no euphemisms or shirking around the subject: our protagonist, David, falls into a passionate affair with the young beautiful Giovanni. And it's not the first time David has flirted (or more) with men, although he is engaged to be married to the rather wild Hella.

I loved the dialogue, the language, the phrasing. It was beautifully written, and the emotions were so true.

He was sobbing, it would have been said, as though his heart would break. But I felt that it was my heart that was broken. Something had broken in me to make me so cold and so perfectly still and far away.


The seduction of Sue has to rank as one of the most cold-blooded scenes I've ever read in my life. And the self-loathing of David, who cannot accept his homosexuality but can't deny it either, is fascinating. It was interesting pondering how different he and his life would be if he was born in a time that was more accepting of homosexuals. Would he still be on such a path of destruction (other people's lives, more than his own), or is his self-loathing just an internalisation of his society's rules about homosexuality. And I'm also curious about his future: will he end up like one of the street boys? will he try to flee the society again? will he return home? will he ever find self-acceptance? (That last one, I think I can answer with a resounding no.)

I don't really have any much more to offer, that hasn't already been said. I shall pass this on to Pixette next chance I have. Thanks lakelady2282, for offering this up as a ring! 

Journal Entry 26 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 14, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (8/14/2008 UTC) at Sydney, New South Wales Australia

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Popped in the post to Pixette today. Sorry about the terrible delay! 

Journal Entry 27 by Pixette from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Picked up from my postbox. Thank you 

Journal Entry 28 by Pixette from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, October 10, 2008

This book has not been rated.

I finished this book about a week ago and then I got busy so sorry for the delay in journalling.

It certainly is a book ahead of it's time. I found it very well constructed and the characters very believable.

One comment though. My high school french certainly came in handy. To someone who didn't have any grounding in at least one of the romantic languages I think the frequent use of french would probably be quite annoying.

I also expect this was published in France as I can't imagine that it wasn't banned in the US at this itme. They couldn't cope with Lady Chatterley and Lolita, who would they cope with this. Homosexuality would also be considered obscene or subversive in some way.

 

Journal Entry 29 by Pixette at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -- Controlled Releases on Friday, October 10, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (10/10/2008 UTC) at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Put in the post to the next reader 

Journal Entry 30 by winglakelady2282wing from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, October 16, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Bosslady2283 received the book safely from Pixette and sends her thanks. She is without internet access at the moment. She enjoyed the book and it is now safely back with me. Thank you everyone for particpating in a very successful bookring! 



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