Hello my little French breads. Our source this week is the short novel Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, which I just finished reading a couple of days ago. I had seen it on any number of lists of books to read, and seen BookTubers say it was on their 2025 TBRs, but no one seemed to tell much about why, so I just got it and read it myself. I knew it was about two men, but kind of assumed that this 1956 book would be some variety of bittersweet love story, but that's not really what it is.
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| James Baldwin |
This story is about Giovanni, a bartender, and David, an American who is in denial about who he really is. They meet in Paris and send the reader on a grim tour of skeevy bars, predators and the preyed upon, rivers of alcohol, self-loathing and self-destruction. It's a bumpy ride to say the least. Baldwin's writing is, as always, brilliant, and the story is worth reading but I have to say that I am both glad that I read it, and glad that I am done reading it. The only character I liked at all was Giovanni.
Anyway, what we do here is to use at least 3 of the 20 words provided in a new, original poem of our own. Then simply link up, visit others, and then, if you find yourself in Paris, go to the Louvre. This prompt remains active until next Sunday.
And now, your List:
ashes
bitter
brick
clean
doomed
faces
forgive
mercy
rich
roaring
room
sick
sorrow
speed
terrible
truth
voice
white
wine
yellow
Thank you Shay
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Jae!
DeleteCool list. I shall return.
ReplyDeleteI will be on the lookout.
DeleteReading about Baldwin!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read him, you must. This was my second Baldwin--I read Go Tell It on the Mountain previously.
DeleteAn odd shot with the list. I thought of describing my father as that American-in-denial in Baldwin's book (tortured in Chicago instead of Paris), but instead I opened a box from my brother. (I love Baldwin's essays.)
ReplyDeleteThanks Shay. My poem from your word list became a bit of therapy for myself.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that I will put this Baldwin book on my To Read list, but I did appreciate your summary. My poem is a reflection on "Today."
ReplyDeleteI'm like you about this novel, Shay. Unforgettable. It was an intense reading experience by a very talented writer, and Giovanni was the only character with a heart.
ReplyDelete