I think it's a credit to Baldwin that I sympathized with David even though I'm not gay. We discussed the window as both a reflection of the past and a barrier from the present outside. We didn't really talk about the historical context of the novel, but the gay and emigre scene of Paris were definitely big during Baldwin's lifetime.ĭo you mean foreshadowing in regards to Giovanni's crime? Or are you referring to the frame story in general? My class was really interested in the frame story of an introspective David drinking at his narrative window and cleaning his room. What other James Baldwin novels or similar books would you recommend?Īh I just took a Gender and Sexuality in Literature class with Giovanni's Room as one of the core texts! My notes are at school, but here are some thoughts. What were your favourite parts of the novel? Any particularly beautiful passages or moving scenes? I LOVED the scene the morning after David and Giovanni met, I thought it was such a beautiful portrayal. What did you think?ĭid you think the use of foreshadowing worked as a good device for the novel? I thought it was incredibly effective at creating an atmosphere. I guess I was a little surprised given that the book was published in 1956 and a similar book, Maurice, by EM Forster, was not even able to be published until the 1970s. I found the discussion of homosexuality to be very nuanced and moving, particularly the conversation David has with Jacques the night he meets Giovanni. This is the first James Baldwin book I've read. It was amazing, but I also got so into the characters that I spent most of it with a feeling of dread based on the foreshadowing at the beginning (not a spoiler - this is revealed on page 1). Check out /r/AskLiteraryStudies if you have questions about literature and literary studies that you'd like answered by experts! All are welcome.Spoilers must be marked by an alert and obscured with Reddit editor's spoiler masking system. Please do not seek feedback or instruction on your writing.ĭo not submit videos vaguely related to literature. This includes written work, social media, medium, youtube, apps, or any other material. This includes posting surveys.ĭo not submit any form of advertising or self-promotion.
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