Giovanni's Room

I enjoyed reading the first half of this novel. I had not read it before.

I think James Baldwin did a very interesting job playing with the ideas of gender roles and the frustrations David feels when exploring his homosexuality. I thought the role of David's father was particularly insightful. David is constantly struggling to live up to "becoming a man" as his father has requested, even though he has no true grasp on what that means. David constantly struggles with his inability to sleep with women, and therefore demonstrate his manliness, just as his father did after the death of his mother.

Not only does David have to come to terms with his sexual orientation, which he explains to Giovanni as illegal at home, but he also has to cope with gender issues that have been extremely complicated by his father. His personal struggle becomes more tragic and intense. The flashbacks to his childhood experiences, like his drunken car crash and Ellen's concern over his upbringing, further illuminate the depth of his personal struggles.

I am excited to see what happens in the second half of the novel. Especially with Hella's return to Paris. I'm curious to see how Baldwin will continue to develop David's personal progress with the presence of his fiance.