Giovanni's Room (Penguin Great Loves)

by James Baldwin | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780141032948 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Paws4Books of Deal, Kent United Kingdom on 4/18/2008
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7 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Paws4Books from Deal, Kent United Kingdom on Friday, April 18, 2008
This is a book from the list of 1001 books to read before you die.

From Amazon:

Synopsis
When David meets the sensual Giovanni in a bohemian bar, he is swept into a passionate love affair. But his girlfriend's return to Paris destroys everything. Unable to admit to the truth, David pretends the liaison never happened - while Giovanni's life descends into tragedy. United by the theme of love, the writings in the Great Loves series span over two thousand years and vastly different worlds. Readers will be introduced to love's endlessly fascinating possibilities and extremities: romantic love, platonic love, erotic love, gay love, virginal love, adulterous love, parental love, filial love, nostalgic love, unrequited love, illicit love, not to mention lost love, twisted and obsessional love...

Journal Entry 2 by Paws4Books from Deal, Kent United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 22, 2008
This was an amazing book all about acceptance and denial. It follows three people, the main character, David who's currently living in Paris but actually from the USA, the woman he has proposed to, Hella, who returns from Spain and his new lover Giovanni whom he truly fell in love with but continued to fight it throughout. David had to learn the lesson about being honest to himself during his journey. I found it to be a very moving and totally captivating read.

Journal Entry 3 by Paws4Books at on Monday, March 22, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/22/2010 UTC) at

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sent to Cally-c as this is a book from the 1001 list.

Journal Entry 4 by cally-c from Alfreton, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 26, 2010
Arrived safely - thank you ekranda, much appreciated!

Journal Entry 5 by cally-c at Alfreton, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 1, 2010
I loved this book. The story of David's life & loves & relationships with others is very absorbing & beautifully written.

Journal Entry 6 by cally-c at Alfreton, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 4, 2010
I am offering this as a BookRay.

Participants:
davemurray101 (Aus - Int'l)
shovelmonkey1 (UK - EU pref)
mafarrimond (UK - EU )

Journal Entry 7 by cally-c at Alfreton, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Monday, November 22, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (11/23/2010 UTC) at Alfreton, Derbyshire United Kingdom

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Giovanni is off on his travels......

Journal Entry 8 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Received in the post today. Thanks to cally-c for sharing. Should be an interesting read.

Journal Entry 9 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Friday, January 28, 2011
Absolutely brilliant. I thought 'Go Tell it to the Mountain' was good, but this was brilliant. Captures very well the feelings of exile and love gone awry. Thanks again to cally-c and will be posting to Shovelmonkey as soon as I confirm his address.

Journal Entry 10 by davemurray101 at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (2/9/2011 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

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posted to shovelmonkey1 by airmail.

Journal Entry 11 by davemurray101 at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (2/9/2011 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

posted to shovelmonkey1 by airmail.

Journal Entry 12 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Received today as I dashed to the office to pick up more survey equipment! Thanks for sharing this book cally-c and thanks to davemurray101 for sending this book on to me. Looking forward to reading it, it's 2nd from the top of the bookray pile after Nella Larson's Quicksand.

Journal Entry 13 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
This is a great read from the 1001 books list. It's only a short story but it has a depth and tone which makes it seem much more epic. The relationship between David and Giovanni is a complex one and some parts of the text seem to imply that their relationship is never actually consumated fully. Their friendship is open and joyous but their real relationship is hidden and clandestine for as David later describes it, they would be perceived as men with "les gouts particuliere". In hiding his relationship with Giovanni, David hides his true self and stifles his own emotional development. The room is a metaphor for their relationship which has to be contained and constrained lest it burst forth into the world. The room is made to seem dark and seedy, the scene of self destructive actions. This mirrors David's idea about their relationship. Giovanni's downfall may not be David's fault but ultimately it was David who was the catalyst for the chain of events which takes them both outside of Giovanni's room for ever.

Journal Entry 14 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (2/22/2011 UTC) at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom

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Heading off to mafarrimond with a wishlist RABCK to keep it company on its travels!

Journal Entry 15 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, March 7, 2011
The book has arrived safely. Thank you.

Journal Entry 16 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, March 20, 2011
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. A powerful storyline.

Journal Entry 17 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, March 20, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (3/20/2011 UTC) at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom

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Placing in the 1001 book box

Journal Entry 18 by rem_IUM-600892 at Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 31, 2011
Taken from the 1001 book box, thanks

Journal Entry 19 by rem_IUM-600892 at Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, May 13, 2011
A good book about learning to be true to yourself and the pressures of society to conform. Great writing but I really disliked the protagonist, but perhaps that is the point.

Journal Entry 20 by 1001-library at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Saturday, May 14, 2011

Thanks so much for your donation jaynereader!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

Journal Entry 21 by 1001-library at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Saturday, May 14, 2011

Thanks so much for your donation jaynereader!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

Journal Entry 22 by rem_IUM-600892 at Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 16, 2020
I'm releasing this book as I am deleting my bookcrossing account after several years of these books lying dormant on my shelves.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.