Welcome to Litsy!

Worked on crafts while I listened to this book. I really liked this one. James Baldwin was an excellent writer/storyteller.

Again the book‘s former owner is drawn to some of my favorite lines in the book. #lgbtq #JamesBaldwin

The way Baldwin conveys the feelings of shame, fear, and self loathing David has about his sexuality is devastating. I don‘t have words to describe how hard this hits me. And I‘m straight. I‘m reading the story as someone who can‘t relate to the character‘s pain through a shared experience, yet, I have to fight to keep from crying. BTW the notes were made by the book‘s previous owner. But I like that this person was also drawn to this line. #lgbtq

A beautifully written ugly story. I found it hard to be sympathetic to the narrator, but I was conscious that I have never had to negotiate such challenging issues of identity or social position (for which I am very grateful). Does this qualify as a banned book #booked2020?
#BookReport finished Sofia Khan is not Ok, Case Histories & this
#WeeklyForecast start The Professor's House for #CatherBuddyRead continue The Thirties for #chunkster2020 then?

I went in thinking this was a love story, but it‘s most certainly not. The writing was sharp enough to cut me to shreds and the characters despicable enough to break my heart. This was internalized homophobia and misogyny clever enough to know it was happening but helpless to stop it. It was a beautiful wreck, mean and angry and sorrowful. It is necessary to see how far we‘ve come, how far we‘ve yet to go. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

I guess I didn't have any idea what this sad and tragic story was about. I find the narrator David equal parts infuriating and sad. Like all Baldwin books this holds up remarkably well over time, the story is both moving and thought provoking.

Week one of #2020 has me off to a great start. Finishing up Giovanni's room today, finished the other 2 this week also. All three are blowing me away and I hope that is a good sign for this year's reading!

#2019bookshelf

I read 65 books this year, but I can‘t put the audiobooks, ebooks and library books on a shelf. What you see here is everything else.

I definitely didn‘t appreciate Giovanni as a character as much when I first read this, as I do now.

“You don‘t have a home until you leave it, and then when you‘ve left it you can‘t go back.”

#7days7covers No explanation. #covercrush

@Billypar, care to play along? Post 7 covers you love over 7 days, no explanation needed.

Never read Baldwin. This is going to be my first one. #Bookmail

Happy Pride Month!! ❤ Have a picture of all the queer lit I'm using for my master's thesis.

This was my first read of a James Baldwin novel and I loved it - great development of characters and a strong and moving story arc. Highly recommended.

Working on a translation for my thesis, although I'm absolutely not feeling like it today. Translations from the 1960s are just exhausting.

I struggled with the first two of Baldwin‘s books I tried, but I found this beautiful from the opening and throughout. The prose is cleaner, more open and fluid, has more space somehow, but still it has those mannerisms distinct to Baldwin. I absolutely loved this.

#springintoreading #home

(April 2019) "The beast which Giovanni had awakened in me would never go to sleep again; but one day I would not be with Giovanni anymore....With this fearful intimation there opened in me a hatred for Giovanni which was as powerful as my love and which was nourished by the same roots."

I had trouble with Baldwin‘s first two books (Go Tell It On the Mountain and Notes of a Native Son). But so far this book is really beautiful, with a much cleaner softer prose.

The quote I circled above should be taken in light of Baldwin and his main character‘s literal flights from New York to France and also, I imagine, in light of the homosexual awakening of both.

This book is incredible and completely devastating. How have I never read James Baldwin before now?

This book is incredible and completely devastating. How have I never read James Baldwin before now?

In my room, reading Giovanni's Room. James Baldwin is a perfect pick for #blackhistorymonth!

Wow.
Such a powerful book. Intricate perspectives on homosexuality, masculinity, and self-awareness packed into this novella. Highly recommended.

A sweet little red book for lunch today. Delicious.

David, a 20-something America, has been in Paris for 2 years “finding himself”. His father wants him to come home. But David is trying to decide if he wants to marry fellow American Hella and have a conforming standard life. Or should he stay in Paris with Giovanni? Will he ever be satisfied with who he is with, or will he always long for someone else and a different life? #lgbtq #americanliterature #diversereads

My local theater is doing a seminar on James Baldwin so I scooped these up to read beforehand.

I came to Baldwin‘s books far too late in life but he has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Giovanni‘s Room is a beautifully written, yet heartbreaking story of an expat living in France coming to terms with his sexuality but it‘s also so much more than that. I highly recommend this if you haven‘t read it yet.

5/5

#NewIn thanks to #KindLitsy. Only problem? My email didn't say which Litten to tag to say thanks to! So if you sent me this book, thank you so much - it's going on my #socialjustice challenge list for next year!

Currently reading

#wordoftheday #currentlyreading

In this classic, every sentence of Baldwin‘s is masterfully constructed, and it‘s hard to believe this book was published in 1956. From the very beginning, these characters spin towards their inevitably tragic endings as a result of the main character‘s self-repression and insecurity, and his need to run away from his own desires and the one person that could make him happy.
⚠️ Amazing read, but incredibly sad

I just started this #audiobook. It is exquisitely written! I think I‘ll be getting the print edition too so I can savor the artistry of the writing.

#manicmonday #letterg
📚—Giovanni‘s Room
👤—Roxane Gay
📽—Get Out
🍽—Gelato

#1001bookswap

"... For nothing is more unbearable, once one has it, than freedom."

150 pages of pure love, heartbreak, unease, longing & despair. It‘s beautiful but tragic. Highly recommend it if you haven‘t yet read it. #lgbtqiamc #booked2018

Baldwin is a master at his craft. I went into this knowing almost nothing about the book except that it‘s an #lgbt classic and set in Paris. I forget how delightful it is going in like this— everything is a discovery, like how big a role the title plays in the plot. #vacancesfrancaises #currentlyreading

I enjoyed #MakeMeReadIt so much I decided to have Litsy decide what I'm reading for September again.

In the comments tag the book that you think I should read in September. I will read it the top two books.

Second challenge of the #24in48 readathon: books that expand your worldview. Giovanni‘s Room changed everything for me! It‘s so haunting and tragic, and really changed my perspective on life. A beautiful book.

Finished the first #24in48 book. I feel back asleep and was asleep with the timer running. 😕 so had to start that over. I think I had around two hours in but now I have four.

Zelda decided that we needed to be up at 3:30 am. So getting a few minutes of #24in48 in before I pass back out.

Baldwin writes his gay and bi characters with candor. A rarity in the 1950s, when this book was published.
#giovannisroom #baldwin

Interesting, but not entirely accurate. 😉 I‘m much more reticent than this description.

What great American author are you?
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/which-great-american-author-are-you/

Thanks for posting, @vkois88

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a beautiful book! I devoured this little shortie. I may have just missed reading it during pride month, but better late than never. 🏳️‍🌈 I was floored to find out it was written in 1956. More of this, please! #gaylit #fivestarbooks

I am amazed that this book was written in 1956! #Booked2018 #LGBTQIA

July BOTM in my Goodreads #classics group. My first James Baldwin read.

Although not my favorite book I have read recently I think it is a poignant testimony of how important it is to be true to ones self no matter what! #booked2018 #lgbtqia @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

I don‘t want to spoil it for anyone but the book has a love triangle and murder. It is written in a fast paced style that allows you get quickly caught up in the lives and lies being lived by the central characters.