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  • Giovanni's Room

  • Written by: James Baldwin
  • Narrated by: Dan Butler
  • Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (148 ratings)

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Giovanni's Room cover art

Giovanni's Room

Written by: James Baldwin
Narrated by: Dan Butler
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Publisher's Summary

Set in the 1950’s Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, a young man finds himself caught between desire and conventional morality. With a sharp, probing imagination, James Baldwin’s now-classic narrative delves into the mystery of loving and creates a moving, highly controversial story of death and passion that reveals the unspoken complexities of the human heart.

©1956 James Baldwin (P)2013 AudioGO
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ2S+

What listeners say about Giovanni's Room

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Classic!

Ahh, gay romance in the 19th century. Misery, loss, alienation, evasive attachments, a perfectionnistic performance of identity, the inability to love and/or to be loved, topped off with a severly morose atmosphere. This book was both throrougly gay and throroughly depressing. Loved it. I will never read it again.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a gem

Incredibly well written and engaging. Immediately drew me in. Enjoyed the setting, character development and suspense. Deep.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Slow moving.

I was actually disposed. I found it slow moving and a bit monotonous. Don’t recommend.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just wow!

Not my normal read and not sure why I decided to listen to this story via audible as I am a Historical Fiction and Crime/detective Fan. I was looking for something different when I stumbled across this book. I am in awe as to how much I enjoyed Giovanni’s Room. Narration perfect, couldn’t stop listening and finished in less then 2 days. Excellent story full of emotions.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Such a masterpiece!

Of course, James Baldwin never disappoints but this narration is perfectly beautiful, expressing this book so vividly! Highly recommend it!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Decent

Interesting story, it’s a bit slow in some places but overall I thought it was a decent.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

death after love

struggled to finish it. the topic was unsettling. no thoughts on Hellas life in Spain or her life getting prepared for marriage.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love for Giovanni’s Room

One of my favourite books and this narration is exquisite. This story takes the most unknowable elements of being a human and presents it with such care and precision and love that finally, in the most devastating way, there is understanding and grace.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An average entertainment at best

I was mildly curious about this book and decided to give it a try anyways. While it’s an interesting reading, I feel like there was little content to be told, or not enough for writing a book about it.

Can’t say that it wasn’t entertaining at all, but wouldn’t make it such an important book in my opinion.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A bit older but a beautiful painful story

I found over all it was a wonderful story, though painful at times. I suggest that folks do read the book and see what it’s about. The story is still one that resonates in communities today.

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