BOOK 160: GIOVANNI'S ROOM: JAMES BALDWIN
The book focuses on the events in the life of an American man living in Paris
and his feelings and frustrations with his relationships with other men in his
life, particularly an Italian bartender named Giovanni whom he meets at a
Parisian gay bar.
Giovanni's Room is noteworthy for bringing complex representations of homosexuality and bisexuality to a reading
public with empathy and artistry, thereby fostering a broader public discourse
of issues regarding same-sex desire.
Baldwin admitted that his publisher first told him to "burn"
the book because the theme of homosexuality would alienate him from his
readership among black people. However, upon publication critics tended not to
be so harsh thanks to Baldwin's standing as a writer. Giovanni's Room was
ranked number 2 on a list of the best 100 gay and lesbian novels compiled by The
Publishing Triangle in 1999.
(Information from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni's_Room)
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