Today Chelsey and Sara are discussing Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. We both loved this evocative, ground-breaking classic and couldn’t wait to dig into its setting, themes, and stunning writing. As usual, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with Baldwin’s classic, including poignant YA novels, memoir, and essays.
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Skip to the pairings with this timestamp: [31:00]
Books mentioned:
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Chelsey
- Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian (Amazon) TW: homophobia, family trauma,
- How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones (Amazon) TW: violence, trauma
- James Baldwin: The Last Interview and Other Conversations (Amazon)
Sara
- Real Life by Brandon Taylor (Amazon) TW: eating disorder, trauma
- Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski (Amazon) TW: trauma
- Here for It, or How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas (Amazon)
Also mentioned:
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (Amazon)
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (Amazon)
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin (Amazon)
Picks of the week:
Chelsey: Paris Blues (1961)
Sara: I Am Not Your Negro
Novel Pairings 