In Giovanni's Room, a novel by James Baldwin

I read Baldwin's novel, published in '56, after reading John Irving's novel, In One Person.  Irving's book is about Billy, a young boy growing up in the 60's in VT, who is grappling with his bi-sexuality.  Irving repeatedly referred to Baldwin's In Giovanni's Room in his novel which piqued my interest.  Both novels deal with the issues of young men grappling with their bi-sexuality.  Irving's hero, Billy, is given Baldwin's novel by a transexual librian to show him he is not alone in his feelings. Billy is fortunate to have family & friends he is able to turn to for support.  Baldwin's central character, David, is a young American living in Paris in the 50's. He has a father in the states he feels he can't be honest with, nor is David honest of his  homosexuality to his fiancee. Giovanni's Room is a much darker & disturbing novel of psychological pressure, torment & guilt stemming from feelings of sexual immorality.  David is consumed with anguish; he is trapped in searching for himself. Baldwin is a renowned author & Civil Rights advocate. He also wrote Go Tell it On the Mountain & Notes of a Native Son. Both are skilled and crafted writers that call into question social prejudices that are cruel and inhumane. James Baldwin's In Giovanni's Room remains a  poignant and significant work.