Tag: book (page 2 of 2)

July mini book review

Amara Lakhous’s Divorzio all’islamica a viale Marconi (Edizioni e/o, 2010), written in a deceptively light style, is a story that takes place among immigrants, mostly Muslim, in Rome.  The plot unfolds from two points of view, that of Christian, a Sicilian who speaks perfect Tunisian Arabic, and Sofia, an Egyptian who has emigrated to Italy to join her husband.  Christian is recruited by the secret services to infiltrate a group of apparent terrorists and his life and Sofia’s intersect.  The details of the lives of immigrants in Rome are fascinating and Sofia’s character is especially interesting.  The plot moves along well until – spoiler alert – the end, which is incredibly unsatisfying.  Otherwise, it’s a good read and provides insight into a different slice of contemporary Italian life.

August mini book review

Andrea Camilleri’s Il gioco degli specchi (2011) is the eighteenth in the commissario Montalbano series.  This book is more gripping than some of the other recent ones have been.  It is more sophisticated and the old humor and irony are back.  While not leaving out the more horrific and gruesome aspects of today’s world, the story includes pearls of wisdom and great comedy scenes. There is also more dialect – but after 18 books it’s fun and no longer a challenge for non-Sicilian readers.  At this point the characters could seem repetitive but instead they feel like part of the family.  Best of all, the antipatica Livia’s presence is limited to a few phone calls.  In all, a pleasurable read.

July mini book review

Niccolo’ Ammaniti tells a coming of age story in Io e te (2010).  Lorenzo, a 14-year old misfit with no friends, fools his parents into thinking he’s on a ski-trip while in reality he’s moved into a basement storage area for a week – his idea of paradise.  His little-known half sister suddenly shows up, throwing his plans for a loop and forcing him to do some growing up.  The story is spare and direct and the ending, though unsurprising, is tough and realistic.

June mini book review

Lia Levi’s L’Albergo della magnolia (2001) takes place in the 1930s in Rome and tells of the love story of Dino and Sonia.  Dino is Jewish and not strongly political and Sonia is from a Catholic and fascist family.  Told from Dino’s point of view, the reader follows along as events bring him to humiliating and painful compromises.  The story is told in a straightforward manner and presents a compelling portrait of bourgeois life in pre-war Italy.

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