Tom Rachman strikes again. I loved this just as much as The Imperfectionists. Rachman is just so damn good at writing completely believable charactersTom Rachman strikes again. I loved this just as much as The Imperfectionists. Rachman is just so damn good at writing completely believable characters, those I love and those I hate. I listened to this read by Sam Alexander (who read it exceptionally well), and I loved it so much I'm going to have to buy the physical book. It is the life of Charles (Pinch) Bavinsky, and we first meet him when he is five in his father's painting studio in Rome in 1960. Bear Bavinsky is a famous, philandering, egotistical, larger-than-life painter and Pinch is both terrified of him and in awe to him, and really remains so for the whole of his life. And yet although everyone crumples in the path of Bear - his several wives, his many children and so on - Pinch has the last laugh, although it's still not funny. For the most part Pinch's life is a sad one (the cover might say this book has some dark humour, but I didn't find it), solitary, unfulfilled, dissatisfied, but so real. I wanted to shake him. I loved him. ...more
I can't remember where I came across a mention of The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - quite possibly on some 'best of' list. But wherever it was it I can't remember where I came across a mention of The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - quite possibly on some 'best of' list. But wherever it was it deserves to be there - this was wonderful and is going on my definite possibles for my books of the year. It was published in 2010, so maybe you read it years ago - if so, why didn't you tell me about it! It's a short story collection written as a novel, with eleven 'stories' each one focusing on a character working for (or associated with) an English language paper set up in Rome in the 1950s. But it's now the 2000's and the paper is floundering, as are all the people we meet. Lloyd is the Paris correspondent in desperate need of a story; Kathleen, the editor is contemplating an affair; Abby, the financial officer mixes work and pleasure. A couple of the character studies were maybe weaker than the others, but I still loved this for the people, the writing, and for contemplating the end (probably) of print journalism. Highly recommended. ...more
Set in Syracuse, Sicily, during the Peloponnesian War (412 BC) Lennon's debut is dark and funny. A load of Athenians have been defeated and imprisonedSet in Syracuse, Sicily, during the Peloponnesian War (412 BC) Lennon's debut is dark and funny. A load of Athenians have been defeated and imprisoned in an abandoned quarry just outside the city when the narrator, Lampo and his friend Galon decide to use the prisoners to stage a play. It's mad, and horrific, and hilarious. But it's Lampo's voice that comes shining off the page to make it feel utterly real and in an odd way, contemporary. Thanks to Penguin Fig Tree for the proof. ...more
A boy of almost eighteen does some terrible things which affect all of his family and his neighbours. We see the repercussions in sections told from tA boy of almost eighteen does some terrible things which affect all of his family and his neighbours. We see the repercussions in sections told from the points of view of his mother, father, sisters, a neighbour's daughter and himself. This is an incredibly powerful and intense read that had me hooked from the very beginning. Varvello's writing is beautiful and the translation by Alex Valente, excellent. Definitely a contender for my books of the year; I don't understand why this isn't better known. Thank you to the publisher for my copy....more
Another really enjoyable Maggie O'Farrell novel, due to be published in September 2022. It starts with a historical note about fifteen-year-old LucrezAnother really enjoyable Maggie O'Farrell novel, due to be published in September 2022. It starts with a historical note about fifteen-year-old Lucrezia di Cosimo de'Medici who married the Duke of Ferrara and died a year later. There was a rumour that she'd been murdered by her husband. Fascinating, yes? This is her fictionalised story, and she's such a great character - strong-willed and artistic despite being brought up to be married off to whomever it best suited her father. Even though from the historical note you 'know' her fate, there was great tension towards the end around what would actually happen to her. Plus, the sense of place of all the great Italian palaces (some of which I know but only from the outside) really put me there at that time. ...more
This book crept up on me until I absolutely loved it. An old hermit lives in a remote shack in the Italian Alps. He forgets things - has he already waThis book crept up on me until I absolutely loved it. An old hermit lives in a remote shack in the Italian Alps. He forgets things - has he already walked down the mountain to the shop or not? He meets a dog, and the dog begins to speak. It's not whimsical, but this dog is funny; this dog made me laugh out loud. They're snowed in over winter and when finally they can go outside again they see a human foot sticking up out of the snow. Translated from the Italian by J Ockenden....more
I read this when this version was published in 1988, when I was an art student and decided rather than be able to eat I would buy a subscription to a I read this when this version was published in 1988, when I was an art student and decided rather than be able to eat I would buy a subscription to a book club. A collection of E.M. Forster's novels arrived in the post, and I was so excited. Sweet and witty (and surprisingly feminist), I really enjoyed this. The film was released in 1985 and although I might not have seen it since, as I read, the images in my head were of those actors. For those who don't know it is a fairly simple story about Lucy, a young woman in the 1890s who is kissed by George when they are both staying in a pensione in Florence. When he turns up in her village in England, of course her engagement to Mr Vyse is put at risk. ...more
Beautiful Animals really grew on me. I wasn't sure at first: a couple of rich girls, one English, the other American meet on Hydra and become friends.Beautiful Animals really grew on me. I wasn't sure at first: a couple of rich girls, one English, the other American meet on Hydra and become friends. When out walking, they come across a migrant, whom they suppose has come from Turkey and they decide to secretly help him. So far, so okay, but then things get weird. The English girl cooks up a plan that goes badly wrong and the book takes on a very different shape with a private detective and a chase through Italy. Although events turn dramatic Osborne keeps the pace steady, which I really liked, and doesn't stop his descriptions of landscape and sea which I also really enjoyed. I was worried that he wouldn't be able to resist ramping up the ending, but no, that was beautifully down-played too. (Some of the writing especially towards the beginning felt a little overwrought, but this is a minor point.)...more
Two novellas in one volume. Reading Turgenev I'd give 4 stars to: In a small town in Ireland in the 1950s Mary Louise marries a much older man, and moTwo novellas in one volume. Reading Turgenev I'd give 4 stars to: In a small town in Ireland in the 1950s Mary Louise marries a much older man, and moves into his house above his drapers shop where his two sisters also live. She becomes desperately unhappy with her choice and realises she's in love with someone else. Interspersed with these chapters we meet Mary Louise being released back into the community - back to her husband's house in fact - after spending thirty years in a mental institution. There are moments of utter heartbreak, but I wasn't always too sure about the structure - did it give too much away? My House in Umbria: 5 stars. From the first person view point of an unreliable narrator - Emily Delahunty relates the story of one summer when she was running a kind of hotel in Umbria, but instead of ordinary guests arriving, the place is inhabited by the survivors (including her) of a bomb blast on a train they were travelling on. Emily is such an odd and wonderful character as she slowly becomes reliant on dreams and imaginings....more
This was hard going, especially the middle section, which was the same thing round and round. It's a story of social manners and intrigue amongst uppeThis was hard going, especially the middle section, which was the same thing round and round. It's a story of social manners and intrigue amongst upper class (and middle) holiday makers in a hotel on lake Como at the beginning of the twentieth century. It revolves around Madame Solario who we really never get to know, but we hear (at length) about the men who fall in love with her. I've read a few other Persephone books which I've loved. I wouldn't recommend this one. ...more
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