Ragazzi di Vita – Pier Paolo Pasolini

No need to repeat how much of a genius Pasolini was, in every possible field. The book is simultaneously heart-warming and heart-breaking in its simplicity, like many of the author’s movies.

I’m not quite sure whether the protagonist of the novel is Riccetto or Rome itself. The book is a great display of love for the city and for its borgatari, the people of the popular neighbourhoods of the Italian capital (this is similar in many ways to how I felt in many passages of Elsa Morante’s La Storia). Reading about the painful growing-up process of a boy is also rather strange in a book that is definitely not aimed at young adults.

Having watched countless Pasolini movies, I can just picture Riccetto played by Ninetto Davoli, one of Pasolini’s favourite actors, and the death of Marcello felt so similar to that of Ettore in the seminal Mamma Roma.

1984 – George Orwell

The mother of all dystopian novels. The ministries, doublethink, revolution, the party, Big Brother, spies, mice, interrogations, Victory Gin – it’s all so terrifying. And yet, to me, it’s all a bit much (probably that's because, for my Ph.D., I spent 3 years looking at the nature of totalitariansim). I wonder whether Orwell actually believed all this (or part of it) would have happened.

I am glad I’ve read this book, but I can’t say that I liked it and I actually don’t have any particularly insightful comment to add other than: it’s all just a bit too much. 

The 25th Hour – David Benioff

I have been in love with New York ever since visiting it for the first time with my parents, a 10-year old who spoke no English whatsoever (except for talking about tables next to windows etc.). I think this book is the greatest testament of love to the city in recent literature. Or maybe ever.

Monty is a drug dealer who doesn’t really look or act like one in his last day of freedom before the start of his seven-year sentence. He is afraid: of losing his girlfriend (actually, he takes the loss for granted), of actually ending the life of the snitch who led to his arrest, of facing all sorts of abuse from inmates because of his poster-boy face. All fears that are extremely justified, by the way.

This is a great book, I just wonder what made Benioff’s career go from this masterpiece to Game of Thrones (which I suspect might have given him a lot more money...)

Disgrace – J.M. Coetzzee

I somehow have the feeling that this book is about actual life in South Africa much more than any of the works by Nadine Gordimer.

No matter how far he has fallen, David always seems to find a way to reach new lows. Despite the fact that so many of his actions are condemnable, the reader (or at least, in my case, the white reader with a sheltered life) wants his misery to end well before the invasion of Lucy’s farm. And the depiction of Lucy’s apathy after the robbery and rape is absolutely paralyzing. I am not quite sure whether things will improve for David after the end of the book, I’m afraid not – and surely things are going to spiral downwards for Lucy.

Notwithstanding its uncontainable grimness and harshness, or possibly because of that, this is one of the best novels I’ve ever read.

Novecento – Alessandro Baricco

Either at some point in his career Baricco could really write, or maybe this book was actually written by his neighbour, his brother-in-law, or a random dude he bumped into one day.

Novecento is a delightful theatrical monologue. The implausible story of its main character is an endearing depiction of everyone’s desire for security and the fear of the unknown (ironic for a protagonist who has spent his entire life at sea). The piano duel with Jelly Roll Morton is a work of art, as is the idea of naming the main character Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon Novecento. Unlike the book, Tornatore’s movie – despite remaining very faithful to Baricco’s work – is just a bit too much (not the first time for the director, in my opinion).

It’s just a big shame that something so well-written wasn’t followed by anything of a remotely similar calibre.