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Ties
Ties | Domenico Starnone
28 posts | 30 read | 26 to read
"Winner of The Bridge Prize for Best Novel 2015 Ties is the story of a marriage. Like many marriages, this one has been subject to strain, to attrition, to the burden of routine. Yet it has survived intact. Or so things appear. The rupture in Vanda and Aldos marriage lies years in the past, but if one looks closely enough, the fissures and fault lines are evident. Their marriage is a cracked vase that may shatter at the slightest touch. Or perhaps it has already shattered, and nobody is willing to acknowledge the fact. Domenico Starnones thirteenth work of fiction is a powerful short novel about relationships, family, love, and the ineluctable consequences of ones actions. Known as a consummate stylist and beloved as a talented storyteller, Domenico Starnone is the winner of Italys most prestigious literary award, The Strega."
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review
MahsaNjm
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

It was adorable and based on real lives 👌🏽

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myrtillius
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Panpan

At first this feels but a poor rendering of Ferrante's excellent The Days of Abandonment but no, here we follow that one who abandons. I appreciated author's decision to turn the tide in the end and instead of recounting a memoir of an emotionally constipated whimpering elderly man, Starnone gives voice to man's children who are burdened with their parents' past and bad choices. But this definitely should've been the focus from the beginning.

Cathythoughts Oh , I really liked this one 5y
myrtillius @Cathythoughts there was something i liked too, the couple's cold dialogue that showed how toxic their relationship was but still somehow this book didn't hit me. but if you liked it i really recommend elena ferrante's days of abandonment! and atwood's edible woman has some similar themes too. 5y
2 likes2 comments
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Christinak
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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After dinner, on the terrace, we both often happened to see the wake of a falling #star at the same moment, and this delighted us. #QuotsyMay19

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ReadosaurusText
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Mehso-so

TIES is a short, well-paced, eloquent book. Structured in three parts, each from a different family member‘s perspective, it tells the story of family dynamics through the ties that bind families together and what it means when those ties are broken. Though the symbolism was too literal for me to feel this is a literary “pick”, it was at times moving and insightful.

Cathythoughts I did really like this book 6y
ReadosaurusText @Cathythoughts There was a lot to like! 6y
55 likes2 comments
blurb
ReadosaurusText
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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1. TIES by Domenico Starnone
2. 🥂
3. 🤓❤️📚

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Megabooks That is a good emoji! 🥂🍾 6y
42 likes2 comments
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ReadosaurusText
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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New book and ready for takeoff!

cathysaid 🧡 Europa 6y
Cathythoughts I loved this one 👍🏻♥️ 6y
ReadosaurusText @cathysaid Yes! The are my go-to fiction publisher! 6y
ReadosaurusText @Cathythoughts Ooh! So glad to hear it. I just got to Book 2. 6y
62 likes1 stack add4 comments
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rachaich
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

Blimey!
I've stayed up to finish it as I couldn't work out what would be the closing part. I'm shocked!
Such an unexpected way to finish but also has increased the whole awesomeness of the book.
I'd like to read more :)

17 likes1 stack add
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rachaich
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Fantastic read so far :)
I like how the author uses both sides to recount the marriage.

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BooksForEmpathy
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

Rumored to be the husband of Elena Ferrante (unless he is her after all), Domenico Starnone has delivered on all my favorite things to read in a book: structural unpredictability, family tension over time, complete with how couples knowingly + unknowingly pass their burdens and pain down to the children, an examination of what goes on in someone‘s messy, selfish mind, and transportation someplace new. This was relentless + claustrophobic 😍.

saresmoore Best endorsement for this book. 6y
RealLifeReading Sounds good! 6y
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batsy Yup, what @saresmoore said! 6y
Gissy I really enjoyed that book. It is perfect for a play, don't you think? 6y
ferskner All that AND a translation by Jhumpa Lahiri?! 6y
minkyb I need this! 6y
80 likes6 stack adds7 comments
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AlizaApp
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

Husband of Elena Ferrante writes book from the perspective of a disappointing husband. The writing was lovely but of course I still had no sympathy for Aldo. Love that Jhumpa Lahiri is a translator now!

ephemeralwaltz Okay I had seen this cover but I had no idea this was Ferrante's husband. And Lahiri translating?? HYPE HYPE HYPE ❤️ 6y
34 likes1 comment
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Cathythoughts
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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#MarchIntoOz #fallatyourfeet In this short novel , the parents separate & then re unite- we hear from them. And also we hear from their 2 children , how the their parents breakup affected them. Short and brilliant ... set in Rome , as far as I remember. ( I think there was talk that this author is married to Elena Ferrante IRL in real life 😉- 🤷🏻‍♀️

Cinfhen I love this cover 😍 7y
Cathythoughts @Cinfhen it‘s a good cover 👍🏻. It saved the day for me with this prompt 😬 7y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Abailliekaras
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

The story of a husband and wife who are tied together despite his infidelity. (Interesting as my last read Ghachur Ghochur was also about the entanglements of family). Vanda vents her anger with wonderful southern Italian drama; the husband is weak & self-centred; the children the sinister heart of the novel. Realistic & claustrophobic, it reminded me of Elena Ferrante‘s Days of Abandonment. He makes memorable scenes out of small moments.

GatheringBooks i love novels published by europa editions. :) 7y
Abailliekaras @GatheringBooks me too - I need to find some more of them! 7y
saresmoore This is supposedly written in answer to Days of Abandonment—my local bookseller convinced me to buy them as a pair! Haven‘t read either, yet, but your review makes me want to. 😊 7y
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Abailliekaras @saresmoore that‘s so interesting! They‘d be good to read as a pair. Both a little claustrophobic though... 7y
saresmoore So maybe as a pair, but with lots of wine & rejuvenating chocolate? 7y
Abailliekaras @saresmoore yes! Definitely. 7y
51 likes6 comments
blurb
Abailliekaras
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Another book about the entanglements of family ties. #bedtimereading 😴

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Sha0102
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

Nice book about relationships, acid narrative and abrupt end. Liked it 🌝 Laços/ Domenico Starnone #book #bookaholic #booklovers #ler #leitura #leitora #reading #instabook #instaread #instabooks #bookstagram #igread #litsy #booklover #Sha2018

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Simona
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

The story about unfaithfulness in the marriage is divided into three parts with three different narrators and with a focus on the consequences. An interesting, original way of telling a story that has been told many, many times. The strong side of this book is certainly the structure and atmosphere, which is stifling for everyone involved. Otherwise, I‘m not over the moon, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me, but apparently it‘s a must read for all Ferrante fans 👇

Simona .... as this book is supposed to be the answer to the Days of Abandonment. 7y
ephemeralwaltz Oh! Jhumpa Lahiri ❤ I should read this. Looks interesting - and the cover is beautiful! 7y
Cinfhen I love the cover too @ephemeralwaltz 😍 7y
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Simona @ephemeralwaltz @Cinfhen It‘s a nice cover and perfectly sums up the content. 7y
Abailliekaras This is on my shelf! Can‘t wait. 📚 7y
Abailliekaras @simona yes, I thought it was incredibly strong, but found it nightmarish (as I think was intended)! 7y
Gissy I really enjoyed this book. I think it will be a good play. So interesting how a situation can be perceived so different depending on the person. It was so psychological👌🏼 7y
Simona @Gissy Stories which have different POV on the one situation - I like the most. 7y
68 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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GuiltyFeat
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

Positively Lahirian. This was a great read and an interesting follow up to Jhumpa Lahiri's own book about learning Italian. She introduces her own translation here and explains why the book attracted her. There are certainly similarities of tone. This was a layered novella that used different points of view to tell a connected story of brokenness and togetherness. It's not a tale about happy people, but did offer some pleasure to the reader.

emtobiasz Oh, what a striking cover! 7y
35 likes1 comment
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thereadingowlvina
Lacci | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick
blurb
RidgewayGirl
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Just started this book, a novel about a marriage that was translated from the Italian by Jhumpa Lahiri.

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AceOnRoam
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

Ties that bind, hold, unite, trap, confine. They are in a relationship. It's complicated.

#ReadingOnRoam

Picture from http://washington.carpediem.cd/events/2914453-domenico-starnone-jhumpa-lahiri-tr...

33 likes1 stack add
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ReadingEnvy
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

I think the is almost to so-so for me. Pros- stories about marriage and infidelity and people making it long term are a favorite of mine, and I liked the honesty of the old couple still imperfectly together. Cons- the emphasis is somehow on the wrong thing but I can't explain that feeling. And while Jhumpa Lahiri did a great job translating it almost felt less Italian than I expected, if that is possible.

Cathythoughts I loved this book. I loved the couple / the metaphorical events. For me , a perfect short book 📚 I only speak English, so I never take much notice of translations. It felt Italian to me. (edited) 7y
8leagueboot Have you read Lahiri's book on her love of Italian? If you are interested in translation, it is so worth reading. 7y
ReadingEnvy @8leagueboot I know of it but haven't read it. It's amazing that she wrote it in Italian! 7y
55 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Gissy
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

I did it! 👍 only one book in my first #24in48 Litsy readathon, I thought it would be impossible since I couldn't read yesterday and today I only had few hours. A conflictive marriage described from three different perspective: Vanda who is the mother-wife; Aldo who is the husband-father-lover; and Anna, the daughter. It's about relations, secrets, infidelity, guilty, revenge, manipulation. Well written. 3.7⭐️

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Gissy
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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#24in48 #readthon I will try to read this one only in this activity because unfortunately I don't have too much time to read this weekend. It seems an interesting book, it is short and it will be a book less in my enormous but beautiful tbr list ☺️I will participate in another BookTube-a-thon which starts next Monday. A fun way to read more books in a short period of time. The winner price will be time well spent!

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chapter_fifty2017
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

I think this book has many layers about what we want how we want others to see us , how we lie to ourselves , how to live with what we do to others.
What we do while young we cannot undo. Its a small book that packs in a lifetime of events for a family of four but dont forget the cat its name is the subtext to this family drama. Intrigued?? You wont regret picking up this well paced , clever and excellently translated novel.

Cathythoughts Yes I liked this one. Something very real about it all. There was talk that he is Elena Ferrante's husband 7y
chapter_fifty2017 That wouldnt surprise me as there is so much cloak and dagger around her whole identity with her books now even more innuendo with hubbie 😞 7y
Cathythoughts I loved Ferrante's Neoplolitan series. Brilliant writing , & one can only imagine how much was lost in translation. An incredible insight into life in Naples & relationships. 7y
chapter_fifty2017 Terrible confession hav yet to read the Neapolitan series but i have read a few of her stand alones she is brilliant gets right under your skin , recently i nabbed a great second hand edition "my brilliant friend " so must read my sisters loved it too they keep telling me to read it !!? Cant wait to see wat you think of fever dream!? 7y
15 likes4 comments
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chavalah
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

I came to this book in a weird way--translator Jhumpa Lahiri is one of my fave authors. But like she promised in her intro, she was essentially invisible here. Starnone writes a sparse, interior novel about fissures in an Italian marriage, and characters struggling with being "tied down." The present day drama deals with a robbery that we can see from different angles. Reminds me of Elena Ferrante's THE DAYS OF ABANDONMENT, but not so developed.

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BestOfFates
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Not sure how I'm feeling about this book but am struck by lots of the phrasing.

Cathythoughts Not sure how I feel about it either. It seemed unfinished & yet I did finish it @ still think it over 8y
16 likes1 comment
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macturija
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Pickpick

End of the week, end of the book. I wanted more but I guess that's how Mr. Starnone wanted it.

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BestOfFates
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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#firstlines 📚💕

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Lupita.Reads
Ties | Domenico Starnone
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Amazing event at #PoliticsandProse this Sunday. Finally got to see my literary #WCW (always) in person and hear more about #Ties, which I cannot wait to read!

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