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Published in English under the title Neapolitan Chronicles&translated by Goldstein&McPhee, Ortese is one of the best post Ww2 Italian&perhaps most overlooked authors.The book consists of 5 chapters (3 fiction,2 journalistic accounts) that present a Naples shattered by war&corruption. Ortese‘s style is a blend of realist narrative&”almost surreal tone”.Ortese talks about her book having the effect of disorientation.

https://youtu.be/uIkksp8k1U0?si=daoJGCgWIa3koFvA

2/5 ⭐
Meh. Più un insieme di ricordi e pensieri messi insieme un po' a caso che altro. L'unico personaggio che mi è stato simpatico è Eugenio, sembra che mi piaccia solo come Giordano scrive gli adolescenti ("La solitudine dei numeri primi" è uno dei miei libri preferiti e "Divorare il cielo" mi è piaciuto molto, mentre gli altri suoi libri mi hanno delusa).

“Di quante cose sostanziali, minutissime, inimmaginabili ha bisogno la nostra invenzione per ridiventare quella stessa realtà da cui fu tratta, di quante fila che la riallaccino nel complicatissimo intrico della vita, fila che noi abbiamo recise per farla diventare una cosa a sé”

Soft pick. Montale was a poet who also wrote short prose pieces for various newspapers just before and after WWII, most of them lightly fictionalized anecdotes from his own life. This book is a compendium of those newspaper columns, which collectively form a memoir of sorts. I liked the non-linear, piecemeal structure of this, as it seems to mimic what it's like getting to know another person in real life, a series of tiny glimpses that 👇

Woke up at 2:30 because of a pesky mosquito. Now consoling myself with pancakes for breakfast and the ever-dependable Italo Calvino. Nore sure how I'm going to get through a whole day's work. I wished I didn't need sleep, just like the Nonexistent, robotic, Knight...

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Maybe you'll recall seeing the Amico delle famiglie at my house.

5⭐️ Wow wow!!! I love this novel so much!!! It‘s crazy family saga and all the characters are just insane! I was impressed that Morante could keep the momentum until the end. She‘s a genius 🤩 Grab this as your next read. The chonkiness doesn‘t matter you‘d actually wish for more. This is my first Morante and as usual, thanks NYRB for publishing this gem.

If you need a chunkster now, I recommend this book 😍 I‘m about 30% in and the experience is like watching Taiwanese TV drama but with a lot of hand gestures 🤌🏻 I‘m loving this!!