Commentary/review

Published in 2012, print and audio.

The book is impossible to put down, only to provide a melodramatic commentary on life in general at the end and leave the reader with answers for all life’s questions. Rather a book for young adults for that reason. Still, written from many perspectives, referencing several art forms and contexts, interestingly woven. My strongest reactions to the story were laughings fits, appreciating the intended situational humor.

I can see why the book was successful. The Author is serious about his work and delivers consistently good writing. Yet the entire piece looks like a huge necklace made of colorful, plastic beads. Some women would wear it once, possibly at a cocktail or on stage, many would avoid.

A book about love, growing up, fatherhood, addiction, the Hollywood movie industry across several decades, some parts of Italy. Edoardo Ballerini makes it a fantastic production, almost like watching an actual movie. I have no intention of reading it again, though.

The cover is plain wrong – Porto Vergogna had a maximum of a dozen houses. Including any other Italian graphic reference on the cover would make no sense. The colors are too broad in spectrum, the entire piece looks like a mock poster for a travel agency in a Barbie doll house. A butchered graphic job.

Cover Photo by Bryan Colosky on Unsplash