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cjt64's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
deeisabibliophile_'s review against another edition
5.0
Finally, a read that kept me hooked on throughout the narrative, that made me question love and social norms, that shook me away with its subtle mockery on the society and that made my heart yearning to see Milan.
Everything about this book is perfect. Those trivialities of everyday life with the splendour of sun in the darkest nights balance the taste buds of the reader who aims to devour all the peculiarities existing within the ordinary characters. I would also like to give a big thumbs up to the person who has translated this masterpiece as they remained successful in keeping the essence of the book alive.
Antonio Dorigo and Adelaide Anfossi are two ordinary characters belonging to different worlds, but Antonio’s love and obsession with Laide keeps him alive. The book takes us deep in the sinful alleys of Milan and the readers are able to see the superficial realities of the faces whom they have acknowledge for their skills at La Scala. The idea of need, interest and capitalism covers up the love of Antonio as he struggles to “purchase the soul of Laide” at every cost.
The book is a feminist ode to those women who have forsaken the idea of romance, family and happiness from their lives. For them, their body is just another tool to earn and they have to use it like that without falling for the words of men. Throughout the book, I was super angry on the selfishness and greed of Laide, but by the end of the book where Piera takes off the curtain of ignorance, reality seems harsh and only then we as readers are able to see Laide’s desires, her wishes and the emotions that she keeps on concealing from all deep in a Milan midnight. I felt that Buzzati is the Italian contemporary of Sadat Hassan Manto and Khushwant Singh who know how to evoke bitter themes within the apparently erotic work.
Everything about this book is perfect. Those trivialities of everyday life with the splendour of sun in the darkest nights balance the taste buds of the reader who aims to devour all the peculiarities existing within the ordinary characters. I would also like to give a big thumbs up to the person who has translated this masterpiece as they remained successful in keeping the essence of the book alive.
Antonio Dorigo and Adelaide Anfossi are two ordinary characters belonging to different worlds, but Antonio’s love and obsession with Laide keeps him alive. The book takes us deep in the sinful alleys of Milan and the readers are able to see the superficial realities of the faces whom they have acknowledge for their skills at La Scala. The idea of need, interest and capitalism covers up the love of Antonio as he struggles to “purchase the soul of Laide” at every cost.
The book is a feminist ode to those women who have forsaken the idea of romance, family and happiness from their lives. For them, their body is just another tool to earn and they have to use it like that without falling for the words of men. Throughout the book, I was super angry on the selfishness and greed of Laide, but by the end of the book where Piera takes off the curtain of ignorance, reality seems harsh and only then we as readers are able to see Laide’s desires, her wishes and the emotions that she keeps on concealing from all deep in a Milan midnight. I felt that Buzzati is the Italian contemporary of Sadat Hassan Manto and Khushwant Singh who know how to evoke bitter themes within the apparently erotic work.
iztrkfliers's review against another edition
4.0
A man falls into obsession with a much younger woman and steadily begins a downward slide. Similar in premise to Moravia's Boredom, albeit with a protagonist who's less in denial. Style of writing is also very different.
If they're movies, they'd make for a good double feature. Curious about which one came first, I believe they're contemporaries.
If they're movies, they'd make for a good double feature. Curious about which one came first, I believe they're contemporaries.
heavenlyspit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
teranmbaker05's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kiriamarin's review
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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