 | Title: The portrait of a lady
Author: Henry James
First publication: 1880
Comments: I slowly read this book. Initially I was quite surprised because nothing really seemed to happen. Then suddenly everything fall in place. Suddenly everything single word has so much meaning. Characters so vivid, so realistic, so complex. The psychological motivations of each act are so adroitly orchestrated. I am in awe.
Started: Nov 2007 Finished: Feb 16th 2008, paloalto (CA) |
 | Title: The Atrocity Archives
Author: Charles Stross
First publication: 2001
Comments: The idea is quite interesting, but the execution of the first story (the atrocity archives) is not great. It is confusing and it does not flow well at times. On the contrary Concrete Jungle is great. The interesting ideas are finally used in a adroitly written geeky and fast paced story. Lovecraft meet Dilbert....
Started: February 2008 Finished: March the 3rd 2008 |
 | Title: Il coperchio del mare (Umi no futa)
Author: Banana Yoshimoto
First publication: 2006
Comments: Un'altro piccolo capolavoro della Yoshimoto, una riflessione sul significato della nostra vita ed esistenza. A detta di Mari, siam candele nell'oscurita', presto il vento ci spegnera' e fara' sparire ogni nostra traccia. Ma Hajime le insegna che la vita va vissuta, i ricordi son fiori da raccogliere lungo la via, creando un profumato bouquet da portare con noi fino alla morte. Insegna a Mari che il vero orrore della vita e' l'avidita', la continua corsa alla richezza, che fa perder la capacita' di apprezzare le piccole cose e i nostri piccoli traguardi. Se tutti condividessero questa realta' "l'oscurita' sarebbe spezzata per sempre da una grande luce, generata dalla luce di tutte le stelle unite, cosi' luminosa da essere visibile anche nell'ora piu' scura.
Started: March 2008 Finished: March the 7th 2008 |
 | Title: The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
First publication: 1995
Comments: Quite an interesting accomplishment. An interesting blend of religion and philosophy. I am looking forward reading the next volumes of the series.
Started: March 2008 Finished: March 2008 |
 | Title: Tales of the city
Author: Armistead Maupin
First publication: 1976
Comments: A very accurate portrait of San Francisco in the 70s, when the heat of the summer of love has cool down and before the AIDS days. Each chapter appears at first as a simple funny episode. In reality is a well thought paint stroke. And stroke after stroke, an incredibly powerful and accurate portrait emerge. The books was written before I was born, but I can still see and feel that San Francisco in the city I live in. The book made me understand it a little bit more, even if it is just a work of fiction. I am looking forward reading More tales of the city...
Started: March 31st 2008 Finished: April the 5th 2008 |
 | Title: The subtle knife
Author: Philip Pullman
First publication: 1997
Comments: WOW, this was quite a surprise! I liked the first book, but this is quite a different story. Some themes just barely hinted in the previous book are now developed and extended. While the first volume was just an interesting fantasy tale, the second volume is a fantasy modern re-edition of the Romantic rebellion against the authority and traditions in the name of freedom and free will. A modern Paradise Lost. The pace is fast, it is really hard to put this book down (I finished it in 3 days even if I was working on my dissertation... as a result I practically haven't slept!), entertainingly and... it goes quite deeper than expected! Strongly recommended!
Started: April 2008 Finished: April 9th 2008 |
 | Title: Il delirio di onnipotenza
Author: Cristiano Capuzzo
First publication: 2008
Comments: Una piacevole sorpresa, un sorprendente thriller, capace di descrivere i desideri piu' turpi e violenti di un serial killer, e la gioia di vivere e la capacita' di sorridere di fronte alle avversita'. Una lettura consigliatissima.
Started: April 2008 Finished: May 6th 2008 |
 | Title: The Amber Spyglass
Author: Philip Pullman
First publication: 2000
Comments: A great ending for this masterpiece, able to bridge fantasy and philosophy. Undoubtedly one of the best book of the century. As The Hours find its root in Mrs Dalloway and then move further, so does this trilogy find its root in Milton's Paradise Lost, as the starting point of a deep and enlightening reflection of human existence.
Started: May 2008 Finished: July 4th 2008, Paloalto |
 | Title: Salome, Lady Windermere's fun, The importance of being Earnest
Author: Oscar Wilde
First publication: 1891-1895
Comments: I cannot avoid thinking how many more masterpieces Wilde would have produced if he was not being thrown in a jail because of homophobic laws. He was a genius, able to show the people of his time how hypocritical they were, with wit and sensibility. Just amazing.
Started: July 2008 Finished: August 2008 |
 | Title: Ricordi di un vicolo cieco
Author: Banana Yoshimoto
First publication: 2003
Comments: Cinque racconti, cinque diverse persone che si ritrovano ad affrontare situazioni difficili, a lottare per dare un significato alla vita e ritrovare la felicita'.
Started: September 2008 Finished: September 2008 |
 | Title: One across, two down
Author: Ruth Rendell
First publication: 1971
Comments: An interesting analysis of the transformation of a loser into a killer, tempered with clever witticisms.
Started: September 2008 Finished: October 9th 2008, Palo Alto |
 | Title: More tales of the city
Author: Armistead Maupin
First publication: 1980
Comments: A very comfortable book. The characters feels part of the family, after the first book and the TV series, similar to what happened to me when I watched the Sex and the city movie. But beside the funny jokes and the familiar character, this work of fiction turns into a very accurate documentary of San Francisco and America in the late 70s. Strongly recommended.
Started: Octorber 2008 Finished: October 18th 2008, San Francisco |
 | Title: Unaccustomed Earth
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
First publication: 2008
Comments: Jhumpa Lahiri always is at her best with short stories. She manage to capture and describe with simple and delicate strokes, the feeling and the tragedies of real people. While all the short stories are interesting, the last three really stand out. These interwined stories shows reality how it is perceived through the eyes of the characters (very Pirandello's). What I particularly loved is the description of the inability of some of the characters of accepting their feelings, the struggle between what is considered right and true happiness, between the American and the Indian soul of the characters. Room with a view with a strong ABCD flavor. Must read.
Started: October 2008 Finished: December 28th 2008, flying between Denver and San Francisco |
