book data
129 ratings,
3.82
average rating, 10 reviews
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published
1991
by Einaudi
(first published 1978)
details
Paperback
literary awards
isbn
8806126946
(isbn13: 9788806126940)
description
In this exuberant novel, one of Italy's greatest living writers celebrates the art of storytelling and the spirit of work through weaving the mesmeriz…more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 202)
All ratings
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5 stars (39)
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4 stars (43)
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3 stars (35)
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2 stars (9)
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1 star (3)
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avg 3.82
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
chemists, people who like anything that is even a little bit sci-fi
Levi, even in translation, seems to have the whole prose style thing totally down. This book is kind of weird in that the characters interact kind of strangely and there isn't much of a single, unified plot, but when you write like this and have these kinds of thoughts, you don't need one. Levi has evolved beyond plot. It seems to me to attempt to illuminate the difficulties inherent in explaining esoteric or obscure ideas to "laymen". This is largely illustrated by people of diffe...more
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Read in January, 2003
I learned that the human spirit is indomitable even in the face of absurd circumstances that you might find your self in.
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Read in October, 2008
Primo Levi must've been a great person to share a meal with. He was an engineer, and so heard and had access to great stories about large scale international construction projects. He recounts them from a riggers perspective in the The Wrench with humor and honesty, both the human and the inhuman, and he gets it right.
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Read in September, 2007
Primo Levi is a fantastic story teller. The main character here reminds me a lot of the old Italian men I know, who tell all these grand stories to try to prove how wonderful they are. It's sort of sad, really. But he's such a great storyteller!
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Read in January, 2003
I don't remember much more than a gentleman named Libertini, a train ride, discussion of construction and chemistry. I do remember enjoying it.
Another reviewer wrote: "Makes me want a job where I work with my hands." I remember this as well.
Another reviewer wrote: "Makes me want a job where I work with my hands." I remember this as well.
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Read in November, 2007
recommended to Kathy by:
Bought with graduation gift certificate from Irit and Marco
I like his The Periodic Table the best. This one was good in that special Primo Levi way, slow and meditative, but not my favorite.
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Read in August, 2008
A charming character study, Faussone is a charming and wholly realized personality.
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Read in April, 2008
A simple, beautiful book. Makes me want a job where I work with my hands.
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currently-reading (on 7 people's shelves)
fiction (on 6 people's shelves)
italian (on 2 people's shelves)
italian-literature (on 2 people's shelves)
short-stories (on 1 person's shelf)
in-translation (on 1 person's shelf)
short-fiction (on 1 person's shelf)
fiction-in-translation (on 1 person's shelf)
wish-list (on 1 person's shelf)
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