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213th out of 1,712 books
—
1,526 voters
The Solitude of Prime Numbers
A bestselling international literary sensation about whether a "prime number" can ever truly connect with someone else
A prime number can only be divided by itself or by one—it never truly fits with another. Alice and Mattia, both "primes," are misfits who seem destined to be alone. Haunted by childhood tragedies that mark their lives, they cannot reach out to anyone els...more
A prime number can only be divided by itself or by one—it never truly fits with another. Alice and Mattia, both "primes," are misfits who seem destined to be alone. Haunted by childhood tragedies that mark their lives, they cannot reach out to anyone els...more
Hardcover, 271 pages
Published
March 18th 2010
by Pamela Dorman Books
(first published July 1st 2008)
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This book is going to be big. But, people still don't know that, people still haven't heard about Paolo Giordano and his brilliant, brilliant work called, 'The solitude of prime numbers'', which stands on the same magnificent title throne with Kundera’s, ''Unbearable lightness of being''. And The solitude of prime numbers, easy to say, broke my heart.
Primary numbers are natural numbers that are divided only with number 1 and itself. In this book, in a human form of numbers, Alice and Mattia are...more
Primary numbers are natural numbers that are divided only with number 1 and itself. In this book, in a human form of numbers, Alice and Mattia are...more
Aug 21, 2012
Kelanth, numquam risit ubi dracones vivunt
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
narrativa
Il libro si presenta compatto, di una lunghezza di circa 30 cm e con un'altezza di circa 5 cm. (ci si scusa per l'approsimazione); presenta una sovracoperta di carta plastificata raffigurante un'immagine di donna all'interno di un fitto boscame. Se andiamo a togliere la copertina possimano notare che la parte sottostante è rigida e verde con stampigliato a lato il titolo del libro.
Possiamo altresì notare che le pagine sono di carta e numerate, l'inchiostro di stampa è nero, se andiamo a consider...more
Possiamo altresì notare che le pagine sono di carta e numerate, l'inchiostro di stampa è nero, se andiamo a consider...more
While all fiction emanates from the imagination it is rare that a work successfully mimics the language of dreams. The Solitude of Prime Numbers comes as close to doing so as any novel I have read in recent memory. The incidents of the characters' lives are blended together by the young author, Paolo Giordano, in a way that suggests their lives exist, fictionally, on the edge of reality. The main characters, Alice and Mattia, are in a state of continual wonder both of the world that surrounds th...more
Hay libros que estimulan la imaginación, libros que se basan en una trama apasionante, llena de viajes a lugares exóticos o de historias fabulosas, que te permiten pasarlo bien durante un rato, que te ayudan a evadirte del mundo mientras estás imbuido en ellos. Y después están los libros de personajes como es el caso de Paolo Giordano y 'La soledad de los números primos'. Como bien reza la contraportada, "Todo el mundo reconocerá algo de sí mismo en el libro de Giordano, pues el verdadero protag...more
In 2008, La solitudine dei numeri primi or The Solitude of Prime Numbers won the Premio Strega, Italy's most prestigious literary award. Written by physicist Paolo Giordano, then 26, The Solitude of Prime Numbers was received enthusiastically in Italy and, later, translated into many other languages. It also became the basis for a movie with the same title released in Italy last year.
Giordano writes with composure and grace that belie his age, effectively capturing his characters' pathos, their...more
Giordano writes with composure and grace that belie his age, effectively capturing his characters' pathos, their...more
His number: 2760889966649
Her number: 2760889966651
Apparently, one is not the most loneliest number in the world.
From the moment I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down; it was completely engrossing. I can't really begin to think of an accurate way to describe the depth of solitude these two people seemingly want to seek out in their lives because it comforts them. All I know is that I found myself relating on so many levels: in making stupid decisions, in feeling socially awkward, i...more
Her number: 2760889966651
Apparently, one is not the most loneliest number in the world.
From the moment I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down; it was completely engrossing. I can't really begin to think of an accurate way to describe the depth of solitude these two people seemingly want to seek out in their lives because it comforts them. All I know is that I found myself relating on so many levels: in making stupid decisions, in feeling socially awkward, i...more
This was a an oddly stark book, melancholy in tone, but heartbreakingly beautiful. I often read to escape, to feel lighter, but The Solitude of Prime Numbers added weight to my heart, almost unbearably. Reading the stories of Alice and Mattia, the two damaged souls at the heart of this book, was a pleasure, but definitely not an escape. The translation from Italian is really flawless, I did not see one sentence that seemed awkward. I read The Solitude of Prime Numbers last night, but I have a fe...more
Bella e dolente storia; personaggi che catturano. Scrittura sicura e scorrevole, anche se forse poco partecipata. Un bel libro, anche se continuo a chiedermi...come ha fatto un esordiente a pubblicare con Mondadori??? E come mai tutto questo clamore, questa attenzione e questa "spinta" da parte della casa editrice? Ho letto bei libri appena usciti che non hanno avuto altrettanta fortuna mediatica...:)Uno su tutti il libro di De Silva...
1 stellina e mezzo.
Dov'è il capolavoro della letteratura italiana di cui si vociferava? Io non l'ho trovato di certo in questo libro.
Dov'è il capolavoro della letteratura italiana di cui si vociferava? Io non l'ho trovato di certo in questo libro.
Jan 24, 2013
arcobaleno
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
letteraturaitaliana
Incredibile
Me l'hanno prestato, senza che lo chiedessi, anche se prevedevo che, prima o poi, ci sarei cascata, con un titolo così... accattivante!
Il protagonista, Mattia, è un matematico, ma pensa con la testa di un fisico, quella di Giordano.
Alla fine però la mentalità scientifica si risolve in un atteggiamento maniacale e si riduce a distorsioni mentali.
La scrittura è scorrevole, sì.
La lettura è veloce. Troppo per i temi narrati.
I problemi sono seri, le malattie vere, di cui però sembra ne...more
Me l'hanno prestato, senza che lo chiedessi, anche se prevedevo che, prima o poi, ci sarei cascata, con un titolo così... accattivante!
Il protagonista, Mattia, è un matematico, ma pensa con la testa di un fisico, quella di Giordano.
Alla fine però la mentalità scientifica si risolve in un atteggiamento maniacale e si riduce a distorsioni mentali.
La scrittura è scorrevole, sì.
La lettura è veloce. Troppo per i temi narrati.
I problemi sono seri, le malattie vere, di cui però sembra ne...more
I have read other reviews and many people enjoyed the first half best, as did I. I believe the reason being that our youth is bittersweet, even the horrors we suffer from it. The early days for a detached Mattia are spoiled by a tragedy he is responsible for. I was shocked and saddened by the ramifications a choice made as a child seemed to carry for him. One thing I must add, I didn't like how the writer jumped from that tragedy to the future because I really wanted to know what happened in the...more
Ik moet bekennen dat ik wat sceptisch aan dit boek begon. Want tja wat moet je ervan denken als een, weliswaar intelligente maar toch zeer foute armbandjes dragende Italiaan iets zegt in de trant van 'tweelingpriemgetallen, vlak bij elkaar maar niet dicht genoeg om elkaar echt te raken'.... juistem. Maar ik begon op een vrije ochtend 'nog even' te lezen en had plotseling het gevoel of ik swine flu had. Het bleek echter half twee te zijn en ik had gewoon nog niks gegeten of gedronken en mijn blaa...more
Yep ... a year later, still a solid 5 stars.
I love it when I get rocked unexpectedly by a book. The characters in this book so drew me in and seemed so utterly real (even though the book spans a couple of decades and alternates between the male and female protagonists).
On top of that, was the sheer beauty of the writing. Every so often, I would read a sentence ... stop ... and realize "Wow, that was incredible" and would have to read it again. Given that it was written originally in Italian, par...more
I love it when I get rocked unexpectedly by a book. The characters in this book so drew me in and seemed so utterly real (even though the book spans a couple of decades and alternates between the male and female protagonists).
On top of that, was the sheer beauty of the writing. Every so often, I would read a sentence ... stop ... and realize "Wow, that was incredible" and would have to read it again. Given that it was written originally in Italian, par...more
Ако Паоло Джордано си е поставил за цел да напише роман, развиващ се в свят, в който всеки.един.герой. има дълбока и неизлечима травма без право на обжалване, без възможност за щастие или радост, ако е искал да покаже, че светлината в тунела виждат само самоубийците при срещата си с влака... Много добре. Браво.
Ако е искал да пише за нормални хора... Ами много, много е прекалил. Дори сладникавият край не променя факта, че в един момент вече става твърде натрупано, измислено и ужасно трудно да се...more
Ако е искал да пише за нормални хора... Ами много, много е прекалил. Дори сладникавият край не променя факта, че в един момент вече става твърде натрупано, измислено и ужасно трудно да се...more
I finished this book moments ago and find myself irritated instead of thoughtful. I want to love this novel, it's unusual, bleak, as real and demanding as gum stuck to your shoe, but there is no payoff for my time spent with it. Each painstakingly set-up scenario of adolescent and adult angst/trauma is left dangling like a series of complicated esher drawings that lead nowhere and are partially erased.
The author's style is raw and minimal. He's able to occupy a girl/woman's psyche as seamlessly...more
The author's style is raw and minimal. He's able to occupy a girl/woman's psyche as seamlessly...more
This book is written by the 26 years old Italian paolo Giordano, who won the premio strega with his first book this year. read it in two days and felt like I flew through it, didn't felt like putting it down and was constantly thinking to continue reading it. I had imagined or hoped it would end different but maybe that would have been too easy. Maybe better the way it did end...
The idea is beautiful. Compare people to numbers, compare the loneliness of people who don't know how to belong to the otherness of prime numbers, and thus imply that there could be resolution to their alienation because it's part of a logical pattern, and if they can't belong to everyone, at least they can belong to each other.
However, other than the fact that Mattia, one of the main characters, is a genius mathematician, and one passage where he introduces the concept of twin prime numbers, th...more
However, other than the fact that Mattia, one of the main characters, is a genius mathematician, and one passage where he introduces the concept of twin prime numbers, th...more
Absolute disappointment.
One of the worst book I've ever read.
The flatness of the characters is an insult to the reader.
One of the worst book I've ever read.
The flatness of the characters is an insult to the reader.
This is a beauty! I found the style and feel very reminiscent of a lot of novels from the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Seemed a bit "un-Italian", but in a good, stimulating way. Clever story, and --apparently the title wasn't thought up by the author -- it's the greatest title ever. I highly recommend this book.
Warning: This review gets a bit 'geeky'.
Prime numbers are not defined in terms of other numbers; other numbers are defined by their prime factors. Primes greater than three are separated by at least one non-prime, paired primes by only one. Paired primes become less frequent as numbers get larger.
That is the mathematical truth behind Paolo Giordano's novel.
He introduces the idea that people can be defined in this way: that some people are like prime numbers and cannot be defined in terms of othe...more
Prime numbers are not defined in terms of other numbers; other numbers are defined by their prime factors. Primes greater than three are separated by at least one non-prime, paired primes by only one. Paired primes become less frequent as numbers get larger.
That is the mathematical truth behind Paolo Giordano's novel.
He introduces the idea that people can be defined in this way: that some people are like prime numbers and cannot be defined in terms of othe...more
Wow. Wow. I'll post a longer, more coherent review of this book on my blog later, I posted a longer, more coherent review on my blog, but I am in absolute awe of this novel. Giordano's prose is stunning and painful and sharp, striking right at the core and letting the hurt radiate outward. The idea of people as prime numbers is fascinating and hurtful but also so, so true. How many people would intersect if not for their own solitude? I'm left here thinking about human relationships and the natu...more
Een werkelijk schitterend boek, haast niet te geloven dat Giordano pas 26 was toen het gepubliceerd werd.
Het verhaal
Als Alice zeven jaar is, krijgt ze tijdens de door haar vader verplicht gestelde skilessen een vreselijk ongeluk, waardoor ze haar verdere leven lang mank loopt. Het gekke is dat ze het ongeluk bijna verwelkomt: het ontslaat haar van de plicht om het perfecte kind te zijn. Denkt ze dan. Natuurlijk blijft ze het gevoel houden dat ze tekort schiet. Ze probeert dit gevoel te bestrijde...more
Het verhaal
Als Alice zeven jaar is, krijgt ze tijdens de door haar vader verplicht gestelde skilessen een vreselijk ongeluk, waardoor ze haar verdere leven lang mank loopt. Het gekke is dat ze het ongeluk bijna verwelkomt: het ontslaat haar van de plicht om het perfecte kind te zijn. Denkt ze dan. Natuurlijk blijft ze het gevoel houden dat ze tekort schiet. Ze probeert dit gevoel te bestrijde...more
Two extreme lives in the very edge of madness. Hard to believe, but real and scary, by the way...
A well-traced storyline, though there's a certain disconnection or just a not-so-well-explained evolution between the initial characters and the very ending ones: Mattia and Alice re-discovered themselves, but they -without a clue in the story- evolved in opposite directions.
Beautyfully written. It combines the hardest experiences with the eternal need for love and comfort. Well done!
___________
Una v...more
A well-traced storyline, though there's a certain disconnection or just a not-so-well-explained evolution between the initial characters and the very ending ones: Mattia and Alice re-discovered themselves, but they -without a clue in the story- evolved in opposite directions.
Beautyfully written. It combines the hardest experiences with the eternal need for love and comfort. Well done!
___________
Una v...more
Este é sem duvida um livro excelente!
Dois adolescentes cruzam-se a muito estranhamente dividem os seus segredos de uma forma bem estranha sem nunca se envolverem demasiado nos problemas um do outro, completam-se mas ao mesmo tempo afastam-se em todos os momentos cruciais.
Aborda temas bastante actuais, os quais às vezes se finge não ver por acharmos que só acontecem aos outros, o que faz com que às vezes haja demasiados "primos gémeos" por aí...
É um livro que nos faz pensar na forma como encaramo...more
Dois adolescentes cruzam-se a muito estranhamente dividem os seus segredos de uma forma bem estranha sem nunca se envolverem demasiado nos problemas um do outro, completam-se mas ao mesmo tempo afastam-se em todos os momentos cruciais.
Aborda temas bastante actuais, os quais às vezes se finge não ver por acharmos que só acontecem aos outros, o que faz com que às vezes haja demasiados "primos gémeos" por aí...
É um livro que nos faz pensar na forma como encaramo...more
A medida que iba avanzando la historia, no sabía si la historia me estaba encantando o irritando, con esos personajes cercanos al autismo, "tocados" por sus experiencias. Pero he de reconocer que la historia no solo engancha, sino que enamora. Me recordó mucho a una película de Julio Médem que se llama "Los amantes del círculo Polar", esa incapacidad de consumar el amor, el destino trágico y la indiferencia que despiden los caracteres (especialmente los masculinos). Es una novela llena de detall...more
PRIME NUMBERS = Red String of Fate, Not Quite for this book...
I am about to finish the book as of this writing but one thing struck to me while turning the pages. It is simple, poignant, beautifully told, rightfully paced, and not too thick. The Solitude of Prime Numbers does not pride itself with thick, opaque language. Instead, its very simplicity captures its power, enraptures and makes us lick our index fingers and turn the pages, our literary appetites whetting for more.
My only complaint i...more
I am about to finish the book as of this writing but one thing struck to me while turning the pages. It is simple, poignant, beautifully told, rightfully paced, and not too thick. The Solitude of Prime Numbers does not pride itself with thick, opaque language. Instead, its very simplicity captures its power, enraptures and makes us lick our index fingers and turn the pages, our literary appetites whetting for more.
My only complaint i...more
رواية رائعة لكاتب إيطالى شاب اسمه (باولو جيوردانو) اسم الرواية باللغة الإنجليزية (The solitude of Prime Numbers) ..
أتنبأ ليه بمستقبل كبير جداً .. الرواية حققت مبيعات أكثر من 3 مليون نسخة فى إيطاليا ..
عدد صفحات الرواية 302 صفحة
نشرت مترجمة باللغة العربية عن طريق (الدار العربية للعلوم ناشرون) عام 2012
أبطال الرواية:
ماتيا
أليس
فكرة الرواية هى (العزلة) .. هو ازدياد عزلة الإنسان كلما كبر .. يبدأ فى الابتعاد عن أصدقاءه شيئاً فشيئاً .. تبدأ الدائرة الُمحيطة به من الناس فى الانكماش أكثر فأكثر لينتهى به ا...more
أتنبأ ليه بمستقبل كبير جداً .. الرواية حققت مبيعات أكثر من 3 مليون نسخة فى إيطاليا ..
عدد صفحات الرواية 302 صفحة
نشرت مترجمة باللغة العربية عن طريق (الدار العربية للعلوم ناشرون) عام 2012
أبطال الرواية:
ماتيا
أليس
فكرة الرواية هى (العزلة) .. هو ازدياد عزلة الإنسان كلما كبر .. يبدأ فى الابتعاد عن أصدقاءه شيئاً فشيئاً .. تبدأ الدائرة الُمحيطة به من الناس فى الانكماش أكثر فأكثر لينتهى به ا...more
Un libro con grandes pasajes, que se graban en la retina del lector. Suave, sedante... triste pero bonito al mismo tiempo. Parece que no pasa nada, pero lo lees encantada al mismo tiempo, me gusta mucho como describe las cosas Giordano. Sobre lo que nos marca para siempre. Sobre lo que no decimos, sobre lo que permanece.
The author builds this story of two very broken people who deal with their harsh reality in a very wrong and twisted way. Then they meet for the first time and with their meeting comes the idea that somehow, probably in a weird and freaky way, those two crazies are going to get a happy ending. Maybe even together.
I loved the way this novel was written and the way every description of feelings and situations felt sharp and real. It felt like I'm really getting inside the minds and life of the two...more
I loved the way this novel was written and the way every description of feelings and situations felt sharp and real. It felt like I'm really getting inside the minds and life of the two...more
"avrebbe voluto dirle che le paginedei libri di scuola hanno tutte la stessa temperatura, che ti lasciano il tempo di scegliere, che non fanno mai male e che tu non puoi far loro del male"</p><p>"i numeri primi sono divisibili soltanto per 1 e per se stessi. se ne stanno al loro posto nell'infinita serie dei numeri naturali, schiacciati come tutti tra due, ma un passo in là rispetto agli altri. Sono numeri sospettosi e solitari e per questo meravigliosi.....anche a loro sarebbe piaci...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| genre X: October Discussion: The Solitude of Prime Numbers | 1 | 19 | 5 de Oct 12:03 | |
| Goodreads Librari...: superlibrarian needed to merge books | 2 | 146 | 1 de Jun 12:40 | |
| Diz-me o que lês,...: 4º Leitura Conjunta - 2ª fase | 7 | 19 | 28 de Ene 11:30 | |
| Diz-me o que lês,...: 4ª Leitura Conjunta - 1ª fase | 9 | 30 | 22 de Ene 07:19 | |
| Around the World ...: Kris recommends: Paolo Giordano | 2 | 19 | 7 de Nov 07:27 |
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Paolo Giordano is a professional physicist and is currently working on a doctorate in particle physics. The Solitude of Prime Numbers, his first novel, took Italy by storm where it has sold over a million copies. It is being translated into twenty languages and has sold all...more
More about Paolo Giordano...
Paolo Giordano is a professional physicist and is currently working on a doctorate in particle physics. The Solitude of Prime Numbers, his first novel, took Italy by storm where it has sold over a million copies. It is being translated into twenty languages and has sold all...more
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“People took what they wanted, they clutched at coincidences, the few there were, and made a life from them. . . . Choices are made in brief seconds and paid for in the time that remains.”
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77 people liked it
“Choices are made in brief seconds and paid for in the time that remains”
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46 people liked it
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