Modern-day Naples is a city teeming with contradictions, a chaotic metropolis in which modernity collides with history, a frenetic port city whose ...
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reviews
Nov 11, 2011
Lorenzo
rated it: 
Many literary critics say Valeria Parrella is one of the most interesting young novelist we have in Italy.
There is only one thing I'd like to say:
we got what we deserve. And I'm referring to both, critics and Parrella.
I consider what Parrella does in this book simply disgusting. This is not literature. This book is merely a cheap trick for pleasing those who miss a folkloristic touch of "verism" and "realism" in their ivory towers.
I More...
There is only one thing I'd like to say:
we got what we deserve. And I'm referring to both, critics and Parrella.
I consider what Parrella does in this book simply disgusting. This is not literature. This book is merely a cheap trick for pleasing those who miss a folkloristic touch of "verism" and "realism" in their ivory towers.
I More...
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Sep 04, 2011
Katherine
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It took me a while to read this book because I picked it up and then couldn't get into the mood to read before picking up another book. I'm not sure why I didn't stick with it because I ended up really liking it. This book contains 4 novellas based in Naples, Italy. I've never been to Naples myself, so I'm not sure how well represented it was. But the stories are all based in a city where there is a culture of arts and gang violence and hardships all mixed with complicated individuals who lead c
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Feb 02, 2010
Jessica
rated it: 
I picked this up at the library because I'm increasingly in love with Europa Editions and the material they publish. But this was the first one to miss the mark with me. It was interesting as the following read to "Let the Great World Spin," because the stories touched on the same themes of urban decay and the transition into modernity. But I just couldn't feel for any of the characters. I felt as if I was supposed to know them already when each tale started and just run with this
Nov 20, 2009
Modern day Napoli seems a lot like modern day everywhere else. It isn’t the place that comes out strongly here, as the stories could have been set anywhere really. Which brings me to wonder why it’s so important to point the author out as Italian. These stories are about people who seem to be pretty alone, which could about 'Seattle freeze' had the stories been set here.
Sep 29, 2009
Keri
rated it: 
Interesting and definitely fun. This book was smart in a new kind of way that was perfectly suited to short stories. Not necessarily uplifting or illuminating, its main strength is in being interesting.
Mar 09, 2010
Anna
rated it: 
I was very taken with this book of short stories, which I picked up on a whim based on my love of other Europa Editions books. I found myself getting very attached to the characters in these stories and wondering what lives they continue to lead after the episodes narrated here. Parrella creates situations that are in a way universal to modern urban-dwellers, but also felt particularly napolitano.
Feb 26, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
This is really 3 1/2. The 4 stories about modern Naples were uneven. I also expected to get more feel for the city itself.
Jun 09, 2010
A well written collection of short stories about life in modern Naples. My favorite was "Run."
Feb 06, 2012
Four stories of Naples. A city that was once a kingdom. The stories are very human and yet very Naples and Italian.
Very highly recommended!
Very highly recommended!
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