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8th out of 50 books
—
38 voters
Midnight in Sicily
by
Peter Robb
Off the southern coast of Italy lies Sicily, home to an ancient culture that with its stark landscapes, glorious coastlines, and extraordinary treasure troves of art and archeology has seduced travellers for centuries. But at the heart of the island's rare beauty is a network of violence and corruption that reaches into every corner of Sicilian life: La Cosa Nostra, the Ma...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
February 22nd 1999
by Vintage
(first published 1996)
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The title promises a broader and more rounded view of Sicily than what we actually get. Instead of a balanced overview of many aspects of the history of the island, we get an awful lot of Cosa Notra, with the occasional short chapter, or even just a few paragraphs, on a particular typical recipe or representative work of art, and then it's back to the mafia stuff again. Which is fine, if that's what you're interested in. Personally I found myself skimming over some of the interminable and hopele...more
This book tells the story of modern Sicily from its liberation in WW2 to the mid 1990s. Prior to this period, the Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, had existed as another layer of society between the people and the government and controlled the daily lives of the masses. But since the war, the Mafia has also become enmeshed in and corrupted the politics of both Sicily and Italy. Having personally seen, heard, read and experienced Sicily and its rich past, this book fills in the modern picture through the a...more
Not an easy read, in large part due to the large cast of nefarious characters (for which a chart or index would be very helpful). A depressing portrait of Sicily and of Italy after WWII, increasingly under the thrall of the Cosa Nostra. His occasional forays into food or literature or more distant history were welcome (a little romantic about the Arabs), just not long enough. The political/criminal detail was just relentless and while I am fascinated and appalled, the writing does not do enough...more
Off the southern coast of Italy lies Sicily, home to an ancient culture that with its stark landscapes, glorious coastlines, and extraordinary treasure troves of art and archeology has seduced travellers for centuries. But at the heart of the island's rare beauty is a network of violence and corruption that reaches into every corner of Sicilian life: La Cosa Nostra, the Mafia.In an intoxicating mix of crime, travel, and food writing, Peter Robb, a writer who lived in Southern Italy for fourteen...more
An enthralling journey around the backstreets and through the hills and valleys of Sicily. Beginning with a market, Robb takes us through the intimacy of food into the political, economic and social life and the history of this region with a presence and perspective which touches into the culture and dealings of many other places both near and far. The multiple layers of meaning of the most simple words warns that nothing can be taken for granted. A deep education for us all.
I am a fan of Robb’s and particularly fond of his conversational style. His lyrical and unapologetically bombastic style can sometimes be confronting while owing much to certain Australian storytelling traditions i.e. tall stories and pub yarns. There was one phrase very early in this book which I found so distasteful and disrespectful I almost put it to one side. But in the end I’m glad I persisted.
I had read John Dickie’s history of Cosa Nostra not long beforehand so was familiar with some of...more
I had read John Dickie’s history of Cosa Nostra not long beforehand so was familiar with some of...more
While it's true I have to re-read a goodly number of Robb's paragraphs b/c his vocab and syntax way surpass my reading ability, the challenge is sweetly rewarded by the fruits of Sicily and the perils of the Mafia. Is it about food or crime? Robb is a chronicler of life in and around Palermo whose insights yield secrets invisible to any other foreign eye. The section on blk-wht photographer Leticia Battaglia is worth the book alone, as are the restaurant reviews.
This was one of the first of mixed genres, in this case, Travel, Cooking and History. Peter goes to Italy and Sicily and tells the story of the Mafia which I wouldn't have been that interested in but he tells it so amazingly well that I was spellbound.
I love the story of when he returned to his favourtie cafe` in Naples, having been away for many years and without saying a word, the barrista gave him his coffee (which was an unusual blend).
I love the story of when he returned to his favourtie cafe` in Naples, having been away for many years and without saying a word, the barrista gave him his coffee (which was an unusual blend).
the quantity of information that Robb tries to present is overwhelming, and at times, clearly too much for even the most discerning reader. However, the subject matter was so fascinating that I have to give it a 5. unbelievable stuff about Italian mafia, politics, culture, food and art. not recommended for anyone who doesn't already know a lot about Italy...it would just be too confusing for you!
Las þessa bók á Sikiley. Útgangspunktur bókarinnar eru réttarhöld yfir mafíuforingjum á tíunda áratugnum. Frá þessum punkti leiðir höfundur lesandann í gegnum sögu mafíunnar, en ekki síður sögu eyjarinnar, menningu hennar, listir og matarhefðir.
Stórkostlegur ferðafélagi sem opnar manni sýn á sögu, menningu og matarhefðir Sikileyjar og raunar Suður Ítalíu í heild.
Stórkostlegur ferðafélagi sem opnar manni sýn á sögu, menningu og matarhefðir Sikileyjar og raunar Suður Ítalíu í heild.
Sep 21, 2009
Stephanie
added it
We read this for the food book club I co-lead and we discussed it at a fabulous Italian restaurant. The meal started off with hot, homemade bread drizzled in olive oil and topped with rosemary. It ended with much laughter and flutes of champagne.
The mafia bosses, their victims, their political allies, the landscape, the cuisine, the history all melded into a sonorous poetic narrative whose gravitas is only undermined by the author photograph on the back cover, which leaves me unable to read the book without the voice of Frasier Crane in my head. Which is a rather unfair reason to dock the book a couple of stars, but I'm being honest here! Fickle reader me?! I'm sure Sicily comes alive in this history and I'm sure I'll like it more the m...more
This book is a fairly comprehensive account of mafia influence in Sicily and Italy during the 20th century. Much of the history is taken from firsthand accounts, and testimony used in numerous mafia trials. The stories are fascinating, the history is fascinating, but I just couldn't get into the writing style. Too much of the book was devoted to food, and villas and Renato Guttuso's lovers for my liking. Imagine Anthony Bourdain hosting a mafia documentary on Food Network. But without the wit.
I...more
I...more
wow. I had no idea how entrenched the mafia is in Italian politics. and the food descriptions really took me back. still, sometimes I wondered if his claims were accurate. at any rate, Giulio Andreotti was a bad man.
Not an easy read, but if you are interested in Mafia history after WWII in Sicily (and Italy overall) it is worthwhile. Amazing amount of influence in government, brutal periods, fascinating people, etc.
I did not really enjoy the book on Sicily and the history of the mafia. I thought it was too meandering. I prefer my non fiction to be much more straightforward.
Started reading it. Was instantly confused. This guy picks interesting topics but he doesn't seem to put them together logically. Very disappointing
A compelling, atmospheric, and complex look at Sicily--mainly Palermo--itself, the Sicilian Mafia, and the Mafia's more-than-cozy relationship with Italian politics, with some flavorful side trips into art, literature, food, and ancient history. Mostly a page-turner, but occasionally challenging to follow because of the large cast of shady characters and schemes.
Amazing. Rivals Alexander Stille's Excellent Cadavers for best book on Sicily and Southern Italy in the 1980's and early 1990's when the mafia came the closest to being stopped entirely.
Jul 22, 2009
Ava
added it
I'm having a really difficult time slogging through this book. If it wasn't part of the Mediterranean book club I wouldn't even bother trying. I've set it aside to read the Book of Negroes and then I'll see if I can finish before the next club meeting... but I'm sure not motivated to read more about mafia shananigans.
OK, went back to this book and slogged some more. Still no narrative and every page seems to have new people introduced. I can't keep track of them and I don't care about them. Didn...more
OK, went back to this book and slogged some more. Still no narrative and every page seems to have new people introduced. I can't keep track of them and I don't care about them. Didn...more
This book can only be recommended to readers who are very interested in Sicily, Palermo in particular, and in Italian politics and the role of the mafia. The book is unorganized, likely by design, and has no footnotes or index. Sentence structure is often odd and paragraphs are long. In sum, it is a difficult and slow read.
Having said that, there is a ton of fascinating stuff here. It just took forever to read.
Having said that, there is a ton of fascinating stuff here. It just took forever to read.
Fascinating and totally chilling examination of the history of the Sicilian Mafia and it's links with Italian politics. It's well written in a very personal and slightly idiosyncratic way and could have benefited from a bit of rigorous editing but it is definitely a classic. You will never look at life in the Mezzogiorno in quite the same way after reading this!
Another of the very few books that I've read twice. A truly fantastic book.
Mafia, Sicily, Anrdeotti, Assassinations of Falcone and Borsellino
Apr 30, 2013
Lauren
added it
This is the ONLY book I have never finished reading!
A fascinating look at the Sicilian Mafia.
Fascinating but one hell of a difficult read.
Oct 21, 2012
Dan
marked it as to-read
Recommended by a Slate podcaster - he loved it.
This is the Sicily you imagine
Jan 07, 2010
keatssycamore
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
The Jersey Shore cast, except they can't read
Recommended to keatssycamore by:
Giulio "The Situation" Andreotti
Shelves:
history
It may be difficult to get into the rhythm of Peter Robb's writing (possibly due to so many unfamiliar, yet similar, Italian names), but the incredible portrait of Cosa Nostra in Sicily and Italian politics makes it worth the potential struggle. Not to mention that along with all that Cosa Nostra knowledge, you'll also be rewarded by the wonderful digressions on Italian art and food and literature and history that pepper the mafia narrative. Most especially if you've been to Sicily, or you plan...more
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That Kelsey Grammar gets around. I had EXACTLY the same experience when I was reading Thomas Harris' Hannibal. A...more
Sep 10, 2007 02:45pm