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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
My first book of 2021! I spent Christmas without my parents or most of my family, and the blurb of this book, as one that Natalia Ginzburg wrote while in London in the 60s and homesick for her family and home, appealed to me as the right book for the moment. And make no mistake, this is definitely a book about family, and all of the tiny, insignificant, private moments of family--the inside jokes abound, with Ginzburg freely alternating between including the reader on the joke or leaving them outside, with only a fleeting glimpse into the secrets and rooms.
Initially the bewildering role call of the family members overwhelmed me--what did I care about uncle Silvio or numerous cousins, grandparents, family friends? But that is the true strength of this unique book. It is the story of Ginzburg's family over several decades, through several homes, as she and her siblings grow up from children to adults with families of their own.
It is set against the backdrop of Mussolini's regime, and you come to know her entire family as passionate and active anti-fascists. The lessons of that time, and how they fought ceaselessly against the totality of fascism, even when it seemed hopeless and that they may be the only anti-fascists left, is as relevant and important now as it was in 1920s-1940s Italy. For that reason alone I'd recommend reading this now; however I can also recommend it for the powerful core of this book: the intimate, personal, loving account of her family, remembered longingly and to the smallest details. It almost doesn't feel as if it were written for an audience, but for Ginzburg herself, and one feels privileged to glimpse inside her family lexicon.
Initially the bewildering role call of the family members overwhelmed me--what did I care about uncle Silvio or numerous cousins, grandparents, family friends? But that is the true strength of this unique book. It is the story of Ginzburg's family over several decades, through several homes, as she and her siblings grow up from children to adults with families of their own.
It is set against the backdrop of Mussolini's regime, and you come to know her entire family as passionate and active anti-fascists. The lessons of that time, and how they fought ceaselessly against the totality of fascism, even when it seemed hopeless and that they may be the only anti-fascists left, is as relevant and important now as it was in 1920s-1940s Italy. For that reason alone I'd recommend reading this now; however I can also recommend it for the powerful core of this book: the intimate, personal, loving account of her family, remembered longingly and to the smallest details. It almost doesn't feel as if it were written for an audience, but for Ginzburg herself, and one feels privileged to glimpse inside her family lexicon.
wow,, this observation and reflection of stability that a family provides, despite its repetition and mundaneness, especially during something as devastating as the second world war, is absolutely beautiful and so lighthearted.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An encyclopedia of a family, including terms, definitions, asides, examples—such an innovative way to create a portrait of one’s family. Considering the casual, diaristic style, you’d think the narrator would address her own feelings and fears, especially as the threat of fascism looms in the background. But she seems to edit herself out—along with deaths, marriages, and decades of strife—which leaves major gaps in the storytelling for no apparent reason. Who is the narrator? Why does she gloss over some events, and hyper focus on others? It’s never quite clear, and the absences start to build a standoffish, secretive tone in an otherwise warm portrayal.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Det ble en litt treig start, jeg likte i grunn ikke fortellerstilen i begynnelsen. Etter hvert kom jeg mer inn i historien og da fløy sidene av gårde. Frivillig eller ufrivillig, det er mye humor i Familieleksikon. Boka gir også et interessant innblikk i hvordan livet i Italia var under fascistisk styre, og i italiensk familieliv. Det brukes mye utropstegn i replikkene, og karakterene er relativt direkte mot hverandre. Det byr på en del underholdende replikker. Boka er litt gjentagende til tider, men det overlever man.
Favorittsitat (om Proust):
Han må være en slubbert!
Knis.
Favorittsitat (om Proust):
Han må være en slubbert!
Knis.
slow-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No