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jilliand973's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
italian fleabag
magdalenta's review
4.0
Non è ingannevole la famigerata fascetta con lo strillo di Zerocalcare («Veronica Raimo è l’unica che mi ha fatto ridere ad alta voce con un testo scritto in prosa da quando ero adolescente»), fa davvero ridere. È il contrario di quelle autobiografie in cui chi scrive propone una versione eroica o romantica di sé stessa, Raimo racconta solo i suoi fallimenti, le sue sciatterie, la sua mancanza di tragicità, coerentemente col titolo: le sue bugie.
Godibilissimo.
Godibilissimo.
sydsnot71's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know if two stars is harsh, but I think I'm just tired of reading books by writers that seem to be exercises in self-analysis they wrote because their therapist thought it would help.
I mean this is more a memoir than fiction however much Raimo talks about the dishonesty of her memory and making things up. I've read three books on the International Booker Longlist and I don't think any of them are fiction. Perhaps the judges think they're pushing the envelope of fiction and fact. Perhaps they are. But this tendency to write auto-fiction is beginning to drag.
It's not even a bad book. I quite like it. Some of it is funny.
But it feels like over-hearing someone's phone call where they're talking about personal stuff that you think isn't meant to be discussed out loud on a train. And I'm not sure I want that from my books.
You can argue that all memoirs have an element of fiction to them. You can argue that memory is fallible - either deliberately or accidentally. You can argue that we organise our lives narratively because it helps us make sense of them. You can argue about how even history is just an attempt to make sense of the past in the same way. Whatever. None of these things make this a novel.
So, two stars it is. Sorry Veronica. It was lost on me.
I mean this is more a memoir than fiction however much Raimo talks about the dishonesty of her memory and making things up. I've read three books on the International Booker Longlist and I don't think any of them are fiction. Perhaps the judges think they're pushing the envelope of fiction and fact. Perhaps they are. But this tendency to write auto-fiction is beginning to drag.
It's not even a bad book. I quite like it. Some of it is funny.
But it feels like over-hearing someone's phone call where they're talking about personal stuff that you think isn't meant to be discussed out loud on a train. And I'm not sure I want that from my books.
You can argue that all memoirs have an element of fiction to them. You can argue that memory is fallible - either deliberately or accidentally. You can argue that we organise our lives narratively because it helps us make sense of them. You can argue about how even history is just an attempt to make sense of the past in the same way. Whatever. None of these things make this a novel.
So, two stars it is. Sorry Veronica. It was lost on me.
emilija287's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
3.75
revwain's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It was a funny and heartbreaking story/memoir/auto fiction?? by Veronica Raimo. I actually enjoy some part of this book and dread some part of it (especially towards the end)
It's kinda hard to feel connected with the narrative when she wrote everything in a way that seems a little bit too playful/comical and unserious as a defense mechanism perhaps? Haha. Anyway its an okay book, just not my cup of tea.
One of my favorite piece from this book,
"Most memories leave us without our even noticing; as for those that remain, we're the ones who secretly pawn them off, traffic them, become their eager pushers, door-to-door salesmen, hucksters in search of some dupe who'll buy into our story. Dirt cheap, half off.
Memory, for me, is like the game of dice I used to play when I was little. It's just a matter of deciding whether the game is pointless or rigged."
It's kinda hard to feel connected with the narrative when she wrote everything in a way that seems a little bit too playful/comical and unserious as a defense mechanism perhaps? Haha. Anyway its an okay book, just not my cup of tea.
One of my favorite piece from this book,
"Most memories leave us without our even noticing; as for those that remain, we're the ones who secretly pawn them off, traffic them, become their eager pushers, door-to-door salesmen, hucksters in search of some dupe who'll buy into our story. Dirt cheap, half off.
Memory, for me, is like the game of dice I used to play when I was little. It's just a matter of deciding whether the game is pointless or rigged."
katiecat22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Read as part of reading the International Booker long list. The writing was frank and read like a memoir more than fiction almost. It’s a series of vignettes really as the narrator reflects on her life. She discusses loss, formative childhood experiences, feelings of displacement and imposter syndrome, and loneliness. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another book by this author, but I don’t think this one will stick with me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
ohemgeebooks's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
n_mai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5