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ris_stitches's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so insanely depressing. I spent most of it wanting to reach into the book and shake Alice and tell her to get over her damn self.
So yes, depressing, but also oddly very good. I really enjoyed the vignette-ish style of each chapter. Well written, heart-breaking, and I really want to read it in Italian because I think it would be better that way.
So yes, depressing, but also oddly very good. I really enjoyed the vignette-ish style of each chapter. Well written, heart-breaking, and I really want to read it in Italian because I think it would be better that way.
marleah_a's review against another edition
3.0
This book made me think of my younger sister, who is a super math genius, although she won't admit it and is entirely too modest about it.
Mattia is a super math genius as well, and he bases his work on "twin primes": pairs of prime numbers that are close to each other but have an even number in between them, keeping them from touching (an example: 41 and 43). This idea parallels the relationship Mattia has with his sometimes-friend/girlfriend Alice. Neither Mattia nor Alice feel like they fit in with their families or with society. Alice seems to be more bothered by this than does Mattia, but regardless, they find a sort of comfortable refuge in each other. Each of them is haunted by a childhood trauma, and they both attempt to move on with their lives but struggle with their pasts and with their relationship with each other.
It was an interesting book, but I found myself not really invested in either of the characters. I wouldn't say either of them is truly likeable, although they do have postive points. For some reason, I was also unsatisfied with the conclusion - it was a bit more open than I like with these types of stories.
Mattia is a super math genius as well, and he bases his work on "twin primes": pairs of prime numbers that are close to each other but have an even number in between them, keeping them from touching (an example: 41 and 43). This idea parallels the relationship Mattia has with his sometimes-friend/girlfriend Alice. Neither Mattia nor Alice feel like they fit in with their families or with society. Alice seems to be more bothered by this than does Mattia, but regardless, they find a sort of comfortable refuge in each other. Each of them is haunted by a childhood trauma, and they both attempt to move on with their lives but struggle with their pasts and with their relationship with each other.
It was an interesting book, but I found myself not really invested in either of the characters. I wouldn't say either of them is truly likeable, although they do have postive points. For some reason, I was also unsatisfied with the conclusion - it was a bit more open than I like with these types of stories.
pachypedia's review against another edition
2.0
No entiendo el porqué de tanto revuelo con este libro: la historia me parece disconexa, una sucesión de anécdotas a lo largo de décadas de la vida de dos chicos inadaptados que no han sabido superar una infancia difícil. Además, si la protagonista realmente comiera tan poco durante décadas, de forma contínua, ya estaría muerta!
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
The title of this book is reflected in the story and the characters. Prime numbers are the loneliest numbers, although in rare cases they can occur close together, always separated by a number in between (like 11 and 13). Mattia and Alice are lonely as well, both suffering horrible incidents in their childhood that lead them to self-destructive behaviors. They become friends, but throughout the book one can feel that they are still separated from each other.
This Italian novel is poised to be a major international success in the US, along the lines of [b:The Elegance of the Hedgehog|2967752|The Elegance of the Hedgehog|Muriel Barbery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1240508801s/2967752.jpg|1531887]. It's told in alternating points of view between the two main characters, but never feels disjointed; the author maintains a steady emotional hand throughout.
This Italian novel is poised to be a major international success in the US, along the lines of [b:The Elegance of the Hedgehog|2967752|The Elegance of the Hedgehog|Muriel Barbery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1240508801s/2967752.jpg|1531887]. It's told in alternating points of view between the two main characters, but never feels disjointed; the author maintains a steady emotional hand throughout.
robin0_0's review against another edition
2.0
Did not like this that much and it was not well-written in my opinion. You can definitely tell that a man wrote this by the graphic descriptions and unnecessary sexualisation. For example "Soledad's wardrobe contained only black clothes, underwear included". Anyways even if you ignore that the characters are still under developed and because of the time skips you never get to read about the consequences of their actions.
Mattia is such an annoying guy like I get that he's a tortured soul but the way he's written is just like an edglord incel. I do not get why Mattia and Alice even like eachother
I did not hate this book but I definitely would not recommend it either
Mattia is such an annoying guy like I get that he's a tortured soul but the way he's written is just like an edglord incel. I do not get why Mattia and Alice even like eachother
I did not hate this book but I definitely would not recommend it either
booksplantsandtea's review against another edition
1.0
This book's a beautiful story about true love between two wonderful people...
This must've been the author while writing his "book":
This book is pure madness. It has no plot. And its main characters are psychopaths. I mean the girl, Alice, refuses to eat even though it makes her sick and she's an egocentric bitch. The boy, Mattia, is compelled by anything with a sharp edge because then he can hurt himself and taste his blood.... Because that calms him...
That's what normal people do when they need to calm down, right?
My reactions whilst reading this book:
About Alice:
About Mattia:
I mean who lets a retarded child alone in a park?! That's sick.
Oh, you wanna know my feelings when I finished it?
Here they are:
So yeah, thanks to my Dutch teacher for making us read this awesome book. I'll always hate you for that!
Update:
Just found this gif and I immediately had to think of Mattia.
Ian's looking at that knife like a real psychopath. Like I said: perfect for Mattia.
This must've been the author while writing his "book":
This book is pure madness. It has no plot. And its main characters are psychopaths. I mean the girl, Alice, refuses to eat even though it makes her sick and she's an egocentric bitch. The boy, Mattia, is compelled by anything with a sharp edge because then he can hurt himself and taste his blood.... Because that calms him...
That's what normal people do when they need to calm down, right?
My reactions whilst reading this book:
About Alice:
About Mattia:
I mean who lets a retarded child alone in a park?! That's sick.
Oh, you wanna know my feelings when I finished it?
Here they are:
So yeah, thanks to my Dutch teacher for making us read this awesome book. I'll always hate you for that!
Update:
Just found this gif and I immediately had to think of Mattia.
Ian's looking at that knife like a real psychopath. Like I said: perfect for Mattia.
k80bowman's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I'll be able to get this one out of my head for a while. I read it all in one sitting, at night when I couldn 't sleep.
pienella's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
1.5
Vague book about trauma and loss. The communication between characters is really bad. And there doesn’t happen much at all: