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jordan21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide
riminireads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia
smellerbee93's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Suicide
awen_mair's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
- “Her whole demeanor exuded independence, an independence so absolute as to make you think she hadn’t come into the world like everybody else, in pain and blood, but had simply emerged, like a butterfly.”
- “What a sad name,[…] it sounds like a lost battle.”
- “It’s from three o’clock [am] onward that night rises from its own abyss, dripping with dreams.”
- “Have you ever thought how many pleasures progress has deprived us of?”
- (On favouring second hand books) “they cost less and because you can tell in advance, with a certain amount of certainty, if they’re worth reading.”
- “Is there anything you feel a part of? No, […] because we belong to an extinct species. We happen to still be alive, that’s all.”
I also might move to italy lol
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Suicide
mgbellm's review
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Alcoholism
jayisreading's review against another edition
3.0
Rome is the lingering, glamorous patina that blinds the characters of Last Summer in the City to the very real fact that they are seriously damaged and marooned.
I think this is a good sentence that makes clear what you’ll find in Calligarich’s novel. Which takes me to the actual novel—
I really did like the way Calligarich lingered, whether it be on moments, through the streets of Rome, or between characters. It almost felt as though you were watching a 1970s Italian film. Rome is a character, in a way, considering the way the characters reacted to the city throughout this novel. Early on in the novel, this is pretty well established, presenting Rome as a woman, with whom “[t]here can be no half measures with her, either she’s the love of your life or you have to leave her, because that’s what the tender beast demands, to be loved.”
It’s a novel in which you observe the protagonist drift and spiral. It’s honestly a rather depressing book, despite having somewhat of a lackadaisical air to it. The emotional delivery was well done, and the translator seems to have succeeded in getting this across.
It’s clear this book is dated in the way Calligarich approaches mental illness (flippantly), female characters (flattened and objectified), and male characters (boys’ club energy along with a dash of chauvinism). The world was very rose-tinted, certainly helped by the lyrical writing. It did get tiring though. Oh, and there was a good helping of blatant homophobia that was entirely unnecessary that really threw me off.
All-in-all, though, it was interesting to pick this book up, especially considering that I’ve barely touched Italian literature (specifically anything dated after the sixteenth century, welp). I’d be curious to read more modern literary works from Italy.
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Homophobia
zatannacomic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Also istg if the author used “at the end of my tether” once more, i’m going to scream
Graphic: Suicide
booksandbulletjournaling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
prey4thefemale's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death
Minor: Suicide
ladynavalon's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Vomit, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship