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cosmiccloudbird's review
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emiliegilless's review
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
stefanie's review
4.0
Fantastic black comedy set in Rome, examining present day thoughts on immigration and other topics from a great and diverse range cast of characters.
ttyeds's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
crernst25's review against another edition
5.0
I really like how this book unfolded and revealed information. Lakhous also did a great job of incorporating a diverse set of characters and each one was really well developed in a way that made all of their characters very 3D and relevant to the story. It’s also the first book I ever read in Italian so I’m really proud that I was able to understand it
isabellekooreman's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? No
3.5
farbooksventure's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I cannot believe this, but I think I already found one of my favorite reads of 2022 this early in the year.
On the surface, Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio is a mystery/police procedural story. One tenant has been murdered, another enigmatic tenant (who's loved by all) suddenly disappeared. Sounds like a cut and dry murder case, right? Of course, it isn't. Not only told through a series of witness accounts from various characters around Piazza Vittorio, but in between the accounts, we will also get a glimpse of the missing tenant (named Amedeo) personal diary. What follows is a hilarious satire about how wildly different and biased everyone sees the world & everything around them.
At the heart of it, Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio is a story about identity, prejudice, and immigration. It is also a story about racism, xenophobia, and having a place you called home.
’Amedeo, you were suckled by the wolf!’ By now I know Rome as if I had been born here & never left. I have the right to wonder: am I a bastard like the twins Romulus and Remus or an adopted son?
The racist/xenophobic believe of some characters dial up to 100 in this satire to the point of over-the-top sometimes, but I think it gets the point across.
I would recommend this super short & fast book if you’re looking for a hilarious satire that pokes fun at human fear of “the other”.