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A review by r0b3rta
The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner
5.0
My review and expectation of the book may have been skewed because I heard the author, [a:Rachel Kushner|164139|Rachel Kushner|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1236186901p2/164139.jpg] discussing the book on Bookworm with Michael Silverblatt and I instantly wanted to read the book.
I was looking over some of the other reviews and noticed quite a few people a bit miffed that we never find out her real name. Maybe Reno is more accessible and malleable as "Reno" than if she had a real name, unlike Sandro whose name, Valera precedes him.
Kushner makes you feel excited about the racing, history and people. At the same time there are moments of vulnerability, especially for characters who are not likable at first glance. There were paragraphs I re-read to get the complete essence of.
The book is not too long at close to 400 pages, but it is not a light read. It is well written and a good history lesson on the 70s art scene and Italy's leftist youth movement and feminism.
I was looking over some of the other reviews and noticed quite a few people a bit miffed that we never find out her real name. Maybe Reno is more accessible and malleable as "Reno" than if she had a real name, unlike Sandro whose name, Valera precedes him.
Kushner makes you feel excited about the racing, history and people. At the same time there are moments of vulnerability, especially for characters who are not likable at first glance. There were paragraphs I re-read to get the complete essence of.
The book is not too long at close to 400 pages, but it is not a light read. It is well written and a good history lesson on the 70s art scene and Italy's leftist youth movement and feminism.