Scan barcode
A review by froudy
The Twenty Days of Turin by Giorgio De Maria
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Deceptively, there are other bits of writing in here that suggest more of De Maria’s character - which I adore, but its not why you pick up the book at first. And perhaps I personally would not have put the additional short story and interview at the end.
The star of the show, The Twenty Days, is truly remarkable. Glazov’s introduction really sets the scene for when this book was written, and it's essential to bare in mind. The inclusion of the library, the connectedness of all our inner thoughts, may seem shallow now - a perhaps underexplored allegory for the internet, is made all the more menacing and tense when considering just how long ago it was written. De Maria explored the idea and the horror before a desktop pc even existed.
The Library isn't even the core focus. The mystery, which I shan’t spoil here, really had me hooked throughout. An Arkham Horror with an Italian seasoning. One I can't recommend enough.
The final shorter story about Lord Byron was a surprise, but an inevitably welcome one. One that painted the poet in a unique light, with again a similar sense of looming dread De Maria seems to love to impose. Lastly the interview, one that makes clear the author’s love of music but sensualities as well. It's positioning at the end of the book felt odd, as it gave me another look into the author, much like the intro.
A look that further deepens the tales I just read and will now have to reread again.
The star of the show, The Twenty Days, is truly remarkable. Glazov’s introduction really sets the scene for when this book was written, and it's essential to bare in mind. The inclusion of the library, the connectedness of all our inner thoughts, may seem shallow now - a perhaps underexplored allegory for the internet, is made all the more menacing and tense when considering just how long ago it was written. De Maria explored the idea and the horror before a desktop pc even existed.
The Library isn't even the core focus. The mystery, which I shan’t spoil here, really had me hooked throughout. An Arkham Horror with an Italian seasoning. One I can't recommend enough.
The final shorter story about Lord Byron was a surprise, but an inevitably welcome one. One that painted the poet in a unique light, with again a similar sense of looming dread De Maria seems to love to impose. Lastly the interview, one that makes clear the author’s love of music but sensualities as well. It's positioning at the end of the book felt odd, as it gave me another look into the author, much like the intro.
A look that further deepens the tales I just read and will now have to reread again.