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A review by blueyorkie
Senilidade by Italo Svevo
3.0
This second novel by Italo Svevo had published in 1898, six years after [b:Une Vie|18685553|Une Vie|Italo Svevo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1382058996l/18685553._SY75_.jpg|168361] (1892).
Emilio Brantani, a modest employee in an insurance company, wrote a childhood novel and did not give up his literary ambitions. He lives with his sister Emilie. Emilio has a tumultuous affair with the beautiful and fickle Angiolina, while his unattractive sister is secretly in love with the sculptor Balli, Emilio's best friend. Emilio's indecision, awkwardness, and jealousy of his sister, friend, and mistress will provoke sentimental heartbreaks and breakups.
This brilliant psychological study tackles the same themes as Svevo's other novel with the figure of the reflective and hesitant antihero who ruins his chances of happiness. The theme of lies is omnipresent with characters who all lie or disguise the truth out of interest, modesty, pride, respect. Situations that could be healthy and simple become more complex to the point that it is no longer possible to get out of this psychological imbroglio.
In "The conscience of Zeno", a chapter was devoted to the father's death.
I preferred [b:Zeno's Conscience|84737|Zeno's Conscience|Italo Svevo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634559146l/84737._SY75_.jpg|66906] for its humour, relative optimism, and the positively endearing side of its characters.
Emilio Brantani, a modest employee in an insurance company, wrote a childhood novel and did not give up his literary ambitions. He lives with his sister Emilie. Emilio has a tumultuous affair with the beautiful and fickle Angiolina, while his unattractive sister is secretly in love with the sculptor Balli, Emilio's best friend. Emilio's indecision, awkwardness, and jealousy of his sister, friend, and mistress will provoke sentimental heartbreaks and breakups.
This brilliant psychological study tackles the same themes as Svevo's other novel with the figure of the reflective and hesitant antihero who ruins his chances of happiness. The theme of lies is omnipresent with characters who all lie or disguise the truth out of interest, modesty, pride, respect. Situations that could be healthy and simple become more complex to the point that it is no longer possible to get out of this psychological imbroglio.
In "The conscience of Zeno", a chapter was devoted to the father's death.
I preferred [b:Zeno's Conscience|84737|Zeno's Conscience|Italo Svevo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634559146l/84737._SY75_.jpg|66906] for its humour, relative optimism, and the positively endearing side of its characters.