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A review by candelibri
Arturo's Island by Elsa Morante
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Oh the mixed feelings - I have so many opinions!
- immediately, poor Arturo. What an unlikable character who is truly a product of his upbringing. He is 14 when we meet him and turns 16 by the end but is so emotionally stunted which leads to the biggest issues in this book.
- mainly the misogyny. Wilhelm is a *breathtaking* misogynist and Arturo embodies that attitude and manipulates it for attention, for love and for friendship. He has no other moral compass and so mimics what his father does who has been his main guide through life.
-poor Nunzia is married off at 15 to Arturo’s father which…honestly, we all saw this problem coming right? I’m not going to sit here and cast stones bc my Italian grandmother was married at 16 around the same time period so that plot point doesn’t quite rile me up, but it’s the abuse Nunzia suffers from both W and A who have truly no idea how to speak to let alone treat a woman. It’s just spectacular.
Spoilers below!
- and finally….the great reveal. I mean. I called it the moment W went into vapors over the Amalfitano so I wasn’t shocked but it was disappointing to see a character so portrayed. I could see his bitterness and self hatred and loathing directed inward but I could also see it spread outward by constantly abusing N and A and also by constantly trying to escape them. As if they are a reminder of what he cannot be. It is a fabulous character study for all that I wish he was not so.
Throughout, there is a very grim “cine città” feeling that permeates the pages and even the final reflections of Arturo as he thinks of the earring sent to him by Nunzia, he sees it as a love born of violence which is…troublesome. The entire time I just kept yelling to myself “YOURE BETTER THAN THIS” (mainly to Elsa but it can be applied liberally to every character herein).
- immediately, poor Arturo. What an unlikable character who is truly a product of his upbringing. He is 14 when we meet him and turns 16 by the end but is so emotionally stunted which leads to the biggest issues in this book.
- mainly the misogyny. Wilhelm is a *breathtaking* misogynist and Arturo embodies that attitude and manipulates it for attention, for love and for friendship. He has no other moral compass and so mimics what his father does who has been his main guide through life.
-poor Nunzia is married off at 15 to Arturo’s father which…honestly, we all saw this problem coming right? I’m not going to sit here and cast stones bc my Italian grandmother was married at 16 around the same time period so that plot point doesn’t quite rile me up, but it’s the abuse Nunzia suffers from both W and A who have truly no idea how to speak to let alone treat a woman. It’s just spectacular.
Spoilers below!
- and finally….the great reveal. I mean. I called it the moment W went into vapors over the Amalfitano so I wasn’t shocked but it was disappointing to see a character so portrayed. I could see his bitterness and self hatred and loathing directed inward but I could also see it spread outward by constantly abusing N and A and also by constantly trying to escape them. As if they are a reminder of what he cannot be. It is a fabulous character study for all that I wish he was not so.
Throughout, there is a very grim “cine città” feeling that permeates the pages and even the final reflections of Arturo as he thinks of the earring sent to him by Nunzia, he sees it as a love born of violence which is…troublesome. The entire time I just kept yelling to myself “YOURE BETTER THAN THIS” (mainly to Elsa but it can be applied liberally to every character herein).