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A review by khopeisz
The Beautiful Summer by Cesare Pavese
3.0
I did not entirely dislike this book for a few reasons: 1) the writing was fun; 2) I am intrigued by the lore of Cesare Pavese; and 3) I was amused by every character except for Ginia. Which is a problem bc she’s the main character.
I completely get who Ginia is supposed to be, and at points I related (or past me rather) to her insecurities, resentments, and paranoia. But dear god this was so frustrating to read!! Her insecurities are too repetitive. Pavese was an editor, so I’m wondering why he did not refine this story more. It is already short and I’m telling him, may he rest in peace lol, that it could have been 50 pages shorter. Also, I was confused by the passage of time and also the feeling of place. From the foreword by Elizabeth Strout I understood that the story is set in an artist’s bohemian city. However, a true feeling of place was never established for me and so it just felt like the city was just randomly littered with a bunch of artists. Like your butcher? Oh he’s an artist. Your doctor? He’s an artist too lol.
Anyway, if I hadn’t heavily annotated this book I’d give it away. Not out of malice or anything, I just don’t see myself re-reading it for pleasure (maybe as a reference point for my own writing). Oh! And the ending was very fitting and sweet I thought.
I completely get who Ginia is supposed to be, and at points I related (or past me rather) to her insecurities, resentments, and paranoia. But dear god this was so frustrating to read!! Her insecurities are too repetitive. Pavese was an editor, so I’m wondering why he did not refine this story more. It is already short and I’m telling him, may he rest in peace lol, that it could have been 50 pages shorter. Also, I was confused by the passage of time and also the feeling of place. From the foreword by Elizabeth Strout I understood that the story is set in an artist’s bohemian city. However, a true feeling of place was never established for me and so it just felt like the city was just randomly littered with a bunch of artists. Like your butcher? Oh he’s an artist. Your doctor? He’s an artist too lol.
Anyway, if I hadn’t heavily annotated this book I’d give it away. Not out of malice or anything, I just don’t see myself re-reading it for pleasure (maybe as a reference point for my own writing). Oh! And the ending was very fitting and sweet I thought.