I'm Not ScaredNiccolo Ammaniti
Be careful reading too many reviews of this novel; some of them give away too much. It's best to know as little about this book as possible.
It's 1978, and nine-year-old Michele Amitrano discovers a horrible secret in his tiny Italian village. (Some reviewers divulge this secret, and while it's true Amitrano discovers it fairly early in the novel, there's no need to ruin the surprise.) This secret will soon teach Amitrano far more than he has ever wanted to learn about the world, his village, and himself.
This novel is fast-paced (one can read it in a day) and never lingers over description, and yet the stark, arid atmosphere of the sweltering summer nearly rises from the pages. Also brought to life are the characters inhabiting Amitrano's small village -- encompassing only five houses, this small hamlet in Tuscany is home to some pretty colorful characters.
The story is told from the child's perspective as he struggles to understand the whys and hows of the secret. Can Amitrano come to grips with the secret and what it means for his family, his friends -- even himself?
In a nutshell: A fast, thrilling read, I'm Not Scared will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars
FTCBS: Bought this one myself.
It's 1978, and nine-year-old Michele Amitrano discovers a horrible secret in his tiny Italian village. (Some reviewers divulge this secret, and while it's true Amitrano discovers it fairly early in the novel, there's no need to ruin the surprise.) This secret will soon teach Amitrano far more than he has ever wanted to learn about the world, his village, and himself.
This novel is fast-paced (one can read it in a day) and never lingers over description, and yet the stark, arid atmosphere of the sweltering summer nearly rises from the pages. Also brought to life are the characters inhabiting Amitrano's small village -- encompassing only five houses, this small hamlet in Tuscany is home to some pretty colorful characters.
The story is told from the child's perspective as he struggles to understand the whys and hows of the secret. Can Amitrano come to grips with the secret and what it means for his family, his friends -- even himself?
In a nutshell: A fast, thrilling read, I'm Not Scared will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars
FTCBS: Bought this one myself.
5 comments:
Wonderful novel, have you seen the movie? The photography is amazing, you can really feel the scorching sun while you watch it.
PS: The village is in Puglia, not in Tuscany! Tuscany is not as poor as the village described in the novel. A lot 6f what happens in the novel can be explained with the gap between the rich prospering north and the impoverished south of Italy.
http://johnandsheena.co.uk/books/?p=1570 if anyone wants a second opinion on this fantastic novel. And I don't give anything away either so you can rest assured there.
I loved the ending especially - very unexpected.
Stefania - Oh no! I'm embarrassed to have gotten that wrong. I did a quick check, though, and it appears the New Yorker (as posted on Amazon) made the same mistake. So at least I'm in good company :)
Don't worry, only an Italian could have noticed that. I don't think they name Puglia or any other region of Italy in the book. That the New Yorker has made the same mistake is a bit less understandable, because they should have fact checkers. Mmmmmh, some people think that every Italian village on a hill should be in Tuscany! :-D
sounds like a great read. Thanks for the review.
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