1. Our July pick: The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles by Giorgio Bassani
2. What else have you been reading in July?
Let’s begin with 1:
Aside from the narrator and Dr Fadigati (wearer of the title’s gold-rimmed spectacles), name a character who sticks in your memory. If you like, tell us something distinctive about this character:
I also run a book group for Age UK Camden - and have just read England's Lane by Joseph Connolly for that. Quite an exhausting style of writing, but really interesting look at a 1950s local high street. Have any of you come across it?
I didn't read this month's book but have read this month Lessons in Chemistry (good summer read), Things I Don't Want to Know by Deborah Levy and Monica Ali's Love Marriage. All by women I notice. Looking forward to my third read of Mrs Palfrey.
There is a comment in the Ginzburg book about how after the war ends the job of writing news stories seems unimportant - why write about everyday normality? There is similar sense in Bassani - of how you know something catastrophic is going to happen
It is compelling and the style - long sentences which describe everything without any dialogue makes it feel frenetic and claustrophobic. Lots of great characters and oppressive small town and village life
By absolute coincidence I started reading Less by Andrew Greer (bought pre covid and gradually working through the unread pile) and there is a reference to gold rimmed specs in the middle (gay character/ lover of now dead more famous person) and I was over-excited to find the homage (which assuming deliberate!!)
I've been reading Natalia Ginzburg's All Our Yesterdays which is also set in 1930s and wartime Italy where that picture of surviving is conveyed very well. It makes me wonder how I would behave
I really admire he makes his book both so of its time and place – 1930s Ferrara - and also more universal, or mythic. Can you think of any moments where he broadens and elevates the subject?
The other thing that was interesting was how everyday life trundled on under fascism. There was talk of people holding different views which you tend to forget.
I wonder what people's thoughts are on Eraldo Deliliers? We had some great chat on the walk and zoom about whether he was the one holding all the power, or if he was being taken advantage of. What do you think?
Thank you Emily and everyone.
Thank you so much for joining the thread Michael, Gillian and Claire.
Future thread readers - please do feel free to add your thoughts whenever you like.
Nostalgic for a time before Liz Truss is PM perhaps
Any final comments before we close up?
I have to head off now although we could say a helluva lt more. Look forward to September!
Sounds interesting - made me think of half day closing on a Wednesday on Ealing High Street when I was growing up in the 60s
I also run a book group for Age UK Camden - and have just read England's Lane by Joseph Connolly for that. Quite an exhausting style of writing, but really interesting look at a 1950s local high street. Have any of you come across it?
I think Gillian's right - maybe that's true for all of us? Or we don't realise until afterwards?
I've been lurking and have just subscribed.
I didn't read this month's book but have read this month Lessons in Chemistry (good summer read), Things I Don't Want to Know by Deborah Levy and Monica Ali's Love Marriage. All by women I notice. Looking forward to my third read of Mrs Palfrey.
Do you think Dr Fadigati was happy at any time?
There is a comment in the Ginzburg book about how after the war ends the job of writing news stories seems unimportant - why write about everyday normality? There is similar sense in Bassani - of how you know something catastrophic is going to happen
What else have we been reading / watching / listening to over July? Great to hear about Ginzburg and Greer - anything else?
Right then, moving on to point 2 in earnest:
It is compelling and the style - long sentences which describe everything without any dialogue makes it feel frenetic and claustrophobic. Lots of great characters and oppressive small town and village life
By absolute coincidence I started reading Less by Andrew Greer (bought pre covid and gradually working through the unread pile) and there is a reference to gold rimmed specs in the middle (gay character/ lover of now dead more famous person) and I was over-excited to find the homage (which assuming deliberate!!)
I've been reading Natalia Ginzburg's All Our Yesterdays which is also set in 1930s and wartime Italy where that picture of surviving is conveyed very well. It makes me wonder how I would behave
Perhaps 5 more mins on Bassani:
I really admire he makes his book both so of its time and place – 1930s Ferrara - and also more universal, or mythic. Can you think of any moments where he broadens and elevates the subject?
What about the relationship between the Doctor being gay and the narrator being Jewish?
I really noticed how the city of Ferrara felt like a character in its own right.
And the way its city walls, very much created an inside and outside of the city.
The other thing that was interesting was how everyday life trundled on under fascism. There was talk of people holding different views which you tend to forget.
But he had it in for the Doctor right from the start although hiding his own sexuality.
Signora Lavezzoli was another unpleasant character
Any other minor characters you'd like to mention?
He seemed to be the one holding the power and without any redeeming features apart from his looks.
I wonder what people's thoughts are on Eraldo Deliliers? We had some great chat on the walk and zoom about whether he was the one holding all the power, or if he was being taken advantage of. What do you think?