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distance_your_shelf's review against another edition
5.0
Divna zivotna prica, protkana crnim humorom. Bavi se i nekim tezim temama, i ne ostavlja ravnodusnim. Cezare Anuncijata mi je jedan od omiljenih likova od danas :)
distance_your_shelf's review
4.0
Za mene , "Sitnice koje život znače" ostaju omiljene, ali im se, zbog nekih stvari koje sam ovde primetila, moram jednom vratiti.
Imam osećaj da su određeni citati (koji su instagramabilni, poetični i koje označavamo i prepisujemo u sveske) samo dodati u nekoj od finalnih verzija knjige, jer mi se ponekad ne uklapaju u ceo tok misli glavnog lika. Bez obzira na to, uživala sam i u tim citatima, a i u knjizi. Luče ima psa kog zove "Blistavi Um" i to je otprilike dovoljno da se ja kao jedan ozbiljan kritičar slomim u oduševljenju. Hvala lepo.
Imam osećaj da su određeni citati (koji su instagramabilni, poetični i koje označavamo i prepisujemo u sveske) samo dodati u nekoj od finalnih verzija knjige, jer mi se ponekad ne uklapaju u ceo tok misli glavnog lika. Bez obzira na to, uživala sam i u tim citatima, a i u knjizi. Luče ima psa kog zove "Blistavi Um" i to je otprilike dovoljno da se ja kao jedan ozbiljan kritičar slomim u oduševljenju. Hvala lepo.
asdin's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
asdin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Medical content
mihai_cristinam's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
Nu ştiu dacă este adevărat, dar am citit că în Vermont soţiile au nevoie de permisiunea scrisă a soţului ca să-şi pună o proteză dentară, şi că în Swaziland femeile nemăritate nu pot să strângă mâna bărbaţilor. În Montana însă, nu au voie să meargă duminica singure la pescuit (?). În Florida pot fi arestate dacă sar cu paraşuta duminica (?). În Utah nu pot să jure. În Indonezia nu trebuie să se aşeze călare pe o motocicletă, în Arabia Saudită nu pot şofa, în Arkansas un bărbat poate să-şi bată nevasta nu mai mult de o dată pe lună. În Carolina de Sud e legal să-ţi baţi nevasta, dar numai duminica, şi numai pe treptele tribunalului, şi înainte de opt dimineaţa (deci trebuie să te organizezi din timp). În ţara noastră, din fericire, femeile fac ce vor (cel puţin în majoritatea cazurilor), pentru că, tot din fericire, nu există legi retrograde, stupide şi sexiste. Şi chiar dacă ar exista, în cartierul meu, din fericire, nici o femeie nu le-ar respecta; aici interdicţiile nu sunt văzute cu ochi buni, cel mult pot fi acceptate sugestiile
marialourenco's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ratherhazy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
joecam79's review against another edition
4.0
It seems that ever since a certain 100-year old man decided to climb out of the window and disappear, there has been a fad for novels featuring unconventional senior citizens on unexpected adventures. Pretty soon we’ll have a dedicated bookshelf (possibly marked “geriatfic” – you’ve heard it here first...)
To be honest, I would not mind it at all if all such novels were as likeable as Lorenzo Marrone’s “The Temptation to be Happy” (La Tentazione di Essere Felici). Its narrator is a seventy-seven year old widower from Naples, Cesare Annunziata. By his own admission, he is a rogue who, whilst his wife was alive, was serially unfaithful to her. His character can be cantankerous and abrasive, even to his own children. His daughter Sveva, a lawyer with a young son, is supposedly close to him, but they argue whenever they meet. His son Dante is gay, but does not have the courage to admit it to his father. Cesare’s only real friends are his ex-colleague Marino, and Eleonora “the catlady”, who is “even older than him”, both of whom live in his same block. And, possibly, Rossana, a mature nurse and part-time prostitute in her fifties with whom Cesare starts to develop a relationship going beyond the occasional awkward, value-for-money tumble.
But things are soon to change with the arrival of a young couple in the flat next door. His new neighbour Emma, Cesare soon learns, is a victim of marital abuse, and pretty soon Cesare, Marino and Eleonora team up to try to help her. Along the way, Cesare reminisces about his life (particularly his amorous adventures), making some unexpected discoveries in the process.
The Temptation to be Happy reminded me of a certain type of Italian movie which I particularly enjoy – comedies like Virzi’s “Like Crazy” or the films of Paolo Genovese. Such movies are entertaining, feature quirky characters, hilarious situations and witty dialogue, but also have an underlying earnestness, more often than not tackling uncomfortable social issues. This novel is very similar. It is very readable and funny, thanks in part to an idiomatic translation by Shaun Whiteside but, where necessary, it pulls no punches and can be surprisingly bleak. It is a balance which is difficult to pull off, but Marrone manages it nicely.
And by the way, there is a film adaptation of the novel called “La Tenerezza”, although apparently director Gianni Amelio tinkers around with the plot and setting. It even won the 2017 "Nastro d'Argento" for best movie. So, that’s one to shift from my “to-read” to my “to-watch” list!
To be honest, I would not mind it at all if all such novels were as likeable as Lorenzo Marrone’s “The Temptation to be Happy” (La Tentazione di Essere Felici). Its narrator is a seventy-seven year old widower from Naples, Cesare Annunziata. By his own admission, he is a rogue who, whilst his wife was alive, was serially unfaithful to her. His character can be cantankerous and abrasive, even to his own children. His daughter Sveva, a lawyer with a young son, is supposedly close to him, but they argue whenever they meet. His son Dante is gay, but does not have the courage to admit it to his father. Cesare’s only real friends are his ex-colleague Marino, and Eleonora “the catlady”, who is “even older than him”, both of whom live in his same block. And, possibly, Rossana, a mature nurse and part-time prostitute in her fifties with whom Cesare starts to develop a relationship going beyond the occasional awkward, value-for-money tumble.
But things are soon to change with the arrival of a young couple in the flat next door. His new neighbour Emma, Cesare soon learns, is a victim of marital abuse, and pretty soon Cesare, Marino and Eleonora team up to try to help her. Along the way, Cesare reminisces about his life (particularly his amorous adventures), making some unexpected discoveries in the process.
The Temptation to be Happy reminded me of a certain type of Italian movie which I particularly enjoy – comedies like Virzi’s “Like Crazy” or the films of Paolo Genovese. Such movies are entertaining, feature quirky characters, hilarious situations and witty dialogue, but also have an underlying earnestness, more often than not tackling uncomfortable social issues. This novel is very similar. It is very readable and funny, thanks in part to an idiomatic translation by Shaun Whiteside but, where necessary, it pulls no punches and can be surprisingly bleak. It is a balance which is difficult to pull off, but Marrone manages it nicely.
And by the way, there is a film adaptation of the novel called “La Tenerezza”, although apparently director Gianni Amelio tinkers around with the plot and setting. It even won the 2017 "Nastro d'Argento" for best movie. So, that’s one to shift from my “to-read” to my “to-watch” list!