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lisa_rwrmusings's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started, but once I acclimated to the style of writing (most likely due in part to the translation) and the character development, I was hooked. So many characters that grow and change throughout the novel through both good times and bad. Overall, a heartwarming story!
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
The Temptation to Be Happy should be called In Search of Happiness.
Seventy-seven year old, Cesare, is a widower, who lives by himself in an apartment filled with memories. He's quite the character, as he's outspoken and set in his ways. He's always been selfish, and he's well aware of it. He's also unable to tell his two kids, Sveva and Dante, that he loves them just the way they are, because he's old school and doesn't do touchy-feely.
Cesare has always been a womanizer. He reminisces about his long lost loves, and the failing to be a good husband. As it's the case for all human beings (unless one is a sociopath), the old man has lots of regrets: for staying in a job he hated, for staying in a marriage after he'd stopped loving his wife, for not having gone after what, better said who he wanted.
The novel is filled with witty observations and self-deprecation. It's somewhat short on plot, but that shouldn't put you off. I like a book with an unlikeable character. Cesare is not the worst, but he's no angel either. He's determined to make the most of what's left of his life. And in order to enjoy life, one has to appreciate the small pleasures.
There seem to be a plethora of grumpy old men novels out there. I have no problem with that. I wouldn't mind reading some books with grumpy older or middle aged women. I enjoyed this novel a great deal, although not quite as much as A Man Called Ove .
Many thanks to OneWorld Publications for the ARC.
Seventy-seven year old, Cesare, is a widower, who lives by himself in an apartment filled with memories. He's quite the character, as he's outspoken and set in his ways. He's always been selfish, and he's well aware of it. He's also unable to tell his two kids, Sveva and Dante, that he loves them just the way they are, because he's old school and doesn't do touchy-feely.
Cesare has always been a womanizer. He reminisces about his long lost loves, and the failing to be a good husband. As it's the case for all human beings (unless one is a sociopath), the old man has lots of regrets: for staying in a job he hated, for staying in a marriage after he'd stopped loving his wife, for not having gone after what, better said who he wanted.
The novel is filled with witty observations and self-deprecation. It's somewhat short on plot, but that shouldn't put you off. I like a book with an unlikeable character. Cesare is not the worst, but he's no angel either. He's determined to make the most of what's left of his life. And in order to enjoy life, one has to appreciate the small pleasures.
There seem to be a plethora of grumpy old men novels out there. I have no problem with that. I wouldn't mind reading some books with grumpy older or middle aged women. I enjoyed this novel a great deal, although not quite as much as A Man Called Ove .
Many thanks to OneWorld Publications for the ARC.
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!
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