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riminireads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Some beautiful writing. Other parts definitely showed their age and/or were lost in translation (the book was first published in Italian in 1970). My main takeaway from this is that people in their 20s don't get to do nothing anymore. I can't remember the last time I was genuinely bored (or had the luxury and time to do so). Walking around the city, heading to the local bar and knowing someone will be there, complicated love affairs, randomly deciding to drive to the coast, spending the day reading, zero care for work, no real responsibilities. This is the 20s I should be having!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia
mgbellm's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Suicide
jayisreading's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I can see why André Aciman wrote the foreword for Calligarich’s book— It’s not only because it’s set in Italy; it’s the writing style and atmosphere (along with all the literary references), the way the characters idly wander and sit with their loneliness that made me wonder to what extent Calligarich (and perhaps similar Italian authors) have influenced Aciman. In his foreword, Aciman writes:
Rome is the lingering, glamorous patina that blinds the characters of Last Summer in the City to the very real fact that they are seriously damaged and marooned.
I think this is a good sentence that makes clear what you’ll find in Calligarich’s novel. Which takes me to the actual novel—
I really did like the way Calligarich lingered, whether it be on moments, through the streets of Rome, or between characters. It almost felt as though you were watching a 1970s Italian film. Rome is a character, in a way, considering the way the characters reacted to the city throughout this novel. Early on in the novel, this is pretty well established, presenting Rome as a woman, with whom “[t]here can be no half measures with her, either she’s the love of your life or you have to leave her, because that’s what the tender beast demands, to be loved.”
It’s a novel in which you observe the protagonist drift and spiral. It’s honestly a rather depressing book, despite having somewhat of a lackadaisical air to it. The emotional delivery was well done, and the translator seems to have succeeded in getting this across.
It’s clear this book is dated in the way Calligarich approaches mental illness (flippantly), female characters (flattened and objectified), and male characters (boys’ club energy along with a dash of chauvinism). The world was very rose-tinted, certainly helped by the lyrical writing. It did get tiring though. Oh, and there was a good helping of blatant homophobia that was entirely unnecessary that really threw me off.
All-in-all, though, it was interesting to pick this book up, especially considering that I’ve barely touched Italian literature (specifically anything dated after the sixteenth century, welp). I’d be curious to read more modern literary works from Italy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
cookie_khumalo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia
juujules's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia