Reviews

Der letzte Sommer in der Stadt by Gianfranco Calligarich

asiachudzik's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this whilst visiting Rome and was absolutely enchanted. Such a beautiful, heart wrenching story. 

majaisabella's review against another edition

4.0

I loveeee a mid century classic with a fucked up main character living their fucked up lives in their fucked up, sweltering hot capital city. Some of the characters were slightly boring though and I felt it could have been more interesting during the middle. Still a great read

capitalcityreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

cmn69's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

this felt like an italian ‘Nausea’. Nausea if antoine fucked a bit more and spent more time in the sun. 
the protagonist had a kind of directionless apathy towards rome and the direction of his life that I particularly empathise with in this silly little year of everything and nothing. much to think about. made me want to go for a swim :)

ashleygallaher's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

miloussa's review against another edition

2.0

This book is not bad, but at page 112 I surrendered to the fact that this just isn’t my type of book. Maybe I could enjoy it at some other stage in life, but not now.

lumiereverte's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

therayleighreader's review against another edition

emotional reflective

4.0

everynothing's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted tense medium-paced

4.25

Yes, it's beautiful. The characters are so fleeting in what they do, think and say that in all their unpredictability they are quite predictable in destroying what little they have to give. It's a sad story, it's relatable and it's not, the characters are somewhat likeable and certainly fascinating. The preface by Aciman makes it so much better! It's a short and quick read, just scratching the surface of what could be a long, long story. Gazarra - a Don Juan without the pleasure, living an existential and aesthetic life, unable to seize the day. 

aoi_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The book, like life, passes too quickly and you have read the last line hoping that you haven’t reached the end, but it ends as quietly as the day slipping into night.