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A review by saareman
Sagittarius by Natalia Ginzburg
5.0
Enough and To Spare
Review of the Daunt Books paperback (May 25, 2023) of the translation by [a:Avril Bardoni|723014|Avril Bardoni|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] first published in [b:Valentino and Sagittarius: Two Novellas|1976370|Valentino and Sagittarius Two Novellas|Natalia Ginzburg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558453558l/1976370._SY75_.jpg|1979694] by Henry Holt & Co. (1988) of the Italian language original [b:Sagittario|18519323|Sagittario|Natalia Ginzburg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578507637l/18519323._SY75_.jpg|169677399] (1957).
It is not often that you come across a writer you have never heard of who has apparently also never been read by any of your GR friends and follows, and yet you discover that someone else whom you know (on screen at least) is reading their book. So it was with my discovery of Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991), a Sicilian Italian writer of Jewish heritage.
The snobbish mother of the married Giulia and a younger sister (who is the narrator) has moved her family to the city (unnamed, but likely Turin) from the town of Dronero, looking for a more refined and cultured life. Giulia and her husband Chaim (an unambitious family doctor) live with the mother and a servant in the town house. The younger sister is a student living with a friend. All of them are subject to constant berating by the mother who has social aspirations which her family are unable to fulfill.
The mother meets another mother Scilla at a cafe and thinks she has met her ideal companion. The two women plan on opening an art gallery (and possible dress shop) together. They decide on "Sagittarius" (Scilla's birth sign) as the future name of the gallery/shop. Scilla's flirty daughter Barbara also befriends Giulia. But Scilla may have her own agenda and despite what are obvious clues, the mother continues with her reckless plans until all is revealed.
I read Sagittarius in only a few sittings (it is a relatively short novella, 128 pages in this edition) as the suspense builds in the reader who will see all the warning signs which the unnamed mother character is oblivious to. That's what makes a 5-star for me, when you just can't stop reading!
Trivia and Link
What the heck, if it's good enough for Bill Nighy, it's good enough for me
Review of the Daunt Books paperback (May 25, 2023) of the translation by [a:Avril Bardoni|723014|Avril Bardoni|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] first published in [b:Valentino and Sagittarius: Two Novellas|1976370|Valentino and Sagittarius Two Novellas|Natalia Ginzburg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558453558l/1976370._SY75_.jpg|1979694] by Henry Holt & Co. (1988) of the Italian language original [b:Sagittario|18519323|Sagittario|Natalia Ginzburg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578507637l/18519323._SY75_.jpg|169677399] (1957).
She sat on my bed in a new dressing-gown of flaming red silk, her hair in a net and her face smothered with a cream as thick as butter, and told me about her projects. She had any number of projects. She had enough and to spare for the parish poor. This was an expression she often used.
It is not often that you come across a writer you have never heard of who has apparently also never been read by any of your GR friends and follows, and yet you discover that someone else whom you know (on screen at least) is reading their book. So it was with my discovery of Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991), a Sicilian Italian writer of Jewish heritage.
The snobbish mother of the married Giulia and a younger sister (who is the narrator) has moved her family to the city (unnamed, but likely Turin) from the town of Dronero, looking for a more refined and cultured life. Giulia and her husband Chaim (an unambitious family doctor) live with the mother and a servant in the town house. The younger sister is a student living with a friend. All of them are subject to constant berating by the mother who has social aspirations which her family are unable to fulfill.
The mother meets another mother Scilla at a cafe and thinks she has met her ideal companion. The two women plan on opening an art gallery (and possible dress shop) together. They decide on "Sagittarius" (Scilla's birth sign) as the future name of the gallery/shop. Scilla's flirty daughter Barbara also befriends Giulia. But Scilla may have her own agenda and despite what are obvious clues, the mother continues with her reckless plans until all is revealed.
I read Sagittarius in only a few sittings (it is a relatively short novella, 128 pages in this edition) as the suspense builds in the reader who will see all the warning signs which the unnamed mother character is oblivious to. That's what makes a 5-star for me, when you just can't stop reading!
Trivia and Link
What the heck, if it's good enough for Bill Nighy, it's good enough for me