David Safier
L'Orribile Karma Della Formica

THE REVIEW

It can't be pleasant to pass away because of the fiery sink of a Russian space station that hits you squarely, just as it's not pleasant to "wake up" as an ant.

This is what happens to Kim Lange, a television host on her way to success, incredibly ambitious, with a dissatisfied but faithful husband, a little daughter she rarely spends time with, a difficult character, and also adulterous.

In light of all this, reincarnating as an ant is just the bare minimum that can happen to this unfortunate person who can't appreciate the most beautiful things life has to offer but seeks only personal gratification at the expense of others.

Yet, everyone is granted a second chance, a way to redeem themselves and show that deep down there is someone (not something) we care about more than ourselves.

To prove this and regain her family, Kim will have to go through a multitude of reincarnation stages, passing through various animal forms, as well as absurd situations, trying to prevent her husband from remarrying her former best friend, her daughter from forgetting her, and ultimately, Buddha from sending her to Nirvana. All with the help of a travel companion skilled in the Sublime Art of Love.

"The Horrible Karma of the Ant" is a little gem written in a flowing manner, with direct language, without too many pretensions, except that of entertaining the reader in a healthy way, a purpose that David Safier, an established screenwriter - as mentioned on the back cover - born in '66, hits perfectly (the same accuracy as the aforementioned sink).

At the end of the day, what great lessons does this delightful little book leave us?

1. Love can overcome everything (at least in books...),
2. very often, we already live in Nirvana, without needing to reach it,
3. it's better to behave well because life as an ant is miserable!