Matteo Carmignoli
I caduti

The book I am about to review is by a rather unknown writer, I imagine, someone named Matteo Carmignoli. I stumbled upon a review of one of his books by chance (not the one I will review) and intrigued, I also read an interview with him on the same site (that one was about the book I will review). Then, being passionate about music and a member of two music-themed groups on Facebook, I noticed some posts by a certain Matteo Carmignoli, only to discover later it was the same person. So, very intrigued by this twist of fate, I got hold of one of his books, "The Fallen: Story of a Conscience," the one that inspired me the most, and as I read it, I have to admit I was very impressed. It’s a chilling tale, in both the positive and negative sense of the word. As the work suggests, it’s the first-person narration of a mysterious character, a conscience tormented by strange ideas and demons. Demons, yes. Because haunting him, beyond his obsessions (first and foremost alcohol) and perversions (self-harm and prostitutes), is a Demon in the flesh that only he seems capable of seeing. This infernal creature, the fallen one, tries in every way to drag him towards the most sinful actions and the most dangerous and sick contexts. The story, intentionally very heavy at the start, begins to flow after the first chapters, engaging the reader, leading them to question many certainties about themselves and the surrounding society that perhaps they took for granted. A book that questions the stability of the "self." A book I could analyze according to Freudian theories since there seems to be a constant and irreparable conflict between the id, ego, and superego in all the characters. Nevertheless, "The Fallen" is a tale that attempts, and I think quite successfully, to unveil and expose the darkest and most perverse sides of human nature, sides that, I fear, we all have and keep well hidden. "The Fallen" is a story where reality, hallucinations, and dreamlike dimension are so perfectly mixed as to sometimes confuse both the reader and the narrator/protagonist. To conclude, I recommend giving a read to this short story to anyone among you who is fascinated by Dark atmospheres, noir tales, somewhat unhealthy and surreal plots with demonic creatures in the background. Lucifer, the fallen angel, brings light to us humans; light that will allow us to see reality as it actually is... But the truth sometimes hurts... A lot!