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Rating:
Benni himself calls it 'the book of the world', and who could argue with that, given that we are faced with his best work (yes, better than Bar Sport).
25 short stories, which despite each belonging to a different genre, are all united by one detail: the protagonists of the stories are as lonely as dogs, and Benni uses it as a tool for laughter and reflection.
The Author's inventiveness shines through in each story, proving himself to be one of the best Italian authors of the last 50 years, writing about a life in moral and psychological degradation ("Alice"), a tragicomic couple keeping track of each other's betrayals ("Even and Square"), slimy politics ("A Civil Solution"), and the mentality of a talented apartment burglar who comes to consider his robbery victims as his family ("Sigh").
Some stories reflect a not-so-subtle critique of society ("A Smooth Flight"), all toned down by the brilliant absurdity of some tales ("Grandpa's Euthanasia," "Orlando Furioso d'Amore (L'Orlando Impagliato)"), interspersed with poetic stories ("The Instant"), somewhat folkloric ("The Spirit of the Chimney"), with a religious background ("Brother Silent"), and about beloved soccer ("Solitude and Revolution of Fullback Poldo").
My favorite work by Benni, even today I enjoy rereading it, having a laugh and some reflections.
It doesn't seem exaggerated to define some stories as pure poetry, if by this we mean something capable of making you pause to think about what you've just read.
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