I have to start by saying it's always a relief when the book I choose turns out to be a good one. And this first book by Tom Rachman was amazing! We all loved it, which can sometimes mean that the discussion isn't as lively. But for those brave enough to venture out in the blizzard, we had a great evening talking about it.
The novel, which is really written more like short stories, is set at an English-language newspaper based in Rome. Each wittily titled chapter stands on its own, but the characters appear throughout. Interspersed throughout the book are brief sections telling the history of the paper, and tying the whole story together.
Michelle had the brilliant idea to bring along a reader's guide, so that we could talk about each chapter one-by-one. Rachman wrote with such feeling, and we all had very emotional responses to this book - both to the characters and their situations. Some of the more memorable:
Arthur Gopal: the obituary writer and devoted father to Pickle. Heartbreaking!
Ruby Zaga: the angry copy editor dealing with office insecurity and loneliness.
Winston Cheung: youth and inexperience trying to compete for a Cairo stringer job with an insensitive, fast-talking correspondent. Infuriating!
Abbey Pinnola (accounts payable): the paper's CFO who ends up sitting on a plane next to someone she's just had fired. Shocking - never saw this twist coming!
And my favorite, the paper's most loyal reader Ornella de Monterecchi: reading each edition from cover to cover and consequently living a decade behind. She finally shares a secret that allows her to move forward with her life.
At times, Rachman makes you want to cheer for these people. Other times you want to punch them, cry with them, shake some sense into them, or celebrate with them. He beautifully illustrates that people have many sides, most of which we don't get a chance to see when they are at work.
Loved this book! I don't know what our rating scale is, but I'd give it full marks!
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