Thursday, April 29, 2021

Book Review - Nives; Sacha Naspini

 


TITLE/AUTHOR:  Nives, Sacha Nasoini

PUBLISHER: Europa Editions

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021

GENRE: Fiction / Literary / Loss and Forgiveness

FORMAT:  eGalley LENGTH: 144 pp.

SOURCE:  Edelweiss/publisher

SETTING(s):  Tuscany


ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  Unable to mourn after the death of a spouse, perhaps a favorite chicken can make it all better so that you can move on?

BRIEF REVIEW:   When Nives Cilleraii  66, loses her husband of 50 years unexpectedly to a stroke she is unable to shed a tear. The couple lived on an isolated farm on the outskirts of Tuscany.  Lonely and unable to sleep but determined to carry on Nives finds unexpected companionship in Giacomina "Gia",  her favorite chicken of the brood, deformed claw and all.  Gia soon begins to live indoors with Nives and seems to be the answer to her prayers. But, when the chicken appears ill, gaze fixed after watching a Tide laundry commercial, Nives panics and contacts her former friend and Veterinarian, Loriano, a man who likes to drink.  On this particular evening Loriano has had more than his share yet, he takes the call from Nives and eventually makes several suggestions to wake the chicken out of what seems to be some sort of a trance. 

As the extended phone call progresses the two reminisce about younger days, earlier relationships and ghosts of the past which have haunted but remained tucked away until now.  Not only does Nives begin to heal and forgive but,  the chicken recovers as well.

I love Europa Edition's translated works and I have to say that this one was one of the most unusual I've tried thus far but, it did leave me smiling and thinking.  Sometimes you need to do whatever it takes to move on as life, my friends,  is for the living.

Translated from the Italian by  Clarissa Botsford. 

RATING:  3.5/5 stars
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10 comments:

  1. SukoApril 29, 2021 at 5:50 PM

    This sounds like an enchanting book with an unusual premise. Terrific review!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian's Home BlogApril 29, 2021 at 6:15 PM

    A little chicken dance never hurts.

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    Replies
    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaApril 30, 2021 at 2:09 PM

      This chicken had a bum claw so no dancing, that I can recall LOL

      Delete
  3. MysticaApril 29, 2021 at 10:06 PM

    Lovely review.

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    Replies
    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaApril 30, 2021 at 2:09 PM

      Thank you it's a different sort of story about things we have held deep inside.

      Delete
  4. jenclairApril 30, 2021 at 11:33 AM

    I'm intrigued with this premise--the grief, the chicken, and the drunk veterinarian!

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  5. JoAnnApril 30, 2021 at 11:34 AM

    Grief and chickens - not sure I'm up for two books linking those subjects this year. Reminds me (too much?) of Brood.

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    Replies
    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaApril 30, 2021 at 2:08 PM

      JoAnn, when she took the chicken indoors, I thought of Brood but, this one is different in an "out there sort of way." LOL

      Delete
  6. TiApril 30, 2021 at 2:15 PM

    When you said a favorite chicken I was thinking a meal. That is SO bad. I guess I should break for lunch.

    ReplyDelete

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