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William2's Reviews > That Awful Mess on the Via Merulana
That Awful Mess on the Via Merulana
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The novel is so Italian that the English-language reader's at sea most of the time. It’s a problematic read due to its myriad Italian cultural references. There simply aren't enough footnotes. This reminds me of reading Martin Amis's Lionel Asbo: State of England. The problem there was British slang. Half a dozen slang references per page — with all the Googling — made for tough sledding. Same problem with Vladimir Nabokov's Glory. I know a bit about Russian history but not enough to plumb that book in a single reading. May all these novels soon be Penquinized with plentiful endnotes.
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Reading Progress
March 24, 2011
– Shelved
March 28, 2011
– Shelved as:
20-ce
March 28, 2011
– Shelved as:
italy
March 28, 2011
– Shelved as:
translation
March 28, 2011
– Shelved as:
rome
July 29, 2016
–
Started Reading
July 29, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
August 29, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)
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message 1:
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Steven
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rated it 3 stars
Aug 05, 2016 12:29AM
know what you mean about 'very Italian', I just think Gadda was so passionate that his logic was as long as his own compatriots loved it, it would be a be a bonus if anyone else did.
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Yes, it needs Penguin-like notes. It could work in translation with the notes-–be comprehensible, I mean
Have read others in the New York classics range but to be honest I don't think they are anywhere near as good as Penguin.
I am duly warned... and therefore will not be adding this as yet. :/
I haven't read it, but I heard it's complicated for us Italians too. A unique language, that blends elements of regional Italian, and a difficult style. But it's one of the pillars of 20th cent. Italian literature. Not an easy read for sure.https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Yes, Moloch, so not even very spritely in Italian. So How could they assume a virtually footnoteless English version would work?. Thanks for your insights. Very revealing.
