Strangers I Know

Name: Strangers I Know
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9781922330765
Price: 34.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Claudia Durastanti

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3.56

( 5,611 ratings, 709 reviews)

Summary

Strangers I Know by Claudia Durastanti explores the intricacies of family and identity through the eyes of a daughter in a deaf Italian-American family. The narrative delves into the complexities of communication, contrasting cultures, and the pursuit of a coherent life amidst disorienting family dynamics. The protagonist's journey is a rich tapestry woven through personal and familial memories, inviting readers into a deeply emotional landscape.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$34⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$37⁰⁰~~

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Strangers I Know

$34⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$37⁰⁰~~

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're captivated by explorations of identity and belonging, with a unique narrative intertwining personal history and cultural experiences. The story delves into the complexities of language, relationships, and the meaning of home, inviting you on an introspective and thought-provoking journey.

A bold, contemporary and urgent novel from a renowned Italian writer that examines silence in different forms, immigration, family and social class.

Description

Every family has its own mythology, but in this family, the myths don’t match up. Claudia’s mother says she met her husband when she stopped him from jumping off a bridge. Her father says it happened when he saved her from an attempted robbery. Both parents are deaf but couldn’t be more different; they can’t even agree on how they met, much less who needed saving.

Claudia comes of age with her brother in this strange, and increasingly estranged, household split between New York City and a village in southern Italy. Without even sign language in common, family communication is chaotic and rife with misinterpretation, by turns hilarious and devastating. Feeling like a stranger to those she loves most, Claudia longs for a freedom she’s not sure exists. She begins to create her own mythology, to construct her version of the story of her life.

Formally dazzling and spectacularly original, Strangers I Know makes us look anew at how language and family can shape our understanding of the world. A bestselling, award-winning sensation in Italy, it asks whether we can truly know anyone, including ourselves.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Strangers I Know by Claudia Durastanti is hailed for its intricate narrative and emotive depth, exploring themes of communication, family, and identity with exceptional insight. Critics commend its hybrid nature, combining novel and memoir elements, and praise the lyrical and sharp writing style that lends a dark beauty to everyday life. The book is celebrated for its originality, invention, and ability to bridge cultural divides, resonating with readers through its profound exploration of self, language, and human connections.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922330765

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 February 2022

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Contributors:

Translated by Elizabeth Harris

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

Collections

Claudia Durastanti Fiction General Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Claudia Durastanti is the author of four critically acclaimed novels. Strangers I Know (La straniera) won the Premio Pozzale Luigi Russo and the Premio Strega Off, and was a finalist for the Premio Strega. Durastanti is a former Italian Fellow in Literature at the American Academy in Rome, and one of the founders of the Italian Literature Festival in London. She has written for Granta, Bomb and the Los Angeles Review of Books, and is the Italian translator for Ocean Vuong and the most recent edition of The Great Gatsby, among others. For now, she lives in Rome.