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Happiness, As Such

By Natalia Ginzburg
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Happiness, As Such by Natalia Ginzburg explores the complexities of family dynamics through a series of letters focusing on a mother and her adult children. Set against the backdrop of 1970s Italy, the narrative delves into themes of absence, identity, and the quest for happiness as the characters navigate personal and political upheavals. With keen insight, it examines the enduring bonds of family and the distances that can separate them.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2600
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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 drawn to intimate explorations of family dynamics and the complexities of human relationships. Set against a backdrop of political upheaval in Italy, it weaves a rich tapestry of personal letters and interactions, offering a poignant reflection on love, absence, and the pursuit of happiness amidst life's unpredictabilities.

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Happiness, As Such

Natalia Ginzburg's most beloved book in Italy and one of her finest achievements, Happiness, As Such is an original, wise, raw, comic novel that cuts to the bone.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Dear Michele, she wrote, I'm writing principally to tell you that your father is sick. Go visit him. He says he hasn’t seen you for days.

Michele is the beloved only son of a large, dysfunctional family in 1970s Italy. Headstrong and independent, he has disappeared to London without explanation. Back in Italy, his father lies dying. Michele's departure sets forth a series of events that will bring together everyone in his life - his mother Adriana, living in the countryside with her two twin daughters Bebetta and Nannetta, his long-suffering sister Angelica, his loyal and sad friend Osvaldo, and Mara, a young woman who is prone to showing up on doorsteps with a baby that may or may not be Michele's.

The story of the Prodigal Son turned on its head, Happiness, As Such is a short, absurdly funny novel-in-letters about complicated families and missed connections.

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?

Happiness, As Such by Natalia Ginzburg has been praised for its subtle and incisive exploration of family dynamics and individual desires, capturing the nuances of human relationships with wit and poignancy. Critics appreciate Ginzburg's masterful storytelling and her ability to weave complex emotions into an engaging narrative. Her insightful portrayal of the characters' interconnected lives and personal struggles has resonated deeply with readers, earning the book high acclaim.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781911547440

Publisher: Daunt Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 October 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Daunt Books

Contributors:

  • Translated by Minna Proctor

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 176

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Natalia Ginzburg

About the Author

Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) was born in Palermo, Sicily. She wrote dozens of books including the essay collection The Little Virtues, and the novels All Our Yesterdays, Happiness, As Such and the Strega Prize-winning Family Lexicon. She was involved in political activism throughout her life and served in the Italian parliament from 1983 to 1987.

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