(Starred review)
When we first meet Clara Salvemini, daughter of the corrupt, manipulative head of a formidable building empire, she is caught in glaring headlights as she stumbles bloodied and naked down the highway. Later, we’re told that that her death is a suicide, and we know something disturbing is going on. Lagioia, who won the Strega Prize for this remarkable novel, portrays a family wrecked by patriarchal stranglehold; a daughter who both defends and defies her father; and the deep rottenness of a society that bends low to power, which make this work biting social commentary as well as edge-of-seat reading. The Salvemini children include oldest Ruggero, unable to escape his father’s sway; self-indulged youngest Gioia, seemingly a child at 26; and Michele, son of his father’s mistress, uneasily integrated into the family; he’s awkward, antisocial, and closely bonded to Clara. The indelibly drawn Clara, riven by alcohol and pills, is a serial adulteress and participant in hard porn, and her mysterious death shakes her immediate world. The narrative is satisfyingly packed and textured beyond the needs of basic plot; often, two events or conversations take place simultaneously, dizzily clarifying the characters’ mental states and motivations. VERDICT A rich and readable cautionary tale for strong-minded readers.
