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I have to stop getting stressed about the right amount of stars each book deserves, but I cannot help feeling that 3 is a misleading number for this one. The Hunger Games is actually almost perfect in its own way: it's a page turner, it has interesting characters that defy (gender) stereotypes, just that little added social commentary that makes you feel there is actually a point to the story, and, in my case, it makes for a great distraction from writing a PhD.

This last one surprised me with a less-than-happy ending. The rhythm is a bit slower than the others, and all the 'good characters' come out of it a little battered. I liked this: individuals can only so much when the overall system is so rigged. Suzanne Collins killed her (our) idol, and I wasn't expecting it.

Sometimes I enjoy a book, but I cannot help the feeling that I have read it before. Usually it isn't that the storyline is unoriginal, but something about the tone, the characters, or the atmosphere. To give Robert Schneider credit, he manages to write something that feels radically new, it seems to me. The story itself (the hopeless love of an ununderstood outsider for 'his' girl) was, for me, not as memorable as its settings: a small village in the Austrian Alps. Being from the "Italian Tyrol", they were familiar to me, and it was an interesting experience to find 'my places' (relatively speaking) in a book: it doesn't happen often. Portraying life 'as it used to be' in small mountain community, Schneider striked an unlikely balance between nostalgic tribute and sinister dystopia.

A novella imagining what would happen if the queen became a passionate reader, thus becoming humane. Ironic and intelligent, adorably British: subtle and understated, but delivering some real satirical punches. Notes: I read this book in the Italian translation by Elena Pavani.

A week ago, when I found Miyazaki's film was based on a book, I was so surprised, and so frustrated by my ignorance, that I couldn't wait. I was not disappointed. I wonder if, had I read it at a younger age, I would have found the plot easier to follow, or more compelling. Somehow, however, the story did not seem to matter because the world of Howl's almost doesn't need one to be worth your time. It's at once as story tale as it gets, and also radically original and imaginative. I also loved the characters: Sophie and Howl are such likeable, imperfect heroes! My edition includes an interview with the author, which was very worth reading.

Tascha said Hot Milk made her think of Mary Gaitskill, only perhaps less complex. I thought of Murakami, because of the slightly surreal atmosphere and writing. A mix between Mary Gaitskill and Murakami should then be absolutely fantastic. Somehow, Hot Milk wasn't absolutely fantastic, though it was good. As I know from experience, summing up the plot makes this book seem lame: a protagonist going through her mid-20's crisis, a controlling, hypochondriac mother, a holiday in Spain, a handful of love/sex affairs. The writing is beautiful, and if one is into surreal writing there are some beautiful scenes that are worth the time in themselves (to avoid spoilers, I'll only say two words: fish theft).

More than a novel, it is a collection of short stories moving from generation to generation, from the age of slave trade in Ghana to present day USA. This structure is both effective and frustrating. It's effective because it allows the author (and the readers) to explore the connections between colonialism, slavery, black-labour exploitation, civil-rights battles, and today's racism. It's frustrating because some stories are so short that they feel like necessary links, or vignettes, without leaving the time to "grow emotions" for the characters. Some of the plot-patterns in the book were also a bit forced and already-seen (for those who read the book already: black stones, romantic resolution...). That said, it was a fine read and an important one, delving into the horrors of colonialism.

Set between Shanghai and Malaysia, Five Star Billionaire is made up by a series of intersecting stories, the lives of a generation of migrant workers from different social classes. Every character is struggling to be successful. Everyone fails, though often one is left thinking that that's for the best, because the price of success is loosing oneself. The book it's easy to read. It is about the generalised obsession with making money and appear successful, but it doesn't fall into the trap of being patronising, or of dividing the world into idealists and money-thirsty: everyone is caught up in the same system. This is what I appreciated the most about it.

I read this book in just two sessions, which is generally a good sign. It’s the story of the making of a family, its coming apart, and its patching itself back together, however imperfectly. Although at times I found the character a little too one-dimensional, there was something touching about everyone’s frailty and desire to do good by the others (if only we knew what is ‘good’). Especially towards the end, reading felt a little like watching a good American movie: emotionally manipulative, but soothing - I was wallowing in the drama.

Del dirsi addio is a crime story set in Bolzano, where the mystery around the disappearance of a kid is little more than a backdrop to the personal story of the detective investigating the case. Sergio is in love with a younger man, is in the closet, and is trying to patch up his relationship with his dad, and his memories of his deceased mum.In spite of these intricacies, I found the book easy to read, and read it whole on a single plane journey (admittedly a 20 hours one). The characters - including Bolzano, the town where the story is set - are not explored in great depth, but they are alive enough to make for an interesting read. I don't understand why authors so often need to let you know what they have read and learnt, but that's probably just me.

Don't let the two stars fool you: this book is funny, at times even laugh-out-loud funny. If you are an academic, or someone who has had to deal with the absurd rituals of recommendation letters (on either side of the equation), you'll almost definitely laugh. I cannot speak from experience, but I suspect if you are an academic in an American institution, you'll laugh even harder. If you are an academic at a Literature/English department in an American institution, you'll probably cry a little too. In spite of all the laughter, the story is a little too thin to carry the book: after the 25th letter, one gets the gist. I also grew to dislike Prof. Fitger so much, that I became unable to appreciate his sarcasm.