*September 2023–read this ages ago but my review got lost, so reposting it. It’s a great book!!*
A dark but delicious tale—short in length but deep in drama. I couldn’t put it down! It reminds me that great things often come in small packages. I’m so glad a friend recommended Ammaniti, a young Italian author who holds awards in Europe. I can’t believe he hasn’t caught on in America in a bigger way. He makes other writers look long-winded, and his writing seems effortless. He knows how to tell a big story in a small space.
Speaking of small spaces, most of this story takes place in a cellar. How the writer manages to turn a claustrophobic situation into a hot adventure story, I’ll never know, but I’m telling you, he does—with cleverness and grace. And even though the story is dark, there are poignant moments where there is light, however brief.
An alienated 14-year-old, Lorenzo, manages to trick his parents and hide away in a cellar for a week. In walks his half-sister, full of trouble, tremors, and demands. They both are loners and they both have secrets. They push each other’s buttons, and each of them ends up way out of their comfort zone. I don’t want to spoil it by revealing anything more. I will say that Ammaniti delivers zap, not sap, so there isn’t an ounce of Hallmark to be found. The ending is clever, profound, and unexpected. It’s a tight little story that left me shaking my head in admiration of this fine writer.
The translation is generally okay, although there is an occasional tense problem (“fitted” instead of “fit”, for instance). And the translator called the half-sister a step-sister many times. A small nit, but very annoying.
I liked this book so much, I reordered my To Read list and immediately started another Ammaniti book called “I’m Not Scared.” I’ve been told it’s darker, so I’m bracing myself. At this point, Ammaniti would really have to mess up for me to leave his fan club.
I’ll be recommending “Me and You” to friends galore, for sure. 5 stars, without question.