What do you think?
Rate this book
Commissario Montalbano #1
Vandens forma
Žmogžudystės forma - kaip vandens. Vanduo įgauna tokią formą, į kokį indą yra supilamas. Inžinieriaus Luparelo mirtis nuvilnija ratilais per, atrodytų, ramų Vitagos miestelį, kurio valdančioji viršūnėlė tvirtai susaistyta nesutraukomais verslo, politikos ir mafijos saitais.
Tokia yra nusikaltimo forma. O ją užpildanti medžiaga sena kaip pasaulis: netikėtai išryškėjantis motyvas, nepalankiai susiklosčiusios aplinkybės, visa gama žmogiškųjų silpnybių. Knygos autorius švelniai ironizuodamas kuria smagią kriminalinę istoriją, kurios atomazga atsiskleis tik paskutiniuose knygos puslapiuose.
121 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
1959 people are currently reading
13239 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
436 books2,475 followersAndrea Camilleri was an Italian writer. He is considered one of the greatest Italian writers of both 20th and 21st centuries.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,186 reviews
February 17, 2008
When a book is described as 'light,' there's usually a negative connotation to this adjective: by lightness what we mean is something along the lines of 'written without careful craft,' or sometimes, more simply, 'trivial.'
It's difficult to describe The Shape of Water (or really, any of Camilleri's novels) without invoking this word, but in a sense far different from its usual usage. The 'lightness' that pervades his books is more like that of an Olympic skater executing a triple axel: something incredibly sophisticated and difficult, performed in such a way as to appear effortless. This is writing that glides along without a hitch, an elegant lucidity that never calls attention to itself.
In terms of plot, Camilleri's books are mysteries; as far as their substance goes, they're equal parts whodunit, philosophic meditation, and love-poem to the people and landscape in which they are all set, a sleepy village on the sun-drenched coast of Sicily.
But more than the twists and turns (and there are plenty) that the protagonist, Inspector Maltabano, navigates while uncovering the truth, what has stayed with me about these books is the sense of having sat, for the time I spent in their pages, on the patio of a trattoria overlooking the ocean, leisurely eating amazing food and watching the slow Italian light. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a vacation, but is short on airfare.
It's difficult to describe The Shape of Water (or really, any of Camilleri's novels) without invoking this word, but in a sense far different from its usual usage. The 'lightness' that pervades his books is more like that of an Olympic skater executing a triple axel: something incredibly sophisticated and difficult, performed in such a way as to appear effortless. This is writing that glides along without a hitch, an elegant lucidity that never calls attention to itself.
In terms of plot, Camilleri's books are mysteries; as far as their substance goes, they're equal parts whodunit, philosophic meditation, and love-poem to the people and landscape in which they are all set, a sleepy village on the sun-drenched coast of Sicily.
But more than the twists and turns (and there are plenty) that the protagonist, Inspector Maltabano, navigates while uncovering the truth, what has stayed with me about these books is the sense of having sat, for the time I spent in their pages, on the patio of a trattoria overlooking the ocean, leisurely eating amazing food and watching the slow Italian light. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a vacation, but is short on airfare.
September 30, 2022
I absolutely loved this beginning of Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano series. The novel is set in the Sicialian town of Vigata, where crime is not in short supply. Mafia, prostitution, murder, petty thievery, there many flavors to pick. Inspector Montalbano is the most famous police officer in the region, brilliant, honest but also streetwise. He navigates with skill and style through all the dangers that are thrown at him to find the guilty ones.
What makes this series irresistible is the setting, the culture, the social commentary and the characters, even the secondary ones. Montalbano is a very interesting person. He has a nice house on the beach, a girlfriend in Genoa, enjoys to swim naked and most of all, loves food. The author never misses opportunity to describe the delicacies his maid cooks every day for him. I also liked that his cases are not black and white. He might bend a rules or two for the greater good, sometimes the perpetrator is not punished. He is not perfect, he makes mistakes, sometimes gets battered, but somehow he find his way.
In this 1st volume, the body of engineer Silvio Luparello is found at the Pasture, a trash filled empty place populated only by whores and drug dealers. The death cause seems to be natural but the inspector believes there is more to the story since Luparello was connected to the mafia and to different political figures in the area. It was confusing, at first, to read about the way police and the local politicians are structured but it was all worth it.
What makes this series irresistible is the setting, the culture, the social commentary and the characters, even the secondary ones. Montalbano is a very interesting person. He has a nice house on the beach, a girlfriend in Genoa, enjoys to swim naked and most of all, loves food. The author never misses opportunity to describe the delicacies his maid cooks every day for him. I also liked that his cases are not black and white. He might bend a rules or two for the greater good, sometimes the perpetrator is not punished. He is not perfect, he makes mistakes, sometimes gets battered, but somehow he find his way.
In this 1st volume, the body of engineer Silvio Luparello is found at the Pasture, a trash filled empty place populated only by whores and drug dealers. The death cause seems to be natural but the inspector believes there is more to the story since Luparello was connected to the mafia and to different political figures in the area. It was confusing, at first, to read about the way police and the local politicians are structured but it was all worth it.
May 20, 2021
With the never ending rain, it is a delight to be transported to the Mediterranean by re-reading the first of Andrea Camilleri's irresistible Inspector Salvo Montalbano series with its relaxed pacing, located in the fictional town of Vigata, and the sun, sea and island life of Sicily, notorious for presence of the mafia. This establishes the world of Montalbano, the wide cast of characters, the wonderful cuisine, the local culture, the banter, the humour, the girlfriend and other women, and the corruption. Many of you may be familiar with the excellent Italian TV series, but the books and TV persona of the good Inspector are not the same. Montalbano handles with aplomb the often chaotic nature of policing, determined, with his own particular style of solving mysteries. Here a local bigwig, engineer Silvio Luparello's dead body is found in a trash filled site, the coroner rules it a death from natural causes. Montalbano is not so convinced. This is a start of a terrific series that if you have not read, you should definitely try. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for a copy.
August 1, 2020
SP/EN
Novela fresca y entretenida. Se lee en un suspiro.
Tiene todos los ingredientes necesarios de una novela negra: un comisario avispado, políticos corruptos, abogados, asesinatos, etc, etc.
Sin ser un prodigio de novela, se hace agradable.
Fresh and entertaining novel. It is read in a sigh.
It has all the necessary ingredients of a crime novel: a clever commissioner, corrupt politicians, lawyers, murders, etc, etc.
Without being a prodigious novel, it becomes pleasant.
Novela fresca y entretenida. Se lee en un suspiro.
Tiene todos los ingredientes necesarios de una novela negra: un comisario avispado, políticos corruptos, abogados, asesinatos, etc, etc.
Sin ser un prodigio de novela, se hace agradable.
Fresh and entertaining novel. It is read in a sigh.
It has all the necessary ingredients of a crime novel: a clever commissioner, corrupt politicians, lawyers, murders, etc, etc.
Without being a prodigious novel, it becomes pleasant.
July 13, 2013
Well now...
I decided to try Camilleri because I'd watched one of the Montalbano series on TV. You know how it is, you find the characters and scenery interesting, the story lines are good... you're just hooked and want to try the "real" thing just to see how it matches up.
The first thing I'm going to say is that they don't feel the same. The TV detective is super-cool in that dark Italian way, his team are efficient and work well together. Camilleri's Montalbano... well he's somehow slightly distant, almost aloof in an intellectual sort of way. His team are highly individualistic and almost inefficient (yet seem to get things done in a casual sort of way). Montalbano does the running, almost always on his own. He knows who's in who's pocket and how to manipulate situations. Camilleri's Montalbano is cool in a very different way.
The landscape didn't come across for me, nor did the climate, yet there was something very relaxed about the whole thing, a hint of not rushing about in the heat... even the drive-by shootings and incidental murders have a very laid-back feel to them.
The story is a very interesting one though at times I had to ask myself "who is this character?... what does he mean by that?..." Camilleri seems to write in a casual manner with almost throwaway lines, conversations... almost like you're sometimes catching bits of conversations at the bar or the cafe or in the street. And Montalbano is a bit like that with his detective work. He's piecing it all up in small bits and bats... casually, smoothly.
I think I'm going to like these books...
I decided to try Camilleri because I'd watched one of the Montalbano series on TV. You know how it is, you find the characters and scenery interesting, the story lines are good... you're just hooked and want to try the "real" thing just to see how it matches up.
The first thing I'm going to say is that they don't feel the same. The TV detective is super-cool in that dark Italian way, his team are efficient and work well together. Camilleri's Montalbano... well he's somehow slightly distant, almost aloof in an intellectual sort of way. His team are highly individualistic and almost inefficient (yet seem to get things done in a casual sort of way). Montalbano does the running, almost always on his own. He knows who's in who's pocket and how to manipulate situations. Camilleri's Montalbano is cool in a very different way.
The landscape didn't come across for me, nor did the climate, yet there was something very relaxed about the whole thing, a hint of not rushing about in the heat... even the drive-by shootings and incidental murders have a very laid-back feel to them.
The story is a very interesting one though at times I had to ask myself "who is this character?... what does he mean by that?..." Camilleri seems to write in a casual manner with almost throwaway lines, conversations... almost like you're sometimes catching bits of conversations at the bar or the cafe or in the street. And Montalbano is a bit like that with his detective work. He's piecing it all up in small bits and bats... casually, smoothly.
I think I'm going to like these books...
March 1, 2022
4/5 Estrellas
Moviéndose entre el esperpento, la sátira y la crítica social, Camilleri construye el primer esbozo de un personaje genial, del que tenía conocimiento por capítulos sueltos vistos al desgaire en la TV, pero a quien no había catado en su versión original literaria: el comisario Montalbano.
Ácido humor mediterráneo, siciliano para más señas, diálogos delirantes pero cargados de ingenio y de intención, con trascendencia en la trama, naturalidad en el tratamiento de los temas: sexo, mafia, corrupción.
Loa acontecimientos se suceden, casi sin querer, pero sin solución de continuidad, dándole a la historia una agilidad inusitada. Final previsible en la forma, que no en el fondo. Nuestro personaje tiene un potencial y una personalidad que augura grandes tardes de lectura, por lo menos para mi, que acabo de empezar con la serie....si, otra más, que le vamos a hacer.
Como buen seguidor de Vázquez Montalbán (al que el personaje le debe el nombre), tampoco faltan las consabidas referencias culinarias. Un festín en todos los sentidos.
Y no he hablado nada del libro en si: muertes, políticos corruptos, sexo, luchas de poder....todo ello bien mezclado y voilà, primer caso Montalbano. Se lee de dos sentadas.
Moviéndose entre el esperpento, la sátira y la crítica social, Camilleri construye el primer esbozo de un personaje genial, del que tenía conocimiento por capítulos sueltos vistos al desgaire en la TV, pero a quien no había catado en su versión original literaria: el comisario Montalbano.
Ácido humor mediterráneo, siciliano para más señas, diálogos delirantes pero cargados de ingenio y de intención, con trascendencia en la trama, naturalidad en el tratamiento de los temas: sexo, mafia, corrupción.
Loa acontecimientos se suceden, casi sin querer, pero sin solución de continuidad, dándole a la historia una agilidad inusitada. Final previsible en la forma, que no en el fondo. Nuestro personaje tiene un potencial y una personalidad que augura grandes tardes de lectura, por lo menos para mi, que acabo de empezar con la serie....si, otra más, que le vamos a hacer.
Como buen seguidor de Vázquez Montalbán (al que el personaje le debe el nombre), tampoco faltan las consabidas referencias culinarias. Un festín en todos los sentidos.
Y no he hablado nada del libro en si: muertes, políticos corruptos, sexo, luchas de poder....todo ello bien mezclado y voilà, primer caso Montalbano. Se lee de dos sentadas.
June 10, 2021
I'll mention that I got this concentrated Sicilian tale at 2:10pm yesterday. I finished the second read at 4pm today. It's short, obviously, but it's just completely fabulously delicious. It's wry, it's witty, and it's got my favorite quality: Good people do the right thing, even if it's illegal, and bad people don't get away with dick.
Montalbano's got a lover in Genoa, a hot chick who happens to be his friend's daughter, and she's all worked up for him, as well as a murder suspect who is an Italian man's wet dream: tall, blonde, Swedish, racing car driveress. Does he cheat on the lover? No. Does he seem to want to? Not so much, he really can't be bothered about silly stuff like that when the local party big-wig is found half-naked and dead in the local errr, mmm, uuuh "playground" shall we say. The man's widow, completely unfazed by this, helps Montalbano see the details that are wrong, the little discrepancies that shouldn't be noticeable, but when added up make the whole picture...askew.
The resolution to this case is one I wish some publisher would allow an American author to get away with. I just can't say enough about the rightness of it all. Sicily needs me, I must fly there immediately! Well, via Camilleri's books.
Montalbano's got a lover in Genoa, a hot chick who happens to be his friend's daughter, and she's all worked up for him, as well as a murder suspect who is an Italian man's wet dream: tall, blonde, Swedish, racing car driveress. Does he cheat on the lover? No. Does he seem to want to? Not so much, he really can't be bothered about silly stuff like that when the local party big-wig is found half-naked and dead in the local errr, mmm, uuuh "playground" shall we say. The man's widow, completely unfazed by this, helps Montalbano see the details that are wrong, the little discrepancies that shouldn't be noticeable, but when added up make the whole picture...askew.
The resolution to this case is one I wish some publisher would allow an American author to get away with. I just can't say enough about the rightness of it all. Sicily needs me, I must fly there immediately! Well, via Camilleri's books.
November 14, 2016
I typically avoid crime novels but having spent several vacations during the last decade in south-eastern Sicily and having seen Montalbano's name ubiquitously every where I went, I figured I needed to see whether the enthusiasm was merited. Well, yes and then some. Inspector Montalbano is a very complex personality with a brilliant intellect and a collection of friends and acquaintances that are all quite realistic. And that is without the drool-inducing descriptions of Sicilian cuisine, the gorgeous descriptions of the Sicilian countryside (realistic as I can now attest to) without even going into the complexity and sometimes existential quality of the mysteries he solves. After you have read four or five of the books, perhaps the stories start to be less engaging, but the TV series that was made in Italy based on the books is INCREDIBLE and is worth the 2h for each episode that is needed. This first book is a must for those who want to be drawn into Montalbano's universe or just who wish to take a tour of Scicli/Ragusa aka Vigata.
January 15, 2017
Me ha durado dos sentadas.
Se agradecen libros que no sean ladrillos tabiqueros pero te cuenten una historia no solo interesante sino con gusto por los personajes. Voy al comentario.
Novela negra con personajes latinos que actuan por motivaciones comprensibles.Que estoy yo un poco mosca con todos los nórdicos en novela y sus personajes y ambientes semi-incompresnibles (para al menos este europeo del sur que escribe)
Es el primer libro del Sr Camilleri sobre su detective Montalbano y sin darnos ninguna descripción sobre él (ni edad, ni físico, ni historia personal ni ná) consigue que nos sea cercano, comprensible en actos y motivaciones.
El autor se trabaja más el plano psicológico de los presonajes que sus descripciones físicas. Apenas da datos sobre cómo son los personajes. Es más, acaba la historia y en realidad ata cabos, pero no espereis esos finales americanos de personajes confesando de plano.
De hecho voy a comenzar el segundo para ver si incluyo a este detective entre mis favoritos del género.
Se agradecen libros que no sean ladrillos tabiqueros pero te cuenten una historia no solo interesante sino con gusto por los personajes. Voy al comentario.
Novela negra con personajes latinos que actuan por motivaciones comprensibles.Que estoy yo un poco mosca con todos los nórdicos en novela y sus personajes y ambientes semi-incompresnibles (para al menos este europeo del sur que escribe)
Es el primer libro del Sr Camilleri sobre su detective Montalbano y sin darnos ninguna descripción sobre él (ni edad, ni físico, ni historia personal ni ná) consigue que nos sea cercano, comprensible en actos y motivaciones.
El autor se trabaja más el plano psicológico de los presonajes que sus descripciones físicas. Apenas da datos sobre cómo son los personajes. Es más, acaba la historia y en realidad ata cabos, pero no espereis esos finales americanos de personajes confesando de plano.
De hecho voy a comenzar el segundo para ver si incluyo a este detective entre mis favoritos del género.
November 14, 2018
Ολοκληρωμένη κριτική εδώ.
Σε αντίθεση με πολλούς από τους βιρτουόζους συγγραφείς του εγκλήματος στον Βορρά, ο Ιταλός Καμιλλέρι μετράει τις λέξεις του, διαλέγοντας προσεκτικά εκείνες που ενσταλάζουν πιο πηχτά το νόημα και φωτογραφίζουν διαυγέστερα το τοπίο, προτού η ανάγνωση διακοπεί από τη μεσημεριανή σιέστα ή τη δροσερή βουτιά. Ο Καμιλλέρι συμβαδίζει με τον ρυθμό της Μεσογείου, γι’ αυτό και δεν αναζητούμε η υπόθεση να εκταθεί περαιτέρω—μας αρκεί ως έχει.
Ακόμα κι όταν περιγράφει το πιο αρχετυπικό σκηνικό διαφθοράς, φόβου και παρακμής, ο Καμιλλέρι διατηρεί ένα άφταστο χιούμορ που διαλύει το σκοτάδι σαν λεπίδα και ευφραίνει κατευναστικά την ψυχή. Ο επιθεωρητής Μονταλμπάνο ανήκει στους τύπους εκείνους, που η πρώτη επαφή μαζί τους, προμηνύει και υποβάλλει αναπόφευκτα και τις επόμενες.
Σε αντίθεση με πολλούς από τους βιρτουόζους συγγραφείς του εγκλήματος στον Βορρά, ο Ιταλός Καμιλλέρι μετράει τις λέξεις του, διαλέγοντας προσεκτικά εκείνες που ενσταλάζουν πιο πηχτά το νόημα και φωτογραφίζουν διαυγέστερα το τοπίο, προτού η ανάγνωση διακοπεί από τη μεσημεριανή σιέστα ή τη δροσερή βουτιά. Ο Καμιλλέρι συμβαδίζει με τον ρυθμό της Μεσογείου, γι’ αυτό και δεν αναζητούμε η υπόθεση να εκταθεί περαιτέρω—μας αρκεί ως έχει.
Ακόμα κι όταν περιγράφει το πιο αρχετυπικό σκηνικό διαφθοράς, φόβου και παρακμής, ο Καμιλλέρι διατηρεί ένα άφταστο χιούμορ που διαλύει το σκοτάδι σαν λεπίδα και ευφραίνει κατευναστικά την ψυχή. Ο επιθεωρητής Μονταλμπάνο ανήκει στους τύπους εκείνους, που η πρώτη επαφή μαζί τους, προμηνύει και υποβάλλει αναπόφευκτα και τις επόμενες.
May 27, 2020
27 May 2020
This will be a re-read for me as it is the choice of the book club that I belong to. I'm intrigued to see if I still give the same high rating that I gave eight years ago.
* * * * * * * * * *
I watch Inspector Montalbano on the BBC which I thoroughly enjoy and so decided that I had to purchase the first book in the series.
Sicily to me is a magical island (forget about the Mafia for a moment) and the book definitely set the scene for the television series. However, it was the quality of the literature that sustained my interest.
All the ingredients are here for an excellent book. Inspector Salvo Montalbano, who’s streetwise, loves his food, a man who appears to have met the woman of his life, Livia, but as she lives in Genoa, and sees her infrequently, he gets up to tricks from time to time. He does this in such an engaging way, that he can, of course, be forgiven.
It is when the body of engineer Silvio Luparello is found and the coroner’s verdict is that he died from natural causes that Salvo immediately becomes suspicious. After all, this is Sicily and murders are pretty common. The upshot is that he will not close the case so that the victim can be buried and everyone around him is getting very rattled by this. With skillful writing the plot gradually unravels and, well, it’s just a great book. I had a smile on my face when I reached the last sentence.
This will be a re-read for me as it is the choice of the book club that I belong to. I'm intrigued to see if I still give the same high rating that I gave eight years ago.
* * * * * * * * * *
I watch Inspector Montalbano on the BBC which I thoroughly enjoy and so decided that I had to purchase the first book in the series.
Sicily to me is a magical island (forget about the Mafia for a moment) and the book definitely set the scene for the television series. However, it was the quality of the literature that sustained my interest.
All the ingredients are here for an excellent book. Inspector Salvo Montalbano, who’s streetwise, loves his food, a man who appears to have met the woman of his life, Livia, but as she lives in Genoa, and sees her infrequently, he gets up to tricks from time to time. He does this in such an engaging way, that he can, of course, be forgiven.
It is when the body of engineer Silvio Luparello is found and the coroner’s verdict is that he died from natural causes that Salvo immediately becomes suspicious. After all, this is Sicily and murders are pretty common. The upshot is that he will not close the case so that the victim can be buried and everyone around him is getting very rattled by this. With skillful writing the plot gradually unravels and, well, it’s just a great book. I had a smile on my face when I reached the last sentence.
August 1, 2025
"What is the shape of water?"
"Water doesn't have any shape!” I said laughing. “It takes the shape you give it."
The Shape of Water is the first in Andrea Camilleri's Sicilian crime series, featuring Inspector Montalbano. It’s tricky for me as always to get the intended tone of a new series, as it is a book that occurs within a genre, and also unique in some ways. Montalbano is a well-educated guy who drops names like Pirandello, acknowledging that others he comes in contact with in crime--on either side of the law--do not know who that dramatist is. He’s droll, sarcastic, witty, openly making fun of the government he serves. And he also pretty openly takes on the Sicilian Mafia, which is very present in the corruption he sees everywhere.
I understand Camilleri is a kind of sensation in Italy. So I wanted to read him, as I have increasingly been reading crime novels, but one disadvantage I have is that I speak very little Italian, and one of the beloved features of this book is that he uses various Italian-Sicilian dialects few writers use. So I miss that. But it’s still lively: Funny, violent, crude in the way you imagine the underworld in Sicily might be..
Silvio Lupanello, a local politician in Vigata, is found dead in an rea that the locals call the pasture. It’s basically a dump where certain services are exchanged: Drugs and prostitution. And Lupanello is found dead in his car with his pants around his knees, so you begin to suspect some things. The basic elements of the crime also involve garbage collectors, a secluded beach and a bordello.
This case gets solved, but in this first novel the intention seems to be to welcome you to Sicily, to describe the gorgeous countryside and the sumptuous meals, as Montalbano likes to eat. He also likes women, so there’s some of that going on. Montalbano has a girlfriend, but relationships seem to be sort of “fluid” in this little town. So there’s this colorful stew of sleaze and corruption and seafood and jokes that is entertaining..
And all (to me) these poetic names: Montaperto, Cusumano, Caluzzo, Jacomuzzi, Luparello, and so on. Charming? Well, gritty and rough and sure, Montalbano has a certain charm. I often give first books in a series three stars, but I bet I give later ones more stars. We'll see.
"Water doesn't have any shape!” I said laughing. “It takes the shape you give it."
The Shape of Water is the first in Andrea Camilleri's Sicilian crime series, featuring Inspector Montalbano. It’s tricky for me as always to get the intended tone of a new series, as it is a book that occurs within a genre, and also unique in some ways. Montalbano is a well-educated guy who drops names like Pirandello, acknowledging that others he comes in contact with in crime--on either side of the law--do not know who that dramatist is. He’s droll, sarcastic, witty, openly making fun of the government he serves. And he also pretty openly takes on the Sicilian Mafia, which is very present in the corruption he sees everywhere.
I understand Camilleri is a kind of sensation in Italy. So I wanted to read him, as I have increasingly been reading crime novels, but one disadvantage I have is that I speak very little Italian, and one of the beloved features of this book is that he uses various Italian-Sicilian dialects few writers use. So I miss that. But it’s still lively: Funny, violent, crude in the way you imagine the underworld in Sicily might be..
Silvio Lupanello, a local politician in Vigata, is found dead in an rea that the locals call the pasture. It’s basically a dump where certain services are exchanged: Drugs and prostitution. And Lupanello is found dead in his car with his pants around his knees, so you begin to suspect some things. The basic elements of the crime also involve garbage collectors, a secluded beach and a bordello.
This case gets solved, but in this first novel the intention seems to be to welcome you to Sicily, to describe the gorgeous countryside and the sumptuous meals, as Montalbano likes to eat. He also likes women, so there’s some of that going on. Montalbano has a girlfriend, but relationships seem to be sort of “fluid” in this little town. So there’s this colorful stew of sleaze and corruption and seafood and jokes that is entertaining..
And all (to me) these poetic names: Montaperto, Cusumano, Caluzzo, Jacomuzzi, Luparello, and so on. Charming? Well, gritty and rough and sure, Montalbano has a certain charm. I often give first books in a series three stars, but I bet I give later ones more stars. We'll see.
July 31, 2019
Sicily in the grip of corrupt politicians, multi-service military/police and the ever present mafia is home to Inspector Salvo Montalbano
Who is in charge here?
Two politicians had decided to send a number of detachments to Sicily for the purpose of ‘controlling the territory’, to lighten the load of the carabinieri, local police, intelligence services, special operations teams, coastguard, the highway police, railway police and port police, the anti-Mafia, anti-terrorism, anti-drug, anti-theft and anti-kidnapping commissions, and others.
Garbage men wish they hadn't found a dead man
Pino, who had chosen to work the stretch of the Pasture nearest the beach, at one point spotted the nose of a car about twenty yards away, sticking out of some bushes a bit denser than the rest. Unsure, he stopped; it wasn’t possible someone could still be around here at this hour, seven in the morning, screwing a whore. He began to approach cautiously, one step at a time, almost bent over, and when he’d reached the taillights he quickly stood straight up. Nothing happened, nobody shouted to fuck off, the car seemed vacant. Coming nearer, he finally made out the indistinct shape of a man, motionless, in the passenger seat, head thrown back. He seemed to be in a deep sleep. But by the look and the smell of it, Pino realized something was fishy. He turned around and called to Saro, who came running, out of breath, eyes bulging. ‘What is it? What the hell do you want?’ Pino thought his friend’s questions a bit aggressive but blamed it on the fact that he had run all that way. ‘Get a load of this,’ he said.
Plucking up his courage, Pino went up to the driver’s side and tried to open the door but couldn’t: it was locked. With the help of Saro, who seemed to have calmed down, he tried to reach the other door, against which the man’s body was partially leaning, but the car, a large green BMW, was too close to the shrub to allow anyone to approach from that side. Leaning forward, however, and getting scratched by the brambles, they managed to get a better look at the man’s face. He was not sleeping; his eyes were wide open and motionless. The moment they realized that the man was dead, Pino and Saro froze in terror – not at the sight of death but because they recognized him.
To whom should they report the death?
Pino got the number from the operator. Though it was still only seven forty-five, Rizzo answered after the first ring.
‘Mr Rizzo?’
‘Yes?’
‘Excuse me for bothering you at this hour, Mr Rizzo, but . . . we found Mr Luparello, you see, and . . . well, he looks dead.’
There was a pause. Then Rizzo spoke.
‘So why are you telling me this?’
Pino was stunned. He was ready for anything, except that bizarre response.
‘But . . . aren’t you his best friend? We thought it was only right—’
‘I appreciate it. But you must do your duty first. Good day.’
Saro had been listening to the conversation, his cheek pressed against Pino’s. They looked at each other, nonplussed. Rizzo acted as if they’d told him they’d just found some nameless cadaver.
‘Shit! He was his friend, wasn’t he?’ Saro burst out.
‘What do we know? Maybe they had a fight,’ said Pino to reassure him.
‘So what do we do now?’
‘We go and do our duty, like the lawyer said,’ concluded Pino.
They headed toward town, to police headquarters. The thought of going to the carabinieri didn’t even cross their minds, since they were under the command of a Milanese lieutenant. The Vigàta police inspector, on the other hand, was from Catania, a certain Salvo Montalbano, who, when he wanted to get to the bottom of something, he did.
Questioning the Coroner
‘Can you tell me at what time he died?’
‘You’re going to drive me crazy with questions like that. You must be watching too many American movies, you know, where as soon as the cop asks what time the crime took place, the coroner tells him the murderer finished his work at six-thirty-two p.m., give or take a few seconds, thirty-six days ago.’
An intricate puzzle of a murder. Inspector Salvo Montalbano knows much more than he tells his superiors. False facts have nearly everyone looking in other directions, innocent people are framed and other deaths confuse the case. But Salvo weaves his way through them all to reach a satisfying conclusion. And all set on the crumbling, decadent island of Sicily.
Enjoy!
Who is in charge here?
Two politicians had decided to send a number of detachments to Sicily for the purpose of ‘controlling the territory’, to lighten the load of the carabinieri, local police, intelligence services, special operations teams, coastguard, the highway police, railway police and port police, the anti-Mafia, anti-terrorism, anti-drug, anti-theft and anti-kidnapping commissions, and others.
Garbage men wish they hadn't found a dead man
Pino, who had chosen to work the stretch of the Pasture nearest the beach, at one point spotted the nose of a car about twenty yards away, sticking out of some bushes a bit denser than the rest. Unsure, he stopped; it wasn’t possible someone could still be around here at this hour, seven in the morning, screwing a whore. He began to approach cautiously, one step at a time, almost bent over, and when he’d reached the taillights he quickly stood straight up. Nothing happened, nobody shouted to fuck off, the car seemed vacant. Coming nearer, he finally made out the indistinct shape of a man, motionless, in the passenger seat, head thrown back. He seemed to be in a deep sleep. But by the look and the smell of it, Pino realized something was fishy. He turned around and called to Saro, who came running, out of breath, eyes bulging. ‘What is it? What the hell do you want?’ Pino thought his friend’s questions a bit aggressive but blamed it on the fact that he had run all that way. ‘Get a load of this,’ he said.
Plucking up his courage, Pino went up to the driver’s side and tried to open the door but couldn’t: it was locked. With the help of Saro, who seemed to have calmed down, he tried to reach the other door, against which the man’s body was partially leaning, but the car, a large green BMW, was too close to the shrub to allow anyone to approach from that side. Leaning forward, however, and getting scratched by the brambles, they managed to get a better look at the man’s face. He was not sleeping; his eyes were wide open and motionless. The moment they realized that the man was dead, Pino and Saro froze in terror – not at the sight of death but because they recognized him.
To whom should they report the death?
Pino got the number from the operator. Though it was still only seven forty-five, Rizzo answered after the first ring.
‘Mr Rizzo?’
‘Yes?’
‘Excuse me for bothering you at this hour, Mr Rizzo, but . . . we found Mr Luparello, you see, and . . . well, he looks dead.’
There was a pause. Then Rizzo spoke.
‘So why are you telling me this?’
Pino was stunned. He was ready for anything, except that bizarre response.
‘But . . . aren’t you his best friend? We thought it was only right—’
‘I appreciate it. But you must do your duty first. Good day.’
Saro had been listening to the conversation, his cheek pressed against Pino’s. They looked at each other, nonplussed. Rizzo acted as if they’d told him they’d just found some nameless cadaver.
‘Shit! He was his friend, wasn’t he?’ Saro burst out.
‘What do we know? Maybe they had a fight,’ said Pino to reassure him.
‘So what do we do now?’
‘We go and do our duty, like the lawyer said,’ concluded Pino.
They headed toward town, to police headquarters. The thought of going to the carabinieri didn’t even cross their minds, since they were under the command of a Milanese lieutenant. The Vigàta police inspector, on the other hand, was from Catania, a certain Salvo Montalbano, who, when he wanted to get to the bottom of something, he did.
Questioning the Coroner
‘Can you tell me at what time he died?’
‘You’re going to drive me crazy with questions like that. You must be watching too many American movies, you know, where as soon as the cop asks what time the crime took place, the coroner tells him the murderer finished his work at six-thirty-two p.m., give or take a few seconds, thirty-six days ago.’
An intricate puzzle of a murder. Inspector Salvo Montalbano knows much more than he tells his superiors. False facts have nearly everyone looking in other directions, innocent people are framed and other deaths confuse the case. But Salvo weaves his way through them all to reach a satisfying conclusion. And all set on the crumbling, decadent island of Sicily.
Enjoy!
May 4, 2017
"What is the shape of water?"
"Water doesn't have any shape! I said laughing. It takes the shape you give it."
This is my first Andrea Camilleri novel .....and the first in a series. The mystery itself had me curious before I even started reading: "Silvio Lupanello, a big-shot in Vigata,
is found dead in his car with his pants around his knees".
The car happens to be parked in the front of town do you spend any prostitutes and drug dealers.
Inspector Salvo Montalbano, is Vigata's most respected detective. He has deep roots in Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island just off of Italy's 'boot'.
Sicily has a rich and unique culture especially with regard to the arts, music, literature, and cuisine. While getting a taste of the culture --Montalbano ( an honest cop) is surrounded by the corrupt and powerful......making finding the killer a challenge.
Inspectors Montalbano is plenty textured. He is 'enough' cynical. He is 'enough' aloof.....'enough' arrogant....
'enough' compassionate. He smokes, drinks, loves his food....( but baby octopus-- really?).....lol....his friends, women....and especially his girlfriend ( even with their problems).
Montalbano gracefully solves a crime scene while keeping tabs on what's really important..... his relationships, his Island, his foods, his relationships, and his own moral standards.
Paul and I have watched the TV series "The Glades", which takes place in South Florida. The detective, .... actor played by Matt Passmore, reminds me a little of Inspector Salvo Montalbano...( for anyone in the states who have seen that show).
Matt is always eating....loves his girlfriend too....solves cases with 'ease'.... but he doesn't smoke cigarettes.
I haven't seen THIS TV series ..., but I can imagine the beauty of Sicily.
Great Italian mystery flavors!!!
"Water doesn't have any shape! I said laughing. It takes the shape you give it."
This is my first Andrea Camilleri novel .....and the first in a series. The mystery itself had me curious before I even started reading: "Silvio Lupanello, a big-shot in Vigata,
is found dead in his car with his pants around his knees".
The car happens to be parked in the front of town do you spend any prostitutes and drug dealers.
Inspector Salvo Montalbano, is Vigata's most respected detective. He has deep roots in Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island just off of Italy's 'boot'.
Sicily has a rich and unique culture especially with regard to the arts, music, literature, and cuisine. While getting a taste of the culture --Montalbano ( an honest cop) is surrounded by the corrupt and powerful......making finding the killer a challenge.
Inspectors Montalbano is plenty textured. He is 'enough' cynical. He is 'enough' aloof.....'enough' arrogant....
'enough' compassionate. He smokes, drinks, loves his food....( but baby octopus-- really?).....lol....his friends, women....and especially his girlfriend ( even with their problems).
Montalbano gracefully solves a crime scene while keeping tabs on what's really important..... his relationships, his Island, his foods, his relationships, and his own moral standards.
Paul and I have watched the TV series "The Glades", which takes place in South Florida. The detective, .... actor played by Matt Passmore, reminds me a little of Inspector Salvo Montalbano...( for anyone in the states who have seen that show).
Matt is always eating....loves his girlfriend too....solves cases with 'ease'.... but he doesn't smoke cigarettes.
I haven't seen THIS TV series ..., but I can imagine the beauty of Sicily.
Great Italian mystery flavors!!!
January 19, 2026
Интересно написано и стегнато криминале, няма как да не харесате веднага комисаря Монталбано.
Успяваме да надникнем зад туристическото лустро на Италия и да научим повече за проблемите, съсипващи предимно поизостаналата ѝ южна част - корупцията, продажните политици, беднотията, безработицата и вездесъщата мафия.
Моята оценка - 4,5*.
Хареса ми много тази първа книга от поредицата!
Преводът на г-жа Цалова също е на ниво.
Успяваме да надникнем зад туристическото лустро на Италия и да научим повече за проблемите, съсипващи предимно поизостаналата ѝ южна част - корупцията, продажните политици, беднотията, безработицата и вездесъщата мафия.
Моята оценка - 4,5*.
Хареса ми много тази първа книга от поредицата!
Преводът на г-жа Цалова също е на ниво.
May 30, 2017
Well, comparing to the previous one I read (the voice of the violin) this one has less humor, but it still has the smooth writing, the twists and some thrill. Inspector Montalbano is still an interesting character, and the plot was engaging till the end. And as usual, the Italian food references make me drool.
The story revolves about the Politician Silvio Luparello who's found dead at a trash site filled with drug dealers and prostitutes. The post-mortem reveals that there was no foul play and the death was due to a heart attack. So the Commissioner asks Inspector Montalbano to close the case since it's not unusual for a politician to be in such a place. However, Montalbano senses that there's more to this death than it meets to the eye and demands two days before closing the case. Soon he realizes that his hunch wasn't wrong after all and everyone has something to hide.
The story revolves about the Politician Silvio Luparello who's found dead at a trash site filled with drug dealers and prostitutes. The post-mortem reveals that there was no foul play and the death was due to a heart attack. So the Commissioner asks Inspector Montalbano to close the case since it's not unusual for a politician to be in such a place. However, Montalbano senses that there's more to this death than it meets to the eye and demands two days before closing the case. Soon he realizes that his hunch wasn't wrong after all and everyone has something to hide.
December 24, 2019
Well worth the ride
This novel ticks all the boxes for me in this genre.
It's a fairly complex story, not made easier with the array of Italian character names.
But if you enjoy unravelling mysteries, it is well worth the journey.
It's also a book with a measure of humour, quirkiness and nice human touches.
It's set against a backdrop of corruption and sleaze though, so beware if you are easily offended.
This novel ticks all the boxes for me in this genre.
It's a fairly complex story, not made easier with the array of Italian character names.
But if you enjoy unravelling mysteries, it is well worth the journey.
It's also a book with a measure of humour, quirkiness and nice human touches.
It's set against a backdrop of corruption and sleaze though, so beware if you are easily offended.
December 17, 2025
رواية "شكل الماء" هي الجزء الأول من سلسلة "المفتش مونتالبانو" البوليسية للكاتب الإيطالي "أندريا كاميلليري"، وأيضاً أول ما تُرجم من السلسلة، ولكن تُرجمت للمؤلف أعمال أخرى من قبل.
يتخذ الكاتب من بلدة "فيغاتا" -المتخيلة- مسرحاً لأحداث جريمته الأولى بعنوان "شكل الماء"، حيث يُعثر على أحد السياسيين المرموقين "لوباريللو" ميتاً بداخل سيارته، ولكننا نعلم أن للمفتش "مونتالبانو" وجهة نظر مختلفة حول تلك الوفاة، فهناك شيئاً ما غامض وغير مُريح حول ملابسات تلك الوفاة بدءاً من المكان الذي توفي فيه، إلى طريقة الوفاة، وكل ذلك بالطبع سيؤدي لمعرفة القاتل، إن كانت هناك جريمة، ودون الخوض في تفاصيل الجريمة والشبكة المصاحبة للتحقيقات من شخصيات وأحداث وألعاب سياسية ظاهرة وخفية، لمح لها الكاتب مراراً طوال الأحداث بنقد لاذع وساخر، مثل: تداول الإعلام خبر وفاة "لوباريللو" بتجاهل تام لمكان وفاته، وإسكات لكل الإشاعات التي تدور حوله.
لكنني أحببت جو الرواية، فالعمل الذي لم يتجاوز 240 صفحة استطاع تسليتي وإمتاعي، أخاف أن أصفه بعمل خفيف فيُظن به أنه عمل تافه وضحل، ولكني وجدت الكثير من العمق في الشخصيات والأحداث، وخفة السرد كانت ناتجة عن براعة "كاميلليري" في الوصف والتنقل في الأحداث بسلاسة، وفي خلال 48 ساعة كان لا بد من حل ذلك اللغز، وإلا فستُقيد القضية كحالة وفاة طبيعية.
ومن خلال الأحداث، تمكنا من التعرف على شخصية المفتش "مونتالبانو"، ليس بشكل كاف بالطبع، ولكن خطوط عريضة لشخصيته، لفلسفته الغامضة، لمعرفة دائرة المعارف التي يستخدمها في حل قضاياه، وحبيبته التي تكون خارج البلدة، وبالطبع يتضح لنا ذكاءه في حل القضية وبالكشف عن اللغز يتضح لنا جانب آخر من شخصية المفتش، ويتعلق بقدرته على الالتزام بالقوانين، واحترامها، والتزامه الشخصي نفسه تجاه ما حوله من أسود وأبيض، وأن الحياة تحمل في طياتها ألواناً متعددة أكثر من مجرد لونين فقط.
ختاماً..
أحببت تجربة "شكل الماء"، فهو عمل بوليسي كلاسيكي جيد، يحمل التواءات متعددة جيدة وليست فقط من أجل الإلتواءات، وجريمة حقيقية تكشف لنا جانب سوداوي من إيطاليا، وشجعتني للقراءة للكاتب مرات أخرى، فهذا عمل بكل تأكيد بمثابة منطقة راحة ولكن في نفس الوقت سيجعلك تلتهم الصفحات لمعرفة حل اللغز.
ينصح بها لمحبي الأدب البوليسي بكل تأكيد.
3.5/5
October 2, 2022
7/10
Ha estado cerca de llevarse 4 estrellas, pero lo cierto es que últimamente he leído libros que me han gustado más y quizás por ese motivo se quede solo en 3.
Me ha gustado que es una lectura corta, narrada con muy buen ritmo y que se lee en dos ratos. La trama es bastante clásica, algo normal si tenemos en cuenta que es un libro que se publicó hace casi 30 años, y su protagonista también tiene ese toque añejo que ahora no se lleva nada, pero que oye, creo que le va genial a la historia.
Me ha parecido mejorable la ambientación, te colocan en mitad de una zona semi rural italiana y te dejan que te las apañes, supongo que es también parte de su encanto y que con el paso de los libros iremos conociendo más, pero en este primer libro se me ha quedado algo corto. Y la verdad es que no le he visto ningún pero más. Con un pelín más de contexto se hubiera llevado 4 estrellas seguro, pero al final que tenga 200 y poco páginas se agradece por un lado, pero por otro se queda algo corto.
A pesar de las 3 estrellas lo he disfrutado, sobre todo el último tercio y seguiré leyendo alguno más del comisario Montalbano.
Ha estado cerca de llevarse 4 estrellas, pero lo cierto es que últimamente he leído libros que me han gustado más y quizás por ese motivo se quede solo en 3.
Me ha gustado que es una lectura corta, narrada con muy buen ritmo y que se lee en dos ratos. La trama es bastante clásica, algo normal si tenemos en cuenta que es un libro que se publicó hace casi 30 años, y su protagonista también tiene ese toque añejo que ahora no se lleva nada, pero que oye, creo que le va genial a la historia.
Me ha parecido mejorable la ambientación, te colocan en mitad de una zona semi rural italiana y te dejan que te las apañes, supongo que es también parte de su encanto y que con el paso de los libros iremos conociendo más, pero en este primer libro se me ha quedado algo corto. Y la verdad es que no le he visto ningún pero más. Con un pelín más de contexto se hubiera llevado 4 estrellas seguro, pero al final que tenga 200 y poco páginas se agradece por un lado, pero por otro se queda algo corto.
A pesar de las 3 estrellas lo he disfrutado, sobre todo el último tercio y seguiré leyendo alguno más del comisario Montalbano.
August 15, 2019
Loved the setting, the characters and the way it's written! Did figure out the mystery though, which I'm usually not able to do, but overall, excellent cosy mystery. Can't wait to read the next one.
July 24, 2020
I am rereading this series and this book is a nice start but it has more holes than I had originally thought. Being Italian I give this a 4**** but it is short on character development, a proper resolution and a series of events that is pretty unbelievable. Simply, a politician is found dead at a teenage parking area with his clothes undone after what appears a heart attack after or during some sexual pleasure. A lot that goes on in a little over 20o pages and, again, a lot is rather unbelievable. But this is a good series and so I will continue the reread!
July 4, 2010
Just past the midway point of this novel, the mother of the victim, local "big-shot" Silvio Lupanello, implores Inspector Salvo Montalbano to uncover what really happened to her son. Lupanello was found dead, pants down around his ankles, in a car in a local area of Vigàta (Sicily) used by prostitutes and drug dealers. Although the coroner has judged that Silvio died of natural causes, his mother knows that something more sinister lies at the bottom of Silvio's death, even if he truly died of a heart attack. She tells him a story about when she was a little girl, and her friend once put water into things like bowls, teapots, cups, and a square milk carton, trying to establish its shape. When asked "what shape is water," she replied
Water doesn't have any shape!...It takes the shape you give it.
She asks Montalbano to discover what really was behind Silvio's death -- the alternative, as she noted was to "stop at the shape they've given the water." Because of where her son had been found and because he'd been caught with his pants down, so to speak, Lupanello and his family name had been disgraced and his cronies were assured of never being part of local politics again. But the inspector had already guessed there was more to the story, and despite pressures from higher-ups, he had prolonged the investigation, refusing to close the case.
Montalbano is an interesting character. He declares himself to be an honest man, but also understands that there's a certain way things work politically in Sicily and he rolls with it. He's funny and cynical, able to mix compassion for others with his duty as a cop. He's involved in a relationship that takes place mostly over the phone, yet doesn't stray with local women. He has a love of good food, which is described throughout the novel. He also has an incredible sardonic wit and is not afraid to speak his mind. As a character, he definitely stands out in the world of fictional detectives, and he, rather than the crime he is working on, is the focal point of this novel.
Camilleri evokes a strong sense of place here, there are rarely any distractions which get in the way of either the main plot or the characters, and there's a sarcastic sense of humor that floats in the background of this book. He makes his people real and believable, which guarantees that I'll be back for the next book in the series. Very highly recommended.
Water doesn't have any shape!...It takes the shape you give it.
She asks Montalbano to discover what really was behind Silvio's death -- the alternative, as she noted was to "stop at the shape they've given the water." Because of where her son had been found and because he'd been caught with his pants down, so to speak, Lupanello and his family name had been disgraced and his cronies were assured of never being part of local politics again. But the inspector had already guessed there was more to the story, and despite pressures from higher-ups, he had prolonged the investigation, refusing to close the case.
Montalbano is an interesting character. He declares himself to be an honest man, but also understands that there's a certain way things work politically in Sicily and he rolls with it. He's funny and cynical, able to mix compassion for others with his duty as a cop. He's involved in a relationship that takes place mostly over the phone, yet doesn't stray with local women. He has a love of good food, which is described throughout the novel. He also has an incredible sardonic wit and is not afraid to speak his mind. As a character, he definitely stands out in the world of fictional detectives, and he, rather than the crime he is working on, is the focal point of this novel.
Camilleri evokes a strong sense of place here, there are rarely any distractions which get in the way of either the main plot or the characters, and there's a sarcastic sense of humor that floats in the background of this book. He makes his people real and believable, which guarantees that I'll be back for the next book in the series. Very highly recommended.
May 17, 2013
[7/10]
After reading some gloomy Swedish policiers, I decided to head for a warmer climate and check out what the buzz is about this late blooming (he wrote his first succesful novels in his late sixties) Italian, or should I say Sicilian, writer. Local colour is the first bait that he sets in my path, drawing me like a patient fisherman into his net. Vigata is a small city by the sea, in the Montelusa jurisdiction - both imaginary localities, but sufficiently authentic for the inhabitants of Camilleri hometown to apply for rechristening Porto Empedocle as the real location for the series events. I used the images from Giuseppe Tornatore movies to picture the city in my mind. The names of the characters are a second baited hook, with their musical resonance and slightly comical echo, suggesting a raucous operetta : Montaperto, Cusumano, Caluzzo, Gullotta, Pecorilla, Cuffaro, Jacomuzzi, Luparello, Portolano and of course Inspector Salvo Montalbano - the central character of the series who makes his first appearance in this book.
Montalbano is a bit of a lone wolf, keeping his cards close to his chest and his mouth shut, an authoritarian team leader with a good dose of self confidence - he makes a good counterpoint to the insecure, depressed Martin Beck I've been reading earlier. Montalbano personality is not yet fully developed, after all there will be other books in the series to flesh him out, but I noticed a dry sense of humour that looks very promising (like the use of 'improcrastinable' in a sentence) and a certain preoccupation with food that I understand will play a greater role in his later profile. His success with women is a little improbable here, but it does make for some good scenes and dialogue.
Before coming to the actual plot (I'm delaying this because i didn't find it all that original or memorable) , I'll draw another parallel to the Swedes (Sjowall & Wahloo) in mentioning the preoccupation with social justice and with exposing the less savoury aspects of society. The ubiquitous presence of the Mafia is partly explained by the poverty of the population and by the entrenched corruption of the system. Here's an example of Montalbano questioning a couple of young men on why they first contacted the underworld instead of the police when they discover a dead body:
- What did you expect to get out of it?
- We were hoping maybe he could find us other jobs or help us win some competition for surveyors, or find us the right job, so we wouldn't have to work as stinking garbage collectors anymore. You know as well as I do, Inspector, you can't sail without a favorable wind.
A few pages later we see free entreprise in action, as a local boy spots an opportunity in the large number of law enforcement officers in the region ( the army, the carabinieri, the local police, intelligence services, special operations teams, coast guard, the highway police, railway police and port police, the anti-Mafia, antiterrorism, antidrug, antitheft and antikidnapping commissions and others - here omitted for the sake of brevity. ) and sets up an open air bordello (translate as secluded beach) using refugees from Eastern Europe and North Africa.
I come at last to the plot: garbage collectors + secluded beach + dead body + bordello. Montalbano has to unravel the mystery that is not a mystery, since the death is quickly proven as natural causes : the victim had a heart condition. Politicians, judges and police bosses are all trying to pressure the Inspector to close the case, yet something is fishy, there's a frame-up, somebody has tampered with the story. Here is where the title of the novel comes from, in a dialogue between Montalbano and the victim's spouse:
That is up to you to discover, if you so desire. Or else you can stop at the shape they've given the water. ( 'Water doesn't have any shape! It takes the shape you give it.')
I'm not sure if I should call this a police procedural (there is a patient accumulation of evidence from crime scene clues and interviews with suspects) or a detective classic a la Hercule Poirot or Maigret (where the brainiac reveals at the end the result of his brilliant deductions). My lack of enthusiasm for the actual crime may be due to a lack of tension and a lack of real surprises - the reveals where pretty much what I expected.
The book is well written, with a good location and complex main character - enough to tempt me to continue with the series.
After reading some gloomy Swedish policiers, I decided to head for a warmer climate and check out what the buzz is about this late blooming (he wrote his first succesful novels in his late sixties) Italian, or should I say Sicilian, writer. Local colour is the first bait that he sets in my path, drawing me like a patient fisherman into his net. Vigata is a small city by the sea, in the Montelusa jurisdiction - both imaginary localities, but sufficiently authentic for the inhabitants of Camilleri hometown to apply for rechristening Porto Empedocle as the real location for the series events. I used the images from Giuseppe Tornatore movies to picture the city in my mind. The names of the characters are a second baited hook, with their musical resonance and slightly comical echo, suggesting a raucous operetta : Montaperto, Cusumano, Caluzzo, Gullotta, Pecorilla, Cuffaro, Jacomuzzi, Luparello, Portolano and of course Inspector Salvo Montalbano - the central character of the series who makes his first appearance in this book.
Montalbano is a bit of a lone wolf, keeping his cards close to his chest and his mouth shut, an authoritarian team leader with a good dose of self confidence - he makes a good counterpoint to the insecure, depressed Martin Beck I've been reading earlier. Montalbano personality is not yet fully developed, after all there will be other books in the series to flesh him out, but I noticed a dry sense of humour that looks very promising (like the use of 'improcrastinable' in a sentence) and a certain preoccupation with food that I understand will play a greater role in his later profile. His success with women is a little improbable here, but it does make for some good scenes and dialogue.
Before coming to the actual plot (I'm delaying this because i didn't find it all that original or memorable) , I'll draw another parallel to the Swedes (Sjowall & Wahloo) in mentioning the preoccupation with social justice and with exposing the less savoury aspects of society. The ubiquitous presence of the Mafia is partly explained by the poverty of the population and by the entrenched corruption of the system. Here's an example of Montalbano questioning a couple of young men on why they first contacted the underworld instead of the police when they discover a dead body:
- What did you expect to get out of it?
- We were hoping maybe he could find us other jobs or help us win some competition for surveyors, or find us the right job, so we wouldn't have to work as stinking garbage collectors anymore. You know as well as I do, Inspector, you can't sail without a favorable wind.
A few pages later we see free entreprise in action, as a local boy spots an opportunity in the large number of law enforcement officers in the region ( the army, the carabinieri, the local police, intelligence services, special operations teams, coast guard, the highway police, railway police and port police, the anti-Mafia, antiterrorism, antidrug, antitheft and antikidnapping commissions and others - here omitted for the sake of brevity. ) and sets up an open air bordello (translate as secluded beach) using refugees from Eastern Europe and North Africa.
I come at last to the plot: garbage collectors + secluded beach + dead body + bordello. Montalbano has to unravel the mystery that is not a mystery, since the death is quickly proven as natural causes : the victim had a heart condition. Politicians, judges and police bosses are all trying to pressure the Inspector to close the case, yet something is fishy, there's a frame-up, somebody has tampered with the story. Here is where the title of the novel comes from, in a dialogue between Montalbano and the victim's spouse:
That is up to you to discover, if you so desire. Or else you can stop at the shape they've given the water. ( 'Water doesn't have any shape! It takes the shape you give it.')
I'm not sure if I should call this a police procedural (there is a patient accumulation of evidence from crime scene clues and interviews with suspects) or a detective classic a la Hercule Poirot or Maigret (where the brainiac reveals at the end the result of his brilliant deductions). My lack of enthusiasm for the actual crime may be due to a lack of tension and a lack of real surprises - the reveals where pretty much what I expected.
The book is well written, with a good location and complex main character - enough to tempt me to continue with the series.
June 3, 2021
Enjoyed finally meeting Inspector Montalbano and seeing a small slice of life on the south coast of Sicily. Although that slice is pretty sleazy, not quite the Sicily I lived in for 3 years! A local politician is discovered dead in a compromising position. It is determined that he died of natural causes but something just doesn't sit right with Inspector Montalbano and he begins to peel back the layers of corruption and cover ups as he searches for the truth. The shape of water is an allegory for the nature of truth as the secrets are revealed. This is an intelligent and sometimes complex storyline with many players yet it was a pretty quick read for me.
I was interested to find out that Camilleri did not begin writing crime fiction until he was nearly 70 years old and stated that he liked to "smuggle into his detective novels critical commentary of the times"
My favorite quote attributed to Camilleri or perhaps Montalbano that is SO Italian: "Eating is one of the greatest pleasures the dead surrender."
I was interested to find out that Camilleri did not begin writing crime fiction until he was nearly 70 years old and stated that he liked to "smuggle into his detective novels critical commentary of the times"
My favorite quote attributed to Camilleri or perhaps Montalbano that is SO Italian: "Eating is one of the greatest pleasures the dead surrender."
March 6, 2018
Ultimamente faccio fatica a stare dietro a quello che leggo e ad aggiornare voti e recensioni in tempo.
Quindi, con qualche giorno di ritardo, la mio opinione sul mio primo Camilleri:
il caso vero e proprio mi è piaciuto abbastanza ma quello che ho preferito è il modo di raccontare di Camilleri. Innanzitutto, ho apprezzato l'ironia che permea tutto il romanzo e si sente fin dall'inizio, poi, anche la lingua, che aiuta a creare l'atmosfera siciliana e che, nonostante contenga qualche parola che non conoscevo (non essendo io siciliana) è comprensibilissima.
Insomma, primo Camilleri, ma non ultimo.
Quindi, con qualche giorno di ritardo, la mio opinione sul mio primo Camilleri:
il caso vero e proprio mi è piaciuto abbastanza ma quello che ho preferito è il modo di raccontare di Camilleri. Innanzitutto, ho apprezzato l'ironia che permea tutto il romanzo e si sente fin dall'inizio, poi, anche la lingua, che aiuta a creare l'atmosfera siciliana e che, nonostante contenga qualche parola che non conoscevo (non essendo io siciliana) è comprensibilissima.
Insomma, primo Camilleri, ma non ultimo.
October 21, 2023
Ay! Otro señor adoptado, aunque no tengo claro que en este caso sea el prota, creo más bien que es el autor. Qué buen comienzo! Porque está claro que lo es, pero se perfila muy bien al protagonista, en todas sus facetas y Vigata. Es un librito tan plausible que traspasa y se mezcla, se huele, se ve, se saborea, se toca, existe aún siendo ficción. Humor y mala leche, muy de agradecer siempre. Me espera un buen camino.
February 5, 2018
2.5 stars
A bit of a disappointment, it was a story as so many others I've read. This was no. 1 in a series. I will try another one at some stage. Usually later books get better.
A bit of a disappointment, it was a story as so many others I've read. This was no. 1 in a series. I will try another one at some stage. Usually later books get better.
August 29, 2024
Mi sono deciso a leggere un libro di Camilleri e ne sono rimasto positivamente colpito. Naturalmente già conoscevo il commissario Montalbano, anche se non penso di aver mai visto tutto un episodio.
I dialoghi sono molto divertenti ed i personaggi sembrano vivi. Camilleri riesce a mescolare, con un buon equilibrio, il dialetto siciliano con l'italiano. Anche non capendo certe parole, ne intuivo il senso. L'uso del dialetto, a mio avviso, aumenta il realismo della storia.
Non mi sento di dare 5 stelle perché il finale non mi è piaciuto troppo, o meglio, mi è piaciuto, ma non come è stato esposto e svelato il mistero, mi è sembrato che sia stato fatto in maniera un po' sbrigativa.
Bel libro comunque, consigliatissimo a chiunque.
I dialoghi sono molto divertenti ed i personaggi sembrano vivi. Camilleri riesce a mescolare, con un buon equilibrio, il dialetto siciliano con l'italiano. Anche non capendo certe parole, ne intuivo il senso. L'uso del dialetto, a mio avviso, aumenta il realismo della storia.
Non mi sento di dare 5 stelle perché il finale non mi è piaciuto troppo, o meglio, mi è piaciuto, ma non come è stato esposto e svelato il mistero, mi è sembrato che sia stato fatto in maniera un po' sbrigativa.
Bel libro comunque, consigliatissimo a chiunque.
July 3, 2019
Es el comienzo de la saga de Montalbano.
Si te gustan los policiales, no te lo podes perder.
Fue el primero que leí de dicho autor, y uno de los que más me gusto.
El universo de Salvo arrancó acá y si te atrapó seguís leyendo...
Si te gustan los policiales, no te lo podes perder.
Fue el primero que leí de dicho autor, y uno de los que más me gusto.
El universo de Salvo arrancó acá y si te atrapó seguís leyendo...
June 16, 2021
Commissario Salvo Montalbano, the main character of 'The Shape of Water' by Andrea Camilleri, is a laid-back cynic, which is a good thing. He must do his job of detecting crimes and providing justice where he can while placating the powerful chiefs of the many small fiefdoms of competitive interests in Sicily. It is helpful he is a man who sees below the surface of what occurs around him, and he is well-acquainted personally with the various villains with whom he must work whether they be of high status or low. He is perfect as the leading character in this cozy Italian series, vaguely reminiscent in some ways of some of the televised ‘Miss Marple’ portrayals. His sharp eyes and quick brain miss nothing, but he appears to have the sociable smoothness of many of the politicians who attempt to corrupt him.
‘The Shape of Water’ is not heavy, dark or sad, but instead the tone is one of not letting mean temperaments or nefarious activities (even if only of-the-heart variety) which most folks engage in to varying degrees derail one’s general enjoyment of the day; and even if derailment is in the cards, life goes on, the sun is out, so take a deep breath of the warm fragrant air and plan on winning another day. However, Inspector Montalbano personally is going to get to the bottom of the mystery whether miscreants are brought before a judge or not! He is not above sorting out judgement and punishment on his own when appropriate.
Garbage collectors discover a man’s body inside of a car parked in a known spot for prostitution. When the identity of the near-naked man is found to be Silvio Luparello, from a local family of wealth, a patron of various public institutions and politicians, there is quite a flurry of interest. Luparello had recently begun to step out from behind the politicians he supported, and he had recently been appointed provincial secretary of the party. But there were also whispers of money laundering, contract fixing and currency smuggling. Is the Mafia involved? Or was this a simple heart attack? Luparello was only a few days out of the hospital from heart surgery, and from all appearances it looked as if while having illicit sex his heart quit. But Montalbano feels some of the evidence is odd, so despite the mounting pressure to close the case, Montalbano can’t stop investigating. He soon is uncovering rather peculiar things, such as the men who found the body also found an expensive necklace near the body that they failed to mention. Could they be concealing something more than an effort to steal evidence?
This novel is an introduction to the good Montalbano, his lover, his neighbors, his co-workers and staff, along with the urban milieu of Sicily. As the first of the series and the first I have read about the character Montalbano, I thought it an easygoing police procedural seasoned with a hidden knowing smile and a reasoned acceptance of human nature.
‘The Shape of Water’ is not heavy, dark or sad, but instead the tone is one of not letting mean temperaments or nefarious activities (even if only of-the-heart variety) which most folks engage in to varying degrees derail one’s general enjoyment of the day; and even if derailment is in the cards, life goes on, the sun is out, so take a deep breath of the warm fragrant air and plan on winning another day. However, Inspector Montalbano personally is going to get to the bottom of the mystery whether miscreants are brought before a judge or not! He is not above sorting out judgement and punishment on his own when appropriate.
Garbage collectors discover a man’s body inside of a car parked in a known spot for prostitution. When the identity of the near-naked man is found to be Silvio Luparello, from a local family of wealth, a patron of various public institutions and politicians, there is quite a flurry of interest. Luparello had recently begun to step out from behind the politicians he supported, and he had recently been appointed provincial secretary of the party. But there were also whispers of money laundering, contract fixing and currency smuggling. Is the Mafia involved? Or was this a simple heart attack? Luparello was only a few days out of the hospital from heart surgery, and from all appearances it looked as if while having illicit sex his heart quit. But Montalbano feels some of the evidence is odd, so despite the mounting pressure to close the case, Montalbano can’t stop investigating. He soon is uncovering rather peculiar things, such as the men who found the body also found an expensive necklace near the body that they failed to mention. Could they be concealing something more than an effort to steal evidence?
This novel is an introduction to the good Montalbano, his lover, his neighbors, his co-workers and staff, along with the urban milieu of Sicily. As the first of the series and the first I have read about the character Montalbano, I thought it an easygoing police procedural seasoned with a hidden knowing smile and a reasoned acceptance of human nature.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,186 reviews