Il nuovo romanzo dell’autore di «Il concerto», un successo letterario in Europa e in Italia. La storia di una celebre star del cinema degli anni Trenta, costretto alla solitudine dell’esilio nei tormentati anni della catastrofe europea.
Alain's first novel was published in 1983 and he has since written four furthur novels, including Annas Maske (2001) and numerous short stories. A Perfect Waiter is his first novel to be published in English. He lives in the Alsace region of France.
I can't quite make my mind about this book. Somehow it was much more difficult to read through than other of Sulzer's novels. The different storylines felt too disconnected from each other, and while they were all interesting in themselves, the looseness made it difficult for me to see the wholeness of it all. I was ready to give this book two stars at most, until I read the postscript, which managed to convince me that this book deserved a bit better.
As usual with Sulzer novels, homosexual romance in times of rampant homophobia and taboo are a central part of the story. There is also grieving and loss, another common component of his works, as well as simple people whose lives see a sudden romantic high come and go, leaving them in their solitude and simpleness again. While the characters, settings, and circumstances vary considerably, the underlying feel of the book repeats, making me feel that I have read this book already in his previous works.
If my memory and my limited command of German serve me well, I have to admit that Sulzer's prose and language are growing rich and more challenging for a non-native like myself. While Zur falschen Zeit and Ein perfekter Kellner were easier to read, 'Postskriptum' was definitely more challenging. Perhaps one day I'll read this book again, if my German has developed enough for me to give this book a more educated chance. We will see how I feel about it then.
Sehr ergreifend, melancholisch und für mich auch ein wenig deprimierend. Sprachlich sehr schön. Der Schluss hat mir nicht so zugesagt, hat meiner Meinung nach die Stimmung der Geschichte zu sehr aufgebrochen.
Lionel Kupfer raccontato come bambino che assiste alla morte del fratello, star del cinema tedesco all'apice della notorietà in villeggiatura sulle alpi svizzere in quel fatale inverno del 1933 ed attore prima in declino e alla fine di nuovo sui palcoscenici nella New York nel dopo guerra. Figura tormentata fra amori passionali e contrastanti, logorato da ricordi e aspettative tradite. C'è un senso di amara tristezza e disillusione che serpeggia fra le pagine di questo romanzo di godibilissima lettura. Meritano le frequenti citazioni e richiami a film, registi e attrici dell'epoca.
Quel écrivain...A partir d'une rencontre furtive entre un comédien célèbre et un postier dans la Suisse des années 1930, il trace une fresque intimiste sur le XXe siècle, le temps qui passe, les solitudes qui se frôlent