A Man of No Moon

by Jenny McPhee

It's 1948, and postwar Rome is giddy and chaotic. Poet Dante Sabato is attending yet another film industry soirée at Tullio Merlini's apartment off the Via del Corso. Disaffected and deeply self–absorbed, Dante finds Tullio's glamorous evenings tedious but welcomed any distraction. This raining evening, the distraction is sisters Gladys and Prudence Godfrey, both beautiful, sharp–witted, and remarkably compelling American actresses who have recently arrived in Rome. This new acquaintances leave the party together, and so begins a story of three damaged people struggling to live with their memories, and with themselves.

Exhausted by fascism and the Second World War, Dante finds refuge in the hope offered by the resurgent cinema, by American literature, and, in particular, by the pragmatic optimism and sexual energy of his American lovers. But after decades of struggling to defend the fallibility of his art, his nation, his family, and his own humanity, he remains convinced that the best expression of hope is to give up his life. The question for Dante Can Gladys and Prudence change his mind? Will he let them?

Genres: Fiction, Italy

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2007

About the author

Jenny McPhee is the author of the novels A Man of No Moon, No Ordinary Matter, and The Center of Things. She is the coauthor with her sisters Martha and Laura of Girls: Ordinary Girls and Their Extraordinary Pursuits. Her translations include Paolo Maurensig's Canone Inverso, and Crossing the Threshold of Hope by Pope John Paul II.
Her short stories and articles have appeared in Bookforum; Brooklyn Review; Descant; Glamour; Glimmer Train; Harper’s Bazaar; The New York Times and Zoetrope.
She is on the board of The Bronx Academy of Letters. She is presently living in London where she co-runs The Upper Wimpole Street Literary Salon.

Favorite Quote: “I read poetry to save time.” –Marilyn Monroe

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about an Italian translator and poet whose relationships to women are the center of his life. It is also about his death, and his choices. The events of the novel revolve around his meeting and involvement with two American sisters who are actresses in post WWII Italian movies. This is the kind of book one sits down to read in the afternoon and doesn't stop until the end in the wee hours of the morning.

[Gweneth Sahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book twice already. It was tentalizing. Left me wondering about my life and every life in the world. It's a book of a contemplated Suicide. It is a book that might have saved my Life.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I found this novel simultaneously boring and silly. It felt as though there was more scene building than there was story (We get it, you’ve been to Italy).

The protagonist is more anti than hero. The character does not age well in a world that is becoming less tolerant of pathetic men. He is the typical insufferable tortured artist trope that is nearly unbearable to interact with. If Dante was alive today, he would be one of those men that develops empathy at 35 years old, only after taking ayahuasca for the first time.

*spoiler* I am neither religious nor a prude. I appreciate art for what it is, despite how uncomfortable it might be. But I wanted to stop reading all together when he admitted to wanting to sexually assault a nun. I mean… is nothing sacred??? It’s difficult for me to accept that this book was written by a female author. In my opinion, this admission added nothing of substance to the story, not even shock value. It was just purely ridiculous. The ending did a favor to women worldwide.

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenny McPhee’s writing is nothing short of tantalizingly sensual, erotic, and gripping. She grabbed my sympathy for Dante in the beginning of the novel - he’s an intelligent poet who is charming but lost and confused, with writer’s block and a ferocious sexual appetite. Yet as the story progresses I found his character to be increasingly unlikable. He’s a self pitying, abusive, manipulative, man who is somehow simultaneously obsessive and apathetic. The worst part of it all is that he uses the pretentious “suffering artist” shtick to justify it. Gladys and Prudence, you deserved better. I was intrigued by the author’s style, but it boggled me after I had finished reading the book that it was written by a woman.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written, extremely well-thought characters and yet feels like it could have been more. I will read more from the author because I really enjoy her voice and very good at writing the opposite sex.

[Summer Seeds · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sensual and erotic prose, but the book itself was awful. Suicide is anything but romantic. Death and sex is all the main character thinks about. The writing is beautiful, but I’m disgusted by Dante.

[katherine s · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the writing hate the plot

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a strange book. Obviously the author just threw all of her own interests and passions into one book, particularly Italy and Italian films. Plus, there's a ridiculous amount of sex, descriptions of sex, kinky sex, sex, sex. Too much, IMHO. Still, I found the characters interesting enough to keep reading. But I am certain this can not be McPhee's best book. This seemed to be her own self-indulgent project, where she could just put in all the stuff that interested her and not really worry about anything else. A lot of silliness, but still not terrible.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

McPhee has done something odd with this book, taking an interesting story and bogging it down by showing off her vocabulary. That being said, I read it while on vacation and thus had a lot of free time to become engrossed by and caught up in the plot, flowery language, and of course, the sex. The story itself was enjoyable. Dante Omerto Sabato becomes enamored and obsessed with two American actresses, who also happen to be sisters. Convoluted relationships and kinky sex and lots of talk about death makes it not the most uplifting book in the world, but a good read nonetheless.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book more than the actual story. The setting fascinates me: the film world during post-WWII Italy. There was some cool perverse sex, but the characters didn't stay with me. McPhee's prose is superb, but I wish the concept would have paid off a little more. Too bad, because I was so excited to read the jacket copy. I felt I was the ideal audience for this story, but in the end, I prefer a big story with lots of drama to vaguely dissatisfied musings about life, death, and sex. Probably a limitation on my part, but so it goes...

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully engrossing novel of an unusual, but sexual man, and his relationship with two sisters, Americans in Italy, acting in Italian movies. The title refers to an old Italian saying about a man born when there is no moon, as the protagonist is. Jenny McPhee is an excellent writer and this book is the kind one sits down with one afternoon, and reads steadily until done in the wee hours of the morning.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. A roman-a-clef about people no one has ever heard, but the setting—the Italian film industry just after the War—is fascinating. A few jarring moments: a couple from "Charlottesville, North Carolina" (it's either Charlottesville, Virginia, or Charlotte, N.C.); Jews leaving pre-War Europe for "Israel" ('twas Palestine then). How do editors miss this stuff? But otherwise a piece of fun fluff. A good read.

[Velma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read a publisher's proof, and wasn't that impressed by the overwrought writing style, although the arc of the plot was engaging. Maybe it improved before going to press. Released into the wild via Bookcrossing December, 2008. BCID=287-6769335


The ARC I read and reviewed here was provided to me by the publisher via my local Indie bookstore, and no money was exchanged.

[David H.]

This book is disturbing...and I'd rather be disturbed than riveted (which is what 50 shades of gray promises)... although both are kinky. I like the way women throw themselves at the hero-narrator and the ingenious and erotic ways he has off leaving them begging for more.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

eh. That is how I felt about this book. eh. It didnt knock me off my feet but it wasnt a total loss. There were some interesting tidbits but none of which were the main character or plot line.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb imagery, beautiful words. Story, eh, so-so. Enjoyed traversing Italy. Loved the "aha moment" at the end.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vacuous.

[Cynthia Reeser]

Review in Fort Polk Guardian, Dec. 7, 2007