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Idillio sulla High Line
A New York, in una torrida giornata estiva, un uomo e una donna non più giovanissimi si incontrano per caso in tribunale, convocati alle selezioni per la giuria popolare. Un’incombenza poco allettante, quasi un fastidio, che però potrebbe rivelarsi un piacevole nuovo inizio. Sbrigate le faccende formali, ogni giorno Paul e Catherine si concedono fugaci istanti insieme: un pranzo in un ristorantino di poche pretese, una passeggiata, quattro chiacchiere sulla famiglia, sul lavoro e sulle occasioni mancate… E soprattutto la colazione nel loro locale preferito, dove il barista originario di Napoli fa da vivace sfondo al loro idillio: l’aroma del caffè e il buffo accento del ragazzo trasportano la coppia in Italia, terra natale della madre di Paul e, chissà, futuro approdo per un possibile seguito della storia. In attesa che la fuga romantica sconfini dal sogno alla realtà, nel parco della High Line questo legame si annoda sempre più stretto, alimentato da discorsi seri e frivole battute, risate cristalline, timidi abbracci, nella consapevolezza di non essere infelici ma neppure completamente soddisfatti di una vita matrimoniale scivolata ormai nell’abitudine. Paul e Catherine coglieranno quella che potrebbe essere l’ultima opportunità di essere felici? Abilissimo cartografo dei sentimenti, André Aciman ha scritto un romanzo sul diritto all’amore, unica forma di resistenza possibile contro lo scorrere del tempo, che è il vero padrone delle nostre esistenze.
160 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2025
109 people are currently reading
2385 people want to read
About the author
André Aciman
54 books10.3k followersAndré Aciman was born in Alexandria, Egypt and is an American memoirist, essayist, novelist, and scholar of seventeenth-century literature. He has also written many essays and reviews on Marcel Proust. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, The Paris Review, The New Republic, Condé Nast Traveler as well as in many volumes of The Best American Essays. Aciman received his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Harvard University, has taught at Princeton and Bard and is Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature at The CUNY Graduate Center. He is currently chair of the Ph. D. Program in Comparative Literature and founder and director of The Writers' Institute at the Graduate Center.
Aciman is the author of the Whiting Award-winning memoir Out of Egypt (1995), an account of his childhood as a Jew growing up in post-colonial Egypt. Aciman has published two other books: False Papers: Essays in Exile and Memory (2001), and a novel Call Me By Your Name (2007), which was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and won the Lambda Literary Award for Men's Fiction (2008). His forthcoming novel Eight White Nights (FSG) will be published on February 14, 2010
Aciman is the author of the Whiting Award-winning memoir Out of Egypt (1995), an account of his childhood as a Jew growing up in post-colonial Egypt. Aciman has published two other books: False Papers: Essays in Exile and Memory (2001), and a novel Call Me By Your Name (2007), which was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and won the Lambda Literary Award for Men's Fiction (2008). His forthcoming novel Eight White Nights (FSG) will be published on February 14, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
July 29, 2025
This is set over five hot days in contemporary New York. Paul and Catherine wait to see if they will be empanelled for jury service. Initially, each judges the other, based on what they’re reading:
He's reading the Wall Street Journal:
“She could read him like a book: Wall Street, Park Avenue, Ivy League - arrogant, self-satisfied, clearly prejudiced, and knows it too.”
She's reading Wuthering Heights:
“Definitely lefty, he thought, an opinionated and dismissive Upper West Side liberal who deplored his sort.”
It turns out he’s a recently retired lawyer and she’s a shrink, the joke being they are both paid to listen to lies. This works well narratively: they’re both sharp, intelligent, insightful, and the conversations as they get to know each other are thought-provoking and fun.
Middle-aged temptation, fuelled by thoughts of missed opportunities and a life unlived, can be a twee and unsatisfying cliché (the plot has similarities with the 1945 film, Brief Encounter). In Aciman’s hands, it’s understated, light, and profound. Realistic but dreamy. Poignant, endearing, and moving.
They go for lunch. The courthouse air-con is broken, so they’re dismissed early each day. They go for coffee. And more lunches. Walks, and an art gallery. Both are married and “not unhappy”, but their minds “ran on parallel lines” and they have more in common with each other than their respective spouses - including a love for cilantro/coriander.
“We are each in our own way enjoying this new wind in our lives, but we also know it can’t infringe on our other life.”
They’re no longer young, and Catherine references Robert Browning’s poem, Love Among the Ruins.
Image: Edward Burne-Jones’ painting titled Love Among the Ruins (Source)
The coffee shop they frequent is owned by a man from Naples, where Paul’s mother was from. They discover they briefly lived in the same building as children. so may even have met. These days, she often walks past the tennis courts he plays on.
In the gallery, they both adore a painting of a room with a view of Naples, and the painting, become totemic:
“It’s the portrait of what might have been ours.”
Open judgement
Aciman doesn’t condone or condemn what happens and what may yet happen, and we only have Catherine and Paul’s viewpoints. He just presents a nuanced and tender story, with a somewhat open ending.
In life, I always want to know what happens next. In fiction, I prefer ambiguity.
Psychiatry and introspection
Paul has never seen a shrink:
“Either because I never quarrelled with who I was or because I was afraid of what I’d uncover and end up quarrelling with everything.”
Catherine says:
“Most patients don’t want change. What they want is to go back to who they thought they were before a crisis.”
Paul disagrees:
“What we want… is to borrow huge amounts from the life we know we’re owed and then die before we’re asked to pay any of it back.”
Quotes
• “His shoes were shimmering black brogues, the kind her husband never wore.”
• “If it felt special it’s probably because none of it was planned.”
• “Maybe what keeps me alive at this point is waiting for something unforeseen to come along.”
• “Ironically, it is familiarity that estranges people. We mistake familiarity for intimacy… All it is is habit - and habit is shorthand for silence.”
• “With strangers, intimacy happens so suddenly precisely because we’re less on our guard and there are no habits yet.”
• “We’ve lived through or imagined too many variations on the same scene and know where most lead.”
He's reading the Wall Street Journal:
“She could read him like a book: Wall Street, Park Avenue, Ivy League - arrogant, self-satisfied, clearly prejudiced, and knows it too.”
She's reading Wuthering Heights:
“Definitely lefty, he thought, an opinionated and dismissive Upper West Side liberal who deplored his sort.”
It turns out he’s a recently retired lawyer and she’s a shrink, the joke being they are both paid to listen to lies. This works well narratively: they’re both sharp, intelligent, insightful, and the conversations as they get to know each other are thought-provoking and fun.
Middle-aged temptation, fuelled by thoughts of missed opportunities and a life unlived, can be a twee and unsatisfying cliché (the plot has similarities with the 1945 film, Brief Encounter). In Aciman’s hands, it’s understated, light, and profound. Realistic but dreamy. Poignant, endearing, and moving.
They go for lunch. The courthouse air-con is broken, so they’re dismissed early each day. They go for coffee. And more lunches. Walks, and an art gallery. Both are married and “not unhappy”, but their minds “ran on parallel lines” and they have more in common with each other than their respective spouses - including a love for cilantro/coriander.
“We are each in our own way enjoying this new wind in our lives, but we also know it can’t infringe on our other life.”
They’re no longer young, and Catherine references Robert Browning’s poem, Love Among the Ruins.
Image: Edward Burne-Jones’ painting titled Love Among the Ruins (Source)
The coffee shop they frequent is owned by a man from Naples, where Paul’s mother was from. They discover they briefly lived in the same building as children. so may even have met. These days, she often walks past the tennis courts he plays on.
In the gallery, they both adore a painting of a room with a view of Naples, and the painting, become totemic:
“It’s the portrait of what might have been ours.”
Open judgement
Aciman doesn’t condone or condemn what happens and what may yet happen, and we only have Catherine and Paul’s viewpoints. He just presents a nuanced and tender story, with a somewhat open ending.
In life, I always want to know what happens next. In fiction, I prefer ambiguity.
Psychiatry and introspection
Paul has never seen a shrink:
“Either because I never quarrelled with who I was or because I was afraid of what I’d uncover and end up quarrelling with everything.”
Catherine says:
“Most patients don’t want change. What they want is to go back to who they thought they were before a crisis.”
Paul disagrees:
“What we want… is to borrow huge amounts from the life we know we’re owed and then die before we’re asked to pay any of it back.”
Quotes
• “His shoes were shimmering black brogues, the kind her husband never wore.”
• “If it felt special it’s probably because none of it was planned.”
• “Maybe what keeps me alive at this point is waiting for something unforeseen to come along.”
• “Ironically, it is familiarity that estranges people. We mistake familiarity for intimacy… All it is is habit - and habit is shorthand for silence.”
• “With strangers, intimacy happens so suddenly precisely because we’re less on our guard and there are no habits yet.”
• “We’ve lived through or imagined too many variations on the same scene and know where most lead.”
September 22, 2025
Such smart dialog, such in depth characterization for such a short book! We learn so much about these two characters because they open up to each other in ways that they have never done . I’m as happy as they are that these characters in their sixties found each other at this stage of their lives. I’m sad, too, not knowing what will happen to their relationship moving forward . I’m really at a loss for what more to say except - can it be so wrong that I want Catherine and Paul to be happy and together no matter what? Reminiscent of My Coney Island Baby. Oh my heart ! loved this story!
I received a copy of this from Macmillan through Edelweiss.
I received a copy of this from Macmillan through Edelweiss.
December 30, 2024
thank u to netgalley and the publisher for the arc !
vol. i: the gentleman from peru
⟢ 2.75 stars
at first, i was enthralled by the prose. i like the references to greek tragedies and the overall concept of shadow-worlds. the gentleman from peru, also known as raul, explains that our past and future selves live in this shadow-world, a parallel world where they go through the paths that we chose or would choose not to take. so to my understanding, this short story would follow the group of friends that meet raul as they discover life even in their later years.
however, to my surprise, BOOM, an age-gap romance was thrown in my face. i was very much unsuspecting and quite blind-sided by the direction that this story took. now i know that they are two consenting adults but i thought this was going to be an 'old-wise-mentor' and 'mentees-who-still-have-a-lot-of-life-left-to-live' type story. but after further investigation (i looked at reviews on goodreads), i found out that this author also wrote call me by your name (which i admittedly have not read nor watched), and has a (kink) liking for romances where one of the love-interests can be old enough to be the other's parental figure. also wasn't a fan of the random morning wood (which, apparently, is also a common occurrence in this author's works).
despite all that, the prose was delightful and i am a slut for beautiful dialogue so fingers crossed that the other novellas are better than the first.
vol. ii: room on the sea
⟢ 3.5 stars
…
vol. iii: mariana
⟢ 3 stars
vol. i: the gentleman from peru
⟢ 2.75 stars
at first, i was enthralled by the prose. i like the references to greek tragedies and the overall concept of shadow-worlds. the gentleman from peru, also known as raul, explains that our past and future selves live in this shadow-world, a parallel world where they go through the paths that we chose or would choose not to take. so to my understanding, this short story would follow the group of friends that meet raul as they discover life even in their later years.
however, to my surprise, BOOM, an age-gap romance was thrown in my face. i was very much unsuspecting and quite blind-sided by the direction that this story took. now i know that they are two consenting adults but i thought this was going to be an 'old-wise-mentor' and 'mentees-who-still-have-a-lot-of-life-left-to-live' type story. but after further investigation (i looked at reviews on goodreads), i found out that this author also wrote call me by your name (which i admittedly have not read nor watched), and has a (
despite all that, the prose was delightful and i am a slut for beautiful dialogue so fingers crossed that the other novellas are better than the first.
vol. ii: room on the sea
⟢ 3.5 stars
…
vol. iii: mariana
⟢ 3 stars
April 4, 2025
A couple in their mid to late sixties meet on their first day of jury service in New York City. He’s a lawyer, and she’s a psychiatrist. They’re both married and seem pretty happy with their home lives. But in the course of one week, as they await the call to become a jury member in a live case, they chat and slowly explore just how happy each of them truly is.
As I’ve witnessed during the one time I was called up for jury service (in the UK), there’s a lot of sitting around waiting, and most often you’re dismissed or asked to return after a break for lunch for a further wait. The pair use this time to visit a coffee shop (where they befriend the Italian barista), to eat Chinese meals, to explore parts of the city, and to visit art galleries. The chemistry between them is clear, but could there be any more to this brief encounter than simply two people who become friends for a short period before ultimately returning to their established lives and routines?
There is no awkwardness in their meeting or in the fact that they choose to spend this free time together. In fact, the whole picture is so well drawn that I comfortably fell into step with their daily activities and never doubted that this coming together felt anything other than natural. These are two intelligent people who just feel comfortable in each other’s company. But as the week draws on, it becomes clear that their friendship might be entering a new, more dangerous but potentially more rewarding phase. Could they have entered a space where difficult decisions are going to have to be made? It seems clear that they’d both have something to gain, but they would also lose something significant, too.
I really enjoyed the voyeuristic pleasure of spying on their daily adventures. I liked, too, that the ending is at once both definitive and yet also somewhat ambiguous. Others may see a clearer cut picture here, but I think the author has pitched it perfectly so that each reader can come to their own conclusion on this.
My thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd for supplying a copy of this book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
As I’ve witnessed during the one time I was called up for jury service (in the UK), there’s a lot of sitting around waiting, and most often you’re dismissed or asked to return after a break for lunch for a further wait. The pair use this time to visit a coffee shop (where they befriend the Italian barista), to eat Chinese meals, to explore parts of the city, and to visit art galleries. The chemistry between them is clear, but could there be any more to this brief encounter than simply two people who become friends for a short period before ultimately returning to their established lives and routines?
There is no awkwardness in their meeting or in the fact that they choose to spend this free time together. In fact, the whole picture is so well drawn that I comfortably fell into step with their daily activities and never doubted that this coming together felt anything other than natural. These are two intelligent people who just feel comfortable in each other’s company. But as the week draws on, it becomes clear that their friendship might be entering a new, more dangerous but potentially more rewarding phase. Could they have entered a space where difficult decisions are going to have to be made? It seems clear that they’d both have something to gain, but they would also lose something significant, too.
I really enjoyed the voyeuristic pleasure of spying on their daily adventures. I liked, too, that the ending is at once both definitive and yet also somewhat ambiguous. Others may see a clearer cut picture here, but I think the author has pitched it perfectly so that each reader can come to their own conclusion on this.
My thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd for supplying a copy of this book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2025
There has been some relative confusion between two editions of Room on the Sea. Faber & Faber Ltdpublished the novella as a standalone, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux will publish it on 24 June as a collection of three novellas. These novellas explore overlapping themes of love, regrets, and “André Aciman’s never-ending love for Italy”. I thoroughly enjoyed The Gentleman From Peru and Room on the Sea. Mariana, although equally exquisitely written, was lukewarm, and I did not care much for the story.
The Gentleman from Peru—4 stars—unfolds with the arrival of a group of American friends who, after their boat breaks down, find themselves stranded on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Revelling in the luxurious hotel, with all expenses paid while waiting for the boat’s repair, the group notices a quiet and solitary sexagenarian man, who eventually approaches them, placing a hand on the bruised shoulder of one of the men. Then, no pain. Their meeting, foreboding and mysterious.
Aciman’s writing always transports me into a noir screenplay, with bourgeois cafés and lush love. The Gentleman From Peru explores themes of ageism, love, and spirituality. It is a poignant story of lost love, time, and loneliness, to be pondered and revisited, just like having afternoon tea with your grandma on a hot sunny day.
More details on: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Room on the Sea—4 stars—opens up against the backdrop of New York's scorching summer, as Paul and Catherine, alongside a hundred others, await jury selection. During the span of a week, these two strangers, entrapped in a universe of their own, are constantly reminded of the strings pulling them in opposite directions. The story offers a mature and thought-provoking exploration of the yearnings between two near-retirement adults, a seemingly accomplished life, where the unspoken words simmer beneath the surface, carrying more weight than what’s spoken.
Aciman's prose oozes sensuality, maturity, and love, with opposing subtlety and honesty. The character development, as expected from Aciman, is well-crafted; Paul and Catherine are both flawed and achingly human, making them compelling characters. Their internal monologues, conversations, and banter, filled with desire, guilt, and possibilities, are the heart of the novel. The book delves into the complexities of human relationships, where unspoken words and desires occupy the veiled meaning between the lines. Aciman's ability to capture these nuances is remarkable. He creates an atmosphere of quiet urging, where every glance and every word carries weight, often coded. Room on the Sea was by far my favourite of the three.
Mariana—3 stars—the last and shortest of the three novellas, tells the story of an independent, intelligent woman who spirals into destructive and obsessive behaviour over Itamar, a toxic yet charming man. This story is a psychological exploration of a woman’s obsession disguised as “love” after being ghosted. The characters are complex and will likely resonate with many readers, though it wasn’t my personal favourite.
Ultimately, Room on the Sea: Three Novellas offers thought-provoking stories that demand to be savoured and reflected upon long after finishing. It's a testament to Aciman's ability to create a world from our everyday lives that is both beautiful and melancholic. I wholeheartedly recommend ANY of his novels to readers who appreciate exquisite prose, rich dialogues and reflections that explore the depths of human emotion and the elusive nature of life's choices.
Recommended reading!
Rating: 3.75/5
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The Gentleman from Peru—4 stars—unfolds with the arrival of a group of American friends who, after their boat breaks down, find themselves stranded on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Revelling in the luxurious hotel, with all expenses paid while waiting for the boat’s repair, the group notices a quiet and solitary sexagenarian man, who eventually approaches them, placing a hand on the bruised shoulder of one of the men. Then, no pain. Their meeting, foreboding and mysterious.
Aciman’s writing always transports me into a noir screenplay, with bourgeois cafés and lush love. The Gentleman From Peru explores themes of ageism, love, and spirituality. It is a poignant story of lost love, time, and loneliness, to be pondered and revisited, just like having afternoon tea with your grandma on a hot sunny day.
More details on: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Room on the Sea—4 stars—opens up against the backdrop of New York's scorching summer, as Paul and Catherine, alongside a hundred others, await jury selection. During the span of a week, these two strangers, entrapped in a universe of their own, are constantly reminded of the strings pulling them in opposite directions. The story offers a mature and thought-provoking exploration of the yearnings between two near-retirement adults, a seemingly accomplished life, where the unspoken words simmer beneath the surface, carrying more weight than what’s spoken.
Aciman's prose oozes sensuality, maturity, and love, with opposing subtlety and honesty. The character development, as expected from Aciman, is well-crafted; Paul and Catherine are both flawed and achingly human, making them compelling characters. Their internal monologues, conversations, and banter, filled with desire, guilt, and possibilities, are the heart of the novel. The book delves into the complexities of human relationships, where unspoken words and desires occupy the veiled meaning between the lines. Aciman's ability to capture these nuances is remarkable. He creates an atmosphere of quiet urging, where every glance and every word carries weight, often coded. Room on the Sea was by far my favourite of the three.
Mariana—3 stars—the last and shortest of the three novellas, tells the story of an independent, intelligent woman who spirals into destructive and obsessive behaviour over Itamar, a toxic yet charming man. This story is a psychological exploration of a woman’s obsession disguised as “love” after being ghosted. The characters are complex and will likely resonate with many readers, though it wasn’t my personal favourite.
Ultimately, Room on the Sea: Three Novellas offers thought-provoking stories that demand to be savoured and reflected upon long after finishing. It's a testament to Aciman's ability to create a world from our everyday lives that is both beautiful and melancholic. I wholeheartedly recommend ANY of his novels to readers who appreciate exquisite prose, rich dialogues and reflections that explore the depths of human emotion and the elusive nature of life's choices.
Recommended reading!
Rating: 3.75/5
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 26, 2025
life's too short to read boring & no relatable books and this is one of them.
the story didn't click to me at all. two people already married to their partner, met in a jury court area and spark flew between them which turns into something more.
ok in my opinion I'm not against random meetings but seriously sixty years old?? and that too after being married to someone else they're now developing feelings for another person???
like seriously i couldn't fathom the idea of two people cheating on each other's partners this is beyond my acceptance level.
I find it very opposing, this book just wasn't for me. in my personal opinion i hate the idea of creating such story in the first place.
the story didn't click to me at all. two people already married to their partner, met in a jury court area and spark flew between them which turns into something more.
ok in my opinion I'm not against random meetings but seriously sixty years old?? and that too after being married to someone else they're now developing feelings for another person???
like seriously i couldn't fathom the idea of two people cheating on each other's partners this is beyond my acceptance level.
I find it very opposing, this book just wasn't for me. in my personal opinion i hate the idea of creating such story in the first place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2025
“Every time we see this room with its open French windows we know we belong there; I’m always alone in my imaginary rooms, but in this one, I’m with you.”
André Aciman, the man you are 🩵
André Aciman, the man you are 🩵
May 12, 2025
“We are, all of us, little lava lamps”
I adored this book, from the writing style and beautiful atmosphere to the characters. It’s a fleeting story of loved and missed opportunities, lives lived on different paths. Reminiscent of the brief romance in Bridges of Madison County, one of my favourite books, it’s sometimes the shorter books on love that hit the hardest. I love Aciman’s approach to the small beauties in this book, the little moments that are so calmly yet poignantly observed. It’s a love letter to making the most of the little things and to taking the opportunities that come your way.
I adored this book, from the writing style and beautiful atmosphere to the characters. It’s a fleeting story of loved and missed opportunities, lives lived on different paths. Reminiscent of the brief romance in Bridges of Madison County, one of my favourite books, it’s sometimes the shorter books on love that hit the hardest. I love Aciman’s approach to the small beauties in this book, the little moments that are so calmly yet poignantly observed. It’s a love letter to making the most of the little things and to taking the opportunities that come your way.
June 14, 2022
“Nessuno dei due voleva apparire apertamente compiaciuto per la propria carriera. Inoltre si sforzavano di non ficcare il naso nelle rispettive vite. E ciò infuse alla loro passeggiata un carattere leggero, disteso e informale, cose che entrambi apprezzavano.”
Così inizia l’idillio tra un uomo e una donna ormai maturi, come un semplice incontro casuale, uno scambio di opinioni, una chiacchierata informale e la condivisione di un boccone al bar. Ma il locale è gestito da un giovane napoletano espansivo, e Napoli nel loro immaginario incarna quella idea di fuga verso un altrove che appare ormai troppo lontano, impossibile da raggiungere.
Impossibile come un amore tardivo, o un’attrazione semplice che velocemente si trasforma in una relazione complessa.
Perché “A volte ti capita di vivere un momento che sembra normale, come tanti, e poi, qualche istante dopo, ti accorgi che invece emanava una luce speciale.”
Passeggiando sulla High Line, New York, Paul e Catherine avranno modo di riflettere sulle proprie vite, sulle conquiste e i fallimenti, su ciò che nutre i rapporti intimi fondamentali prima che il silenzio a poco li distrugga, scavando separazioni profonde e innalzando muri invalicabili. E continuando, nonostante tutto, a sentirsi semplicemente normali, non troppo insoddisfatti, non troppo soddisfatti. Ovvero, vogliamo dirlo? Praticamente infelici.
“Hai mai avuto la sensazione che le nostre vite potrebbero essere il mero resoconto di innumerevoli rendez-vous manqués, occasioni perse che fanno ancora male e ci perseguitano, questioni che molto spesso rimangono irrisolte?”
Un racconto con molte domande e nemmeno una risposta.
3,5
Così inizia l’idillio tra un uomo e una donna ormai maturi, come un semplice incontro casuale, uno scambio di opinioni, una chiacchierata informale e la condivisione di un boccone al bar. Ma il locale è gestito da un giovane napoletano espansivo, e Napoli nel loro immaginario incarna quella idea di fuga verso un altrove che appare ormai troppo lontano, impossibile da raggiungere.
Impossibile come un amore tardivo, o un’attrazione semplice che velocemente si trasforma in una relazione complessa.
Perché “A volte ti capita di vivere un momento che sembra normale, come tanti, e poi, qualche istante dopo, ti accorgi che invece emanava una luce speciale.”
Passeggiando sulla High Line, New York, Paul e Catherine avranno modo di riflettere sulle proprie vite, sulle conquiste e i fallimenti, su ciò che nutre i rapporti intimi fondamentali prima che il silenzio a poco li distrugga, scavando separazioni profonde e innalzando muri invalicabili. E continuando, nonostante tutto, a sentirsi semplicemente normali, non troppo insoddisfatti, non troppo soddisfatti. Ovvero, vogliamo dirlo? Praticamente infelici.
“Hai mai avuto la sensazione che le nostre vite potrebbero essere il mero resoconto di innumerevoli rendez-vous manqués, occasioni perse che fanno ancora male e ci perseguitano, questioni che molto spesso rimangono irrisolte?”
Un racconto con molte domande e nemmeno una risposta.
3,5
January 28, 2022
Why do I keep listening to sappy romance novels by Aciman?
February 4, 2022
Kaut kas, ko biju meklējusi, to īsti neapzinoties. Un meklējusi visās nepareizajās vietās.
June 9, 2025
Room On The Sea is a novella by Egyptian-born American author, Andre Aciman. On a warm summer Monday, Paul Wadsworth and Catherine Shukoff encounter one another in a Manhattan central jury room. Paul is a retired lawyer, reading the Wall Street Journal while they wait to be sent to a courtroom for jury selection; Catherine is a psychologist who reveals she’s reading Wuthering Heights when she notices Paul’s interest in her reading matter.
While they wait in unairconditioned discomfort (the aircon is not working) they share: Paul offers his foolproof way out of being selected; they chat and enjoy each other’s company; during the lunch break, Paul’s recommendation for a Chinese lunch; whatever the topic, they seem to agree; they like each other’s sense of humour; they arrange to meet for coffee the next morning; they exchange phone numbers; details of their lives; career paths not taken.
They discover a “ships-in-the-night” moment from their youth, and discuss their marriages quite frankly, as each inwardly compares the other to their spouse. They do all they can to ensure they can enjoy each other’s company each day, and they discuss the gloomy prospect that they might not see one another again after their week of juror obligation is up.
As their feelings for each other intensify, they describe the effect of their daily encounters: “I’ve felt young and hopeful again– only to realize that I’d stopped being young and hopeful for so long.” They admit to their unsatisfactory marriages: “… the tiny joke time plays on us: it robs the memory of who we were and what we were able to feel once. As you said, we live with people but totally forget why we’ve chosen to live with them.”
And they consider what might happen if they decide to take it a step further: “There are so many things at stake, all of them possibly quite meagre and frail by now, some downright insignificant. But we’ve built our lives with them and they are who we are, who we’ve been made to be, sometimes even against our will. Where would we be without them?” and they wonder if their relationship would still have the texture of “the casual, improvised meeting that allowed them to feel perfectly natural each time they were thrown together by the court system.” Do they, or don’t they? A thought-provoking tale filled with gorgeous prose.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Faber & Faber
While they wait in unairconditioned discomfort (the aircon is not working) they share: Paul offers his foolproof way out of being selected; they chat and enjoy each other’s company; during the lunch break, Paul’s recommendation for a Chinese lunch; whatever the topic, they seem to agree; they like each other’s sense of humour; they arrange to meet for coffee the next morning; they exchange phone numbers; details of their lives; career paths not taken.
They discover a “ships-in-the-night” moment from their youth, and discuss their marriages quite frankly, as each inwardly compares the other to their spouse. They do all they can to ensure they can enjoy each other’s company each day, and they discuss the gloomy prospect that they might not see one another again after their week of juror obligation is up.
As their feelings for each other intensify, they describe the effect of their daily encounters: “I’ve felt young and hopeful again– only to realize that I’d stopped being young and hopeful for so long.” They admit to their unsatisfactory marriages: “… the tiny joke time plays on us: it robs the memory of who we were and what we were able to feel once. As you said, we live with people but totally forget why we’ve chosen to live with them.”
And they consider what might happen if they decide to take it a step further: “There are so many things at stake, all of them possibly quite meagre and frail by now, some downright insignificant. But we’ve built our lives with them and they are who we are, who we’ve been made to be, sometimes even against our will. Where would we be without them?” and they wonder if their relationship would still have the texture of “the casual, improvised meeting that allowed them to feel perfectly natural each time they were thrown together by the court system.” Do they, or don’t they? A thought-provoking tale filled with gorgeous prose.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Faber & Faber
February 16, 2025
I fear this is the most boring thing I’ve read in my life
March 10, 2025
I'm a sucker for books that describe missed opportunities and longing. And here's another one who captures it perfectly.
March 3, 2025
I think I am one of the very few people who hasn't read Call Me By Your Name or seen the film but when I saw this novel on Netgalley, I couldn't help but be interested.
At around 160 pages, this novella won't take you long to get through, and I did enjoy the writing. Room on the Sea tells the story of two people, in their sixties, who are called up for jury duty. On the first day, although both are married, they make an instant connection and spend the rest of the week trying to avoid being placed on a jury and spending as much time as possible with each other.
Although both marriages seem to be on life support, the subject matter is a little uncomfortable and it is difficult to be rooting for the couple. At the end of the week, they have a difficult decision to make - do they go back to their lives and forget all about each other, or do they take a chance on something special?
Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
At around 160 pages, this novella won't take you long to get through, and I did enjoy the writing. Room on the Sea tells the story of two people, in their sixties, who are called up for jury duty. On the first day, although both are married, they make an instant connection and spend the rest of the week trying to avoid being placed on a jury and spending as much time as possible with each other.
Although both marriages seem to be on life support, the subject matter is a little uncomfortable and it is difficult to be rooting for the couple. At the end of the week, they have a difficult decision to make - do they go back to their lives and forget all about each other, or do they take a chance on something special?
Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 26, 2025
Me when I show up to a romanticizing Italy competition, but Aciman is already there... I've lost miserably.
This was a beautiful story of two people finding that spark in life after decades of familiarity and habits, and how the smallest things can make a difference in our everyday. This book was such a treat, the characters were such a delight to read about, and their conversations and thoughts even managed to touch me within these short 158 pages. I didn't have high expectations, since I literally only wanted to read this book just because of how pretty it was, but I'm more than happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
This was a beautiful story of two people finding that spark in life after decades of familiarity and habits, and how the smallest things can make a difference in our everyday. This book was such a treat, the characters were such a delight to read about, and their conversations and thoughts even managed to touch me within these short 158 pages. I didn't have high expectations, since I literally only wanted to read this book just because of how pretty it was, but I'm more than happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
May 7, 2025
"Sometimes a random moment occurs, and then you realise it came with a small halo"
Less is more; depth in simplicity and beauty . Room on the Sea is just this - a novella with a powerful and reflective message about life and unspoken dreams or regrets.
Catherine and Paul are strangers and are requested to attend selection for jury service; Catherine is a psychologist and Paul a lawyer. whilst awaiting selection, they strike up a conversation that will change their lives.
Set over the course of five days, the two sixty-somethings embark on a discovery- self exploration of the people they are, who they thought they were and what they could still be.
"We're just two ordinary lonely people who happen to be married and at this point may not want the furniture moved around too much."
André Aciman has a beautiful eye for the minutiae in lives- the unsaid ; those invisible withheld emotions and the joy of finding life in the smallest joys.
This is a moving story as the two characters embark through a work of transformation- rather like a Brief Encounter ( Noel Coward) for the 2020's.
Subtle, enchanting and exquisite - a novel to make those of a certain age reflect or maybe everyone ..life is precious and its easy to squander it.
A highly recommended read.
Quotes: " Ive forgotten what it's like to be with someone who is eager to laugh with me, to know what I like, what I think and with whomI'm dying to speak every day"
" The problem with people our age, " she went on, " is that we've lived through or imagined too many variations on the same scene and know where most lead."...... We even know better than to speak our doubts, much less to those who shouldn't hear them for fear they'd change their minds about us."
Less is more; depth in simplicity and beauty . Room on the Sea is just this - a novella with a powerful and reflective message about life and unspoken dreams or regrets.
Catherine and Paul are strangers and are requested to attend selection for jury service; Catherine is a psychologist and Paul a lawyer. whilst awaiting selection, they strike up a conversation that will change their lives.
Set over the course of five days, the two sixty-somethings embark on a discovery- self exploration of the people they are, who they thought they were and what they could still be.
"We're just two ordinary lonely people who happen to be married and at this point may not want the furniture moved around too much."
André Aciman has a beautiful eye for the minutiae in lives- the unsaid ; those invisible withheld emotions and the joy of finding life in the smallest joys.
This is a moving story as the two characters embark through a work of transformation- rather like a Brief Encounter ( Noel Coward) for the 2020's.
Subtle, enchanting and exquisite - a novel to make those of a certain age reflect or maybe everyone ..life is precious and its easy to squander it.
A highly recommended read.
Quotes: " Ive forgotten what it's like to be with someone who is eager to laugh with me, to know what I like, what I think and with whomI'm dying to speak every day"
" The problem with people our age, " she went on, " is that we've lived through or imagined too many variations on the same scene and know where most lead."...... We even know better than to speak our doubts, much less to those who shouldn't hear them for fear they'd change their minds about us."
June 19, 2025
My problem with Aciman is that as much as I find his prose beautifully written, touching, nostalgic, even a bit bitter, it’s… nothing we haven’t read from him MANY times before. It’s always the same story about the chance encounter, regrets, time running out, turning the impossible into possible, destiny, and all those pretentious little moments that get assigned too much of this dreamy power. We’ve seen that in Find Me, Enigma Variations, Eight White Nights, more recently in The Gentleman from Peru. Sorry Aciman but it is the same recycled formula… unfortunately, I feel that whatever has a sticker on that says “the author of CMBYN” will always sell. Any takes?
April 2, 2025
André Aciman’s newest book is an ethereal exploration of love, ageing, and regret; it explores a new friendship between two people in their 60s who meet entirely by chance in a jurors waiting room. Despite taking place in New York, this book truly feels like an Italian summer, and is full of the tenderness and depth that Aciman has previously written with.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance proof copy!
Thank you to the publisher for the advance proof copy!
December 22, 2025
⁀➷ 5 ★ ´ˎ˗
andre aciman’s prose never fails to disappoint me. the dialogue in this book was witty and introspective without coming off as overly pretentious. i think there’s something hauntingly sad about this book. the idea of two strangers meeting by sheer coincidence and forming such a deep bond in such a short span of time. yet no matter how effortlessly the intimacy flows between them, they know that there’s a certain line they can’t cross. they both have separate and established lives. in the end they’re left with nothing but unsatisfying ‘what-ifs’ — and sometimes that’s how life plays out. we meet our soulmates at inconvenient times.
this was definitely one of my favourite reads of the year !
“sometimes a random moment occurs, and then you realize that it came with a small halo.”
andre aciman’s prose never fails to disappoint me. the dialogue in this book was witty and introspective without coming off as overly pretentious. i think there’s something hauntingly sad about this book. the idea of two strangers meeting by sheer coincidence and forming such a deep bond in such a short span of time. yet no matter how effortlessly the intimacy flows between them, they know that there’s a certain line they can’t cross. they both have separate and established lives. in the end they’re left with nothing but unsatisfying ‘what-ifs’ — and sometimes that’s how life plays out. we meet our soulmates at inconvenient times.
this was definitely one of my favourite reads of the year !
December 31, 2022
Aciman's writing is pure magic! In this short story, we have two people in their late sixties finding themselves and what they like through each other. I loved the fact that they met during jury duty, while she was reading Wuthering Heights!
Beautifully narrated, endearing story of how love finds you in the places you least expect.
Detailed review coming soon.
Beautifully narrated, endearing story of how love finds you in the places you least expect.
Detailed review coming soon.
February 5, 2022
Equal parts romantic and sad. A story about being old enough to know what you want but (maybe) being too deep into your life to change course.
June 8, 2025
A 160 page book that’s double spaced that took me a week to read. Enough said.
July 14, 2025
Like a 158 page advertisement for divorce.
August 12, 2025
5 stars for getting me out of my reading slump:)) very romantic and heartfelt. Not sure why it comes up only as an audiobook on gr but there we go
February 20, 2022
Really enjoyed this short story and, gee, who knew Jeff Daniels could sound so sexy and comforting at the same time? Great narration.
November 25, 2025
This is the first book I read from André Aciman and I am very impressed. The writing is fluid and lyrical. The story is simple but compelling, carried by flawed, deeply human, and complex characters whose inner lives feel rich and authentic. It was beautiful to watch their connection slowly take shape and blossom.
This book struck me as both heartwarming and devastating, a tender exploration of longing, missed chances, and the many “what ifs” that linger throughout our lives.
A poignant and memorable read. I highly recommend it.
This book struck me as both heartwarming and devastating, a tender exploration of longing, missed chances, and the many “what ifs” that linger throughout our lives.
A poignant and memorable read. I highly recommend it.
April 16, 2025
a 4-star read before I think about it more comprehensively.
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The novel centers around two people in their later years—both caught in the inertia of unhappy marriages, both seeking nothing in particular, and yet stumbling upon a connection that feels effortless. There’s no urgency to their bond, no melodrama. Just a gentle unfolding of presence, routine, and intimacy that doesn’t demand explanation.
What moved me most was how natural their companionship felt. There’s no apology for the way they choose to spend their days together—walking, talking, watching the sea roll in. It’s not about romance in the traditional sense, but about what it means to truly be with someone. The kind of presence that is felt even in silence.
And yet, beneath the calm, Aciman allows tension to quietly simmer. As the days pass, what begins as comfort starts to edge into something riskier. The question arises: can something deeply good also be morally complicated? And if so, what are we willing to trade for that goodness?
The ending feels definitive in tone but leaves enough open space for readers to make their own conclusions. For some, it might feel like closure. For others, a beginning that will always remain suspended.
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The novel centers around two people in their later years—both caught in the inertia of unhappy marriages, both seeking nothing in particular, and yet stumbling upon a connection that feels effortless. There’s no urgency to their bond, no melodrama. Just a gentle unfolding of presence, routine, and intimacy that doesn’t demand explanation.
What moved me most was how natural their companionship felt. There’s no apology for the way they choose to spend their days together—walking, talking, watching the sea roll in. It’s not about romance in the traditional sense, but about what it means to truly be with someone. The kind of presence that is felt even in silence.
And yet, beneath the calm, Aciman allows tension to quietly simmer. As the days pass, what begins as comfort starts to edge into something riskier. The question arises: can something deeply good also be morally complicated? And if so, what are we willing to trade for that goodness?
The ending feels definitive in tone but leaves enough open space for readers to make their own conclusions. For some, it might feel like closure. For others, a beginning that will always remain suspended.
August 27, 2022
Two older people meet on jury duty and begin an affair. This was a bit bland but OK. 2.5*
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