"An Italian Obsession" by Kfir Luzzatto

SUMMARY :  In the lax atmosphere of middle-class post-war Italy, sex and drugs are easy to come by. Roberto tries to find his own balance, but a crush he had for Alessandra in elementary school is reignited and the course of his life is changed forever. It's the 1970’s, a time of political upheaval driven by disillusioned young people. Roberto is caught up in the times. He makes a new start, but his past catches up with him. Finding himself accused of a crime, he must defend himself even when he isn’t sure he committed it. A vivid snapshot of European post-war society, this novel is viewed through the eyes of a young adult coming of age.

PARTICULARS OF THE BOOK :
Published by:  Pine 10
Pages:  295
Genre:  General Fiction/YA Crossover
Author:  Kfir Luzzatto

Find out more:  Kfir Luzzatto
Purchase this book:  Amazon

See my review of Kfir's other book "The Evelyn Project" by searching on my sidebar!


About the Author :

Kfir Luzzatto was born and raised in Italy, and moved to Israel as a teenager. He acquired the love for the English language from his father, a former U.S. soldier, a voracious reader and a prolific writer. Kfir has a PhD in chemical engineering and works as a patent attorney. He lives in Omer, Israel, with his full-time partner, Esther, their four children, Michal, Lilach, Tamar and Yonatan, and the dog Elvis. Kfir has published extensively in the professional and general press over the years. For almost four years he wrote a weekly “Patents” column in Globes (Israel’s financial newspaper). His non-fiction book, THE WORLD OF PATENTS, was published in 2002 by Globes Press. He is the author of several short stories but now mostly writes full-length fiction. Kfir is an HWA (Horror Writers Association) and ITW (International Thriller Writers) member and also serves on the editorial board of The Harrow Press as Anthology Editor. You can visit Kfir’s web site and read his blog at www.kfirluzzatto.com. Follow him on Twitter (@KfirLuzzatto).

 

 

The Bookish Dame's Review :

 

First and foremost "An Italian Obsession" is a love story of the unattainable.  Taking a young boy from his first vision of a pretty girl to his last, longing looks at his life's passion, it's the story of one person's obsessive focus on another throughout his tumultuous life. 

Kfir Luzzatto is the master of the understated in this novel while he builds his story and engages his audience almost seamlessly.  His characters; his primary male character in particular,  are developed to a level of adulthood and complexity that makes the book a study in coming of age.  Never missing a step from the beginning of the book, we become wrapped up in the protagonist's attempts to solidify his heart's desire, to find his love reciprocated, and to fulfill his life in the form of one beautiful girl.  Nearly everything else, including what may have constituted a murder, takes second stage with him.

Luzzatto sets this story in the time frame of post-war Europe, which adds dimension and realism.   I found the times and the trends fascinating to read about in the context.  Interesting to read about the "devil may care" attitudes of the young adults...different from American kids, but the same in many ways, too.

This is a passionate love story with dimension and depth.  Characters who live and breathe, a story that has meaning and humanity.  A writer who understands the complexities of the human spirit...

A very good read!  It's obvious this novel is from a writer who has a wide range of experience to draw from.


5 stars                   Deborah/TheBookishDame