Another Update from Another Airport

Hi!

Flying home from Ohio, and I had a very productive couple of days. I finished four books!!!

That makes nine. Nowhere near where I need to be, but getting there.

More posts coming soon.

Book #5

The Imperfectionists

Tom Rachman

Back in Starbucks, but this time I'm in the one right by my college and my chai latte is a venti and hot. Another huge difference: I'm writing this post to procrastinate. Its midterm week, and I have so much work to do it's insane. I have an essay to write and two midterms to study for. Yet here I am, blogging my fifth book.

"The Imperfectionists" was really, really good. It's kind of depressing, but so well written and intriguing. The book is about an english newspaper based in Rome. Each chapter is about a different staff member of the paper, with short flashbacks about the founding of the paper in between each one. Every person's life totally revolves around the paper. The paper is all encompassing to the characters. Their daily life is dictated by the paper and the deadlines and work that comes along with it. But instead of focusing on that, Rachman gives us a look into their personal lives, and they truly are imperfect.

Each chapter, each character, is so deep. You're given a very limited time with the character and yet by the end of the chapter you understand them. Because each character's life revolves around the paper they all know each other. So you can meet a character in one chapter but they'll have a part in someone else's chapter too. In this way the book builds layers like a seven-layered cake. Rachman is very tidy about it, and by the end of the book, you can have your cake and eat it to. Everything ties together in a smooth and congruous way, though its sad. I'm not giving anything away by saying that I was slightly depressed after finishing it. The title of the book is "The Imperfectionists". Clearly things are not all happy-go-lucky in the end. You know that going in. But another reason I was depressed was because it was over. I wanted to know more about the characters. What happens to Arthur Gopal? Does Herman Cohen get a happy ending like I think he does? And Menzies, the news editor- how is he doing? I didnt want to leave these guys. I wanted more, but there was no more to have.

The actual reading of the book was great. Firstly, because the chapters are about different characters its a light read. The plot is not heavy and concentrated and boring. It's multifaceted and diverse. Secondly, it takes place in Rome. I don't know if I mentioned it already, but I read multiple books at once. I was reading "The Imperfectionists" at the same time as I was reading "The Elegance of the Hedgehog", and I felt like I was living in Europe. I had Rome in one book, and Paris in the other. Books have the power to move you thousands of miles while still sitting in one spot. Lastly, it's about journalism. I seriously wish I would be a reporter or an editor after reading it, and I dont know why. Rachman has a background in journalism and seems to give a very realistic account of what working for a newspaper is like, and its not very pretty. The whole staff is stressed and under the constant pressure of deadlines. And yet, I am totally looking into writing for my college newspaper. I'll keep you updated. 

Five down, 95 more to go.