Jeff's Picks

Europa Editions specializes in books that are both "literary" (whatever that means to you) and fun to read, and this novel is a great example. Very engaging tale of an adopted man's upbringing, under unique circumstances, split between rich/poor (no: uber-wealth/squalor), mean streets/corner office, and the resulting drive to understand his particularly mysterious, corruptible identity. Both breezy and edgy, with a great taboo romance, familial confusion, and some really tempting culinary tidbits throughout (not in a gimmicky way), this book is a real pleasure. Also makes me wanna ride around Sao Paolo in a snazzy helicopter.

I did too! Most of it, at least, and there's plenty of great "serious" material here as well. At least several of these items will stick with you for a while, and a few will downright make you piss.

Probably all you've heard is true; she's a creative wunderkind. Wonderful offhand tone that's chatty, irreverent, smart, erotic, weird. Nicely indulgent of our sometime pettiness. So observant and charming and, like a friend, just critical enough to not be lame.

From the opening pages it's clear you're in the presence of a remarkable work (you know, that feeling). A multi-voiced carousel of wonders, with elements ranging from murder mystery to intricate aesthetic philosophy, this book has dazzling beauty, intrigue, and understanding. Contains--or is--a compelling rumination on East and West, on art's place in society, and on vision itself.

Hemon gets compared a lot to Nabokov, but I'd say that's only because he's of mixed-slavic descent and writes beautifully and poetically in his second language, English. In truth he's edgier than Nabokov, less effete, bawdier, and probably a lot more down-to-earth. A gorgeous novel about immigrants, America, and where the hell life takes us.

Reads like a blend of Atlantic Monthly expose' and true crime book - I guess 'cuz that's basically what it is. Extraordinary (pun intended) and compelling at times, a slog in others, but man, what a story. (Ps, our country is seriously fucked up. Has been for a while. I guess they all are. Ditto, world.)

Ladies and gents, this is all you need: From "Dalmations" --Hey, look, the truck's stopping. --Did they take us to the park this time? --No...it's a fire. Another horrible fire. --What the hell is wrong with these people?

Incredible. Wry. Riveting. Fortissimo! Remarkably mundane at times, too, which is probably good for an "accidental fugitive". As in, nice to hear about his day-to-day habits... Perhaps a touch self-obsessed here and there (it happens with some of those Italian mammoni), but we can forgive that, given the subject, right?

"Travel writing" is a genre that is a little too wounded by hacks and commercial persuasion (as in anything you've ever read in an in-flight magazine, and most other magazines for that matter, not to mention the bulk of books out there by eager folks with a little life experience to share, and plenty of proudly italicized words to show it). So read this instead, and let it be an antidote. It's what the genre's writing should be, and what the best practitioners give us: imaginative, graceful, highly perceptive, both precise and dreamy, and crafted from a life's work acquiring knowledge of the world. As in, as much of it as possible. True literature about place. And experience. Stands with Jan Morris, Bruce Chatwin, V.S. Naipaul, Pico Iyer, Barry Lopez...

I feel we all need a book like this--as we need animals --to make us happy. Also amusing, smart, and balanced--like animals too!

This book needs to exist in the English language. What gives? Read it in Italian or Spanish if you can. Or make someone translate it for you. Baricco "gets it".

Lively, informative political/cultural reportage through the window of socc----er, football that is. Helps to know and love o jogo bonito but almost as illuminating without. Yes, you need to know about Serbian goons and Barcelona's transcendent flair, but no, you don't have to understand the offside rule. Or the fine arts of fakery.

Oh, the best! Read the giant's words! Read 'em!

You may have noticed I enjoy Saramago, true, believe it, they don't always say it, this is one of his best. He died this year. A beautiful presence.

Lovely! Tender! Sad! Oh to draw and paint like this person!

Terrifico wonderifico.

The ball is round. The scope is huge. The game is grand! The book is a wallop. (And dry at times, but my goodness what obsessed fan won't forgive it.)

An entertaining & nimble profile of one of America's great comic thinkers. Martin is a gracious, clever host whose account is refreshingly restrained and professional.

A wonderful thinker and generally soulful good man.