Evening sounds

Book title: Voices of the Evening Author: Natalia Ginzburg Publisher: Al-Karma Book category: Novel Number of pages: 224 About the book: Elsa reached twenty-seven years old and is still single, and this is one of the reasons for her mother’s constant and multiple complaints. But the mother’s chatter is not an exception in the traditional Italian town where Elsa and her family live, and where life revolves around a fabric factory owned by the De Franchisci family. In an extremely economical narration, devoid of any explanation or commentary, and primarily built on dialogue, Elsa tells the story of the members of this family, up to the youngest son, whom she secretly meets in the neighboring city twice a week. Amid the ongoing chatter in the town, Italy’s most famous writer, Italo Calvino, says: "Natalia tells us a story of two silences intertwining, seeking completeness, then clashing." Calvino continues about the famous novel: "Voices of the Evening is the story of people trying to bury their thoughts, and define their identity only through the actions they take and the words they say." An enjoyable and moving novel, distinguished by its effective realism and subtle irony.