A Commendable Literary Debut and a Gripping Obituary of Newspapers
My review on Amazon.com
The deceased is the newspaper industry, symbolized by this particular unnamed English-language daily newspaper in Rome, Italy. The paper's history is celebrated at the beginning of each chapter while the chapters themselves are reserved for recounting the lives and careers of key individuals that give the paper its identify and bear witness to its demise.
Amongst those colorful and often tortured characters are Kathy, the editor-in-chief and a matrimonial avant-garde. Arthur, the obituary writer and a proud indolent who's about to change course. Lloyd, the Paris correspondent and a broken man, beaten down by his past. Winston, the Cairo correspondent and a helpless rookie. Herman, the Corrections Editor and a man about to make corrections in his own personal relationships.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of one character. They all, however, appear in supporting roles in each other's chapters, in turn painting a complete picture of the great times and the bad times through which the paper (and themselves) have gone.
With Rome being the main backdrop of this story, the reader is transported to the world of foreign correspondents with all its glory and tribulations. The international journey then continues to Paris, Vienna and Cairo.
As much as I enjoyed the story, I felt a tad detached from the characters (except Herman Cohen,) hence the 4 stars, but I'm really nitpicking here. I'm pretty sure Tom's future work with cover that dynamic famously.
Highly recommended, especially as a summer read.
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