The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
The Imperfectionists is the story of an English newspaper that is published in Rome, Italy. Each chapter tells the story of a different person with a link to the paper, some are employees, their significant others and one is a customer of the paper. In between are flashback of how the paper came into being in the mind of Mr. Ott and how his family over the years led to its demise in a now digital world.
Each character's story stands on it's own. I have to say for the first half of this book, I had no idea how these stories were connected and I almost gave up. These were a bunch of people struggling to make something of themselves in a dirty and dusty newsroom. It was not really all that exciting for me.
It took awhile, but them the story clicked. Finally the author started making the connections. There is not a single likable character in this entire novel. Not one! And their interactions are tense and unpleasant. But I had to laugh at one reference. Anyone who knows me well will understand it.
Accounts Payable, as she's called, made the decision to fire one of the employees in an effort to cut costs. She finds herself on an airplane sitting next to a man she sizes up as dull and drab and must have a job working at Office Depot. Since I worked for Office Depot for over 15 years, I don't know a single person there who would classify themselves as uninteresting. I laughed over that line for a very long time. Accounts Payable finally realizes that he's the one she fired and the overseas flight is not very pretty.
I think the writing in this story is fresh and sharp, but kind of dark. It's not an uplifting book to read by any stretch of the imagination. For me as a writer, The Imperfectionists is a great study in the craft of writing. Not every story has a happy ending and this one shows how rough and raw life can be.
The Imperfectionists is the story of an English newspaper that is published in Rome, Italy. Each chapter tells the story of a different person with a link to the paper, some are employees, their significant others and one is a customer of the paper. In between are flashback of how the paper came into being in the mind of Mr. Ott and how his family over the years led to its demise in a now digital world.
Each character's story stands on it's own. I have to say for the first half of this book, I had no idea how these stories were connected and I almost gave up. These were a bunch of people struggling to make something of themselves in a dirty and dusty newsroom. It was not really all that exciting for me.
It took awhile, but them the story clicked. Finally the author started making the connections. There is not a single likable character in this entire novel. Not one! And their interactions are tense and unpleasant. But I had to laugh at one reference. Anyone who knows me well will understand it.
Accounts Payable, as she's called, made the decision to fire one of the employees in an effort to cut costs. She finds herself on an airplane sitting next to a man she sizes up as dull and drab and must have a job working at Office Depot. Since I worked for Office Depot for over 15 years, I don't know a single person there who would classify themselves as uninteresting. I laughed over that line for a very long time. Accounts Payable finally realizes that he's the one she fired and the overseas flight is not very pretty.
I think the writing in this story is fresh and sharp, but kind of dark. It's not an uplifting book to read by any stretch of the imagination. For me as a writer, The Imperfectionists is a great study in the craft of writing. Not every story has a happy ending and this one shows how rough and raw life can be.
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