Richard Dawson
While the prose is beautiful and vividly captures the atmosphere of 1970s Italy, the narrative didn't quite land for me. I wasn't entirely sold on the fictional character of Nicholas; at times, I felt a non-fiction account of the production of Salò and Casanova might have been more engaging.
Entering the book without prior knowledge of Pasolini’s films or his death, I found the central relationships a bit shallow. Nicholas and Pasolini's exchange of past stories lacked the emotional resonance I was hoping for. Ultimately, despite the stunning setting, I found myself wishing for more substance within the story to maintain my interest.
While the prose is beautiful and vividly captures the atmosphere of 1970s Italy, the narrative didn't quite land for me. I wasn't entirely sold on the fictional character of Nicholas; at times, I felt a non-fiction account of the production of Salò and Casanova might have been more engaging.
Entering the book without prior knowledge of Pasolini’s films or his death, I found the central relationships a bit shallow. Nicholas and Pasolini's exchange of past stories lacked the emotional resonance I was hoping for. Ultimately, despite the stunning setting, I found myself wishing for more substance within the story to maintain my interest.