I GIORNI DI VETRO (THE DAYS OF GLASS)

I GIORNI DI VETRO (THE DAYS OF GLASS)

I giorni di vetro, written by Nicoletta Verna for Einaudi, was a sharp book for me, if you’ll pardon the pun.

I found this reading disturbing at times.

Nevertheless, I am grateful to Monica because, on my own initiative, I would probably have made excuses and diverted my interest elsewhere.

The novel begins with the murder of Matteotti and traces the subsequent unfolding of events until Liberation.

Castrocaro is at the center of everything, indeed “the epicenter.”

At the end of the book, the author informs us that the characters and events are fictional, but History, the one we all know, remains looming.

And even if the lives narrated in I giorni di vetro have no real counterpart, I couldn’t help but read with the awareness of how many terrible things happened to so many people.

This thought meant that for most of the book I was afraid to find out what would happen on the next page.

Unfortunately, I am unable to free myself from the anguish caused by cruelty

At the same time, however, I felt the need to continue reading, hoping that my fears were wrong.

Nicoletta Verna’s book does not leave you indifferent; it is a divisive read, even with regard to the conflicting opinions among readers.

When you think of the title: I giorni di vetro (The Days of Glass), what do you imagine?

Have you ever suffered while reading?

But even more frightening is witnessing the ease with which war becomes part of every state’s plans: the arms race, increasingly heated rhetoric.

Everything that has been is forgotten, trampled on, wiped out.

As if suffering, broken lives, and horror were evanescent, a bubble to be blown away.

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. And like that… he’s gone”. 
Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey)

COFFEE CLUBBING

COFFEE CLUBBING

Coffee clubbing is the new trend in house clubbing known as soft clubbing.

What does that mean?

It means new times for listening to music, complete with DJ sets, and getting together.

A bit like the “upside down” version, if you like…

No more late nights: meeting in the morning!

For some, it’s even feasible during the week, if you have time before the day starts, for example from 7 to 9 a.m., otherwise on Sundays.

Easy.

It seems that the search for the origin takes us north.

For example, on this profile @copenhagenfrow you can find a series of very nice photos that represent the concept: stylish people, very trendy and sophisticated looks, portraits in front of various cafes.

But of course, Milan is not far behind.

Here are a few places to go.

What do you think?

Would you go to one of these “cappuccino and croissant” happy hours?

Do you remember when we talked about the various types of movie breakfasts

Now we can add the musical version.

THE SOUND OF YOUR FOOTSTEPS

THE SOUND OF YOUR FOOTSTEPS

The Sound of Your Footsteps by Valentina D’Urbano  published by Longanesi is another book recommended by Monica.

The title might suggest a Nicholas Sparks-style romance novel, but it is actually a very different kind of book, as becomes clear from the outset.

They called us twins.”

These are the first words.

The twins were not born into the same family, but they grew up in the same place.

Have you ever thought about how lucky you are to be born in one place rather than another?

How lucky you are to be born into a loving family?

The twins grow up where childhood has no place, yet it is precisely that same fate that allows them to hear the sound of those footsteps…

Footsteps that become unavoidable, fundamental, even hatefully necessary.

Some visceral feelings can even become fierce and nothing can break them.

Not even the ending of a book destined to leave the reader with an unanswered question.

Among the topics covered, the most painful for me to revisit was addiction

The attempt to escape from pain, is what creates more pain.
Gabor Maté

Do you think this statement is true?

There are countless different kinds of pain to escape from.

I always thought it was easy for anyone to understand, to take care of themselves, to stop.

But I was wrong.

STILL WATER

STILL WATER

Still water commonly refers to natural water, but literally means water that is not moving.

We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather about us that they may see, it may be, their own images, and so live for a moment with a clearer, perhaps even with a fiercer life because of our quiet.
William Butler Yeats

Stillwater is also the name of a town in the United States that inspired the title of a 2021 film starring Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin.

Stillwater

 

 

Have you seen it?

As the trailer clearly shows, it is the story of a father who arrives in France from Stillwater to help his daughter who is in prison.

When the film was released, Amanda Knox sparked a heated controversy by writing:
Does my name belong to me? My face? What about my life? My story? Why does my name refer to events I had no hand in? I return to these questions because others continue to profit off my name, face, & story without my consent. Most recently, the film #STILLWATER

Still water

Right? Of course.

I saw the film and honestly didn’t notice any correlations or references, apart from the fact that an American girl was in prison.

Furthermore, the film’s plot reveals an unexpected twist, and frankly, the fact that Amanda Knox strongly insists that this is her story surprises me, because it leads to a very specific consideration.

You know I never reveal details that could be spoilers, but if you’ve seen it, I’d love to hear your opinion.

Regardless, it happened again.

The Rip, the new film starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, was recently released, and they are promoting it.

During an interview for his podcast, Joe Rogan asked the two actors for their opinion on cancel culture.

Definition of cancel culture: an attitude of blame, usually expressed through social media, towards public figures or companies who have said or done something offensive or politically incorrect and who are therefore stripped of support and approval.

In short: media pillorying to achieve oblivion.

We know it well, would you like to give some examples?

Matt Damon responds by expressing his opinion:
I bet some of those people would have preferred to go to jail for 18 months or whatever, and then come out and say, ‘I paid my debt. Like, we’re done. Like, can we be done?’” The thing about that getting kind of excoriated, publicly like that, it just never ends. And it will just follow you to the grave.”

First of all, it’s an opinion.

And it refers to prison as the place where one pays their debt. It’s also a strong concept, undoubtedly, precisely to reinforce the comparison with the consequences of cancel culture.

But Amanda Knox once again felt compelled to attack Matt Damon, this time writing:
Another thing Matt Damon could have run by me about before putting out inyo the world.

Still water

Well… so Matt Damon should consult her before doing anything?

I would say that the water has become stagnant.

By now you know that I occasionally repeat Evelyn Beatrice Hall‘s quote. 

Am I too harsh on Amanda Knox?

Perhaps, you tell me.

Or is it just another case of “all publicity is good publicity”?

On January 26, a documentary entitled Mouth of the Wolf: Amanda Knox Returns to Italy, edited by Amanda Knox, will be released. It was filmed during her return to Italy, in Umbria, where she met again with Giuliano Mignini, who coordinated the investigation into the murder of Meredith Kercher.

EVEN BRIAN MAY CAN’T SLEEP AT NIGHT

EVEN BRIAN MAY CAN’T SLEEP AT NIGHT

Yes, I know, this isn’t very “keep calm,” but reading that even Brian May can’t sleep at night made me feel a bit less alienated from.

During an interview for the presentation of the book Islands in Infinity: Galaxies in 3-D back  on Radio Times, Brian May spoke candidly, expressing a state of mind that I personally identify with.

I feel despondent about the world of humans.”

It keeps me awake at night. The cruelty, the ignorance, the lies, the rewriting of history. I think an understanding and love of art and music make it impossible to be the kind of person who wants to go out and be cruel to others.”

I would say that’s something to think about.

Are we living in an age of emptiness? Of a lack of understanding and love for art in all its forms?

I don’t know, but it’s clear that we are more inclined towards destruction than creation.

There’s so much suffering in the world, why would we want to add to it?”

That’s a great question.

Why?

Why not say enough is enough?

We’ve lost the ability to discuss things and respect other people’s point of view, we have a horrendous polarisation.”

Polarization, and I would add chronic forms of individualism and selfishness.

If people spent more time looking at the stars and making music, none of this would be possible.”

Utopia

Unfortunately, yes, but you know that I care deeply about the concept of seeing the stars again

And you? Do you sleep at night?

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