The Imperfectionists
A poignant tale of love, loss, and the end of an era.
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Quercus Publishing
Published:7th Jul '11
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The Imperfectionists explores the decline of a beloved newspaper in Rome, intertwining the lives of its quirky staff amidst the challenges of the digital age.
In The Imperfectionists, readers are introduced to a once-thriving English-language newspaper in Rome, founded in the 1950s by a passionate millionaire. This repacked edition captures the essence of a publication that is now struggling to survive in the face of the digital revolution. The narrative is both humorous and poignant, highlighting the eccentricities of the staff who are more absorbed in their personal lives than the looming threat to their careers.
The editor-in-chief grapples with the temptation of rekindling an old romance, while a dedicated reader finds herself lost in the archives, reliving the past through every old edition. Meanwhile, the newspaper's publisher seems more enamored with his basset hound, Schopenhauer, than the fate of the paper itself. Each character's story unfolds in a way that emphasizes the bittersweet nature of endings, whether they be in life, love, or the era of print journalism.
The Imperfectionists intricately weaves together the lives of eleven unique individuals, creating a rich tapestry that explores the themes of loss and the possibility of new beginnings. As the newspaper faces its inevitable decline, the characters reflect on their own endings and what might emerge in the aftermath. This novel is a celebration of the human experience, capturing the beauty and fragility of life as it transitions into a new age.
Expertly crafted . . . sublime writing . . . so beautifully written, so compassionate in its observation and understanding of human behaviour, that one cannot tear the eyes from the page. The sheer dexterity of the writing brings a haunting beauty to the many tragedies within the narrative * The Times *
Alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching, and it's assembled like a Rubik's cube . . . a cross between Evelyn Waugh's Scoop and Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing adventure . . . So good I had to read it twice * New York Times Book Review *
Rachman is an admirable stylist. Each chapter is so finely wrought that it could stand alone as a memorable short story . . . Funny, poignant, occasionally breathtaking novel * Financial Times *
A precise, playful fiction with a deep but lightly worn intelligence * Times Literary Supplement *
Sketched with lively charm . . . loaded with charm and insight, the novel brings human tenderness to an inky business besieged by budget cuts and online competition * Daily Mail *
Anyone who has ever spent time in newspaperland will recognize The Imperfectionists' high degree of authenticity. So will quite a few people beyond. * Guardian *
An addictive read: quirky without being daft, funny without being shallow and the sort of book many a journalist will wish they had written * The Times *
Rachman has a real gift for capturing a life in a few sentences . . . we realise the book has taken us through the fifty-year life of the newspaper, and brought to life a moving cast of characters. By turns, funny and desperately sad, Rachman's always readable novel is a terrific debut * Jewish Chronicle *
Hilarious and poignant debut . . . Rachman's strength lies in the rendering of the characters - all eleven are believable, flawed and lovable . . . Funny and prescient, but still full of hope * Yorkshire Post *
Light-footed lyricism . . . a series of acutely observed character sketches and a poignant sense of nostalgia * Glasgow Herald *
Vignettes packed with poignant insights and laugh out loud dialogue, the reader is left amazed and delighted by this new author whose prose is reminiscent of Portman and Vonnegut yet wholly and wonderfully his own. Buy this book! * Canada Post *
- Long-listed for Scotiabank Giller Prize 2010
ISBN: 9781849160315
Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 30mm
Weight: 260g
368 pages