Solitude and Other Stories (Richard Sullivan Prize in Short Fiction) - Tapa blanda

"The author so calmly and transparently understates, his touch is so gentle, that for quite a while you don't realize you are being led by the hand through mighty strange places, along those twisty byways that on a map would make the heart seem such a maze."

Solitude and Other Stories represents Arturo Vivante's quest to use writing to uncover hidden truths. These twenty-four short stories - set in Italy, New England, and Canada - explore various themes, including, as the title story says, solitude. Vivante begins the narrative with a self-oblivious solitude that will become loneliness. Day after day, night after night, Vivante's narrator becomes aware of his isolation, and he decides to seek the company of others. Companionship, therefore, becomes another theme developed in these stories. Although not explicitly autobiographical, many of these stories do have an autobiographical tone. Vivante writes about things that may have happened in his life. His stories often stem from the observation of a bright or meaningful moment, and always center on exploring the ideas and emotions of his characters. Written with clarity, simplicity, and sincerity, Solitude and Other Stories is a lovely collection from an accomplished author.