For Grace Received

Valeria Parrella has only recently turned thirty-five, yet she is already one of Italy's most honored and exciting contemporary writers, writing in a mature and sophisticated style which is as lively and full of passion as is her native community of Naples itself. For Grace Received, a compelling collection of four stories, smoothly translated by Anthony Shugaar, recreates contemporary everyday life among different groups of people within what might arguably be considered Italy's most raucous city. A kind of sly dishonesty pervades these stories, though the pragmatic characters do not recognize the dishonesty as especially wrong. Life is a challenge to them, and they all live according to "what works." Some characters are involved with drugs, and some commit crimes on the job, though they are basically good people. Marina, a gallery publicist, is dishonest with her husband and daughter, eventually committing the ultimate selfish act. Other characters tolerate dishonesty around them knowing that they have nothing to gain by complaining. Parrella's witty style suits these stories perfectly. Writing in a staccato style, often without transitions between speakers and events, she creates scenes in which the reader becomes a voyeur--listening in on conversations among people s/he does not know, sharing the intimacies of everyday life with strangers, and observing and judging life-changing interactions among characters. The overall effect is so realistic that there is no sense that these are just "characters" and not real people. The author also captures and conveys the private language and gestures of characters who know each other well, thereby enhancing the reader's understanding and appreciation of them and providing insights which go beyond the superficial. Parrella's stories feel like one-act plays--vibrant, full of emotion, and memorable. One can only hope that the author's two novels, The White Space (2008) and The Verdict (2007) will also be translated into English so that this author can find a bigger spotlight on the world-wide stage she richly deserves. Mary Whipple