Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles
Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles
Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles
Ebook390 pages6 hours

Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

Read preview

About this ebook

A raucous debut novel of organized—and unorganized—crime. “A story that takes itself unseriously enough to be funny” (The Daily Beast, “This Week’s Hot Reads”).

Diego is a forty-something car salesman with a talent for telling half-truths. Fausto sells watches over the phone. Claudio manages (barely) his family-owned neighborhood supermarket. The characteristic common to each of these three men is their abject mediocrity. Yet, mediocrity being the mother of outrageous invention, they embark on a project that would be too ambitious in scope for any single one of them, let alone all three together. They decide to flee the city and to open a rustic holiday farmhouse in the Italian countryside outside Naples.

Their misconceived endeavor would have been challenging enough for these three unlikely entrepreneurs, but when a local mobster arrives and demands they pay him protection money, things go from bad to worse. Now their ordinary (if wrongheaded) attempt to run a small business in an area that organized crime syndicates consider their own becomes a quixotic act of defiance.

A “miraculous” Italian comedy that will have readers laughing out loud, Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles marks Fabio Bartolomei’s vivid debut.

“An entertaining and humorous debut.” —La Repubblica

“A melancholy yet hopeful fable told with a smile.” —Internazionale

“Left the kind of smile on my face that doesn’t go unnoticed and which people often mistake for a kind of facial paralysis.” —Valentina Aversano, Setteperuno
LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 30, 2012
ISBN9781609458539
Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles
Author

Fabio Bartolomei

Fabio Bartolomei was born and lives in Rome. He’s a writer, a screenwriter, and a teacher of creative writing. His debut novel was Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles (Europa, 2012) and with We Are Family, his second novel, he won the Elle Magazine Readers’ Grand Prize.

Related to Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles

Related ebooks

Literary Fiction For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles

Rating: 3.7272727545454543 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

11 ratings2 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The best way to describe Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles is as a men's mid-life crises novel on drugs. The characters don't start out very likeable. They're three down-on-their-luck, self-centered, often prejudiced guys with poor social and love lives and very few redeeming qualities. When these city-slickers decide to start anew and renovate a large country home into an agritourist bed and breakfast, what could possibly go wrong?Of course, hilarity ensues. At times I was laughing out loud. This is one of the funniest books I've read in a while, just from the characters' blunders and the almost ridiculous situation that progresses between them and members of the local mob. Somehow the author actually makes this scenario seem realistic, though for most of the book the reader lives under the knowledge that the situation can't possibly last in the men's favor and will only end badly. Still, it's fascinating to watch how the characters change and develop under the influence of their mutual country enterprise. They're not always capable of saving themselves from their own mistakes, however, and so the cast of characters grows as others join the initial trio in maintaining their schemes. In addition, there's a good deal of social messages included in the story, making this not only a very enjoyable read, but also one that sticks with readers after they have closed the covers.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a fairly lightweight, blokey feel-good novel, obviously written with one eye on its potential as a film script (since realised). In the aftermath of the financial crisis, no-hopers Fausto, Claudio and Diego decide to put their meagre savings together to follow the Italian dream of moving to the country and opening an agriturismo (farmhouse B&B). They hardly know each other, they don't have much in common apart from a desire to get away from their current lives, and none of them has any remotely relevant skills or experience. So we know it's going to be a disaster of sit-com proportions...With good luck and the help of some unexpected friends — including a communist veteran, an elderly local mafioso, and some African farm-workers — they manage to make a go of their shaky business, and while they are about it learn about the values of self-reliance, hard work, organic vegetables and elective families. And even that there can — sometimes — be more to relationships than sex. But they still have to deal with the problem of the old car buried under the lawn whose radio keeps on playing classical music at unexpected moments. Alternately trivial and sanctimonious, and written from a rather tediously heterosexual-male perspective, but a nice idea, and with some good comic scenes. Probably better as a film than as a novel, but quite entertaining anyway.

Book preview

Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles - Fabio Bartolomei

3KNebook_preview_excerpt.html}ےF@Uٝ]JF%k]nZ?FPT2;f?'%G*fZ$3q_wr|>Vj|ӡVqU=y7ǩ/s.|?4\Ӈ՝O⇪vC54/?>ӽ|*F91a=WJ̬{l\Z'l( j*^sCOȱObHJ>a÷ *~|e0_7Mbeoٓ*R=e^ GL_vXKfȪj,^TG)pZ'`Ԛ=YmL[$ ihG/D֔LPTNmޘ[.}vEO#K]O!vNᛨ&@dXyr^@(LO34;gpcH7wm?\6 /GF먟a3`f #(]iv܃Jщ٢A!!#\Lf Ϟ]Mj>z S~ȥkފǍ"@N}OCc5QA"MZ!7ΡkOyv|=c+ax{2[癠@|$MƝ \5uVN!o/qNr%!}PHi C|UWr;1 Y9 {_eP(ax ^}!hq;HfJ*%CW-h:Z(BxZBjäOTSvEV5_*Nq2)~;l9͟Y&,;^hRn xI2}Z3PDVmm  e>XQ,".8^@R/5`?ݏ)o :Cvo*+S Su)$!.^="S`fQ>y#ɒ*ad's,YL?q]s4"FxO`)Z3{N񦝻Vq<q(F]PfD|:ޫ4OtD2pxMI|0;=bSdwZ،(sY7 EX3VB7U=)z* o\Nqء%|' @ (5% IhvROb1Dk'ބ6{^8D>4+/k=H,^z"M~@º Lb:GDlLs3 *Bv@&U_ᴈ}:{ʒVA-'G RX+ `z-!V2\':HQakg,"5XVR}&pp@3YƐnl|+p0!w E A/z $13z f/;_v=$s=؟jN(eSu-ɏ9 XW%hrAK/+u?@\R/=vpt-WvY ;2ѐb}>ibAꘚ(FVv +0Nw/>R5Pn} щN ׭+α~&0@lw5m$E*W Бx@y猪dEK C".2 f܎ CJ1 mĐB8I#AO!נ6Fc%LPw6"BN ލ(}}ATyD4Vdj c+x8!@@| fL6U!K vWr dq6&.$[P;)ׄ `''zݛA;H2W?(ت'ݑH:kNKpM k]`FW+F|hXg\MBԨG݆v|Rz[ >V/n5ԻarwINPo@[gy9jiS#xΪ";Jk(@ yKD Asʋ}vNkuMtr !& \CU(f?5xYS(&3"U= dVZDپ43|̆4ca!СnX5z֝W#+H?F5?gL(s7a<l?AZ8(ו W3vL9TnU.bhz1*Xt-:Kފ܃1KThيXyᙁS;P<|6ї>-K oTMv?}&5{eޘpI@-}ؿނΟ!:>vWţPXAEC?u<*?,I n%=CH 4cI2k6X4/m{+CATRD\M*SWtX*%9/v  ?<)gbj͔붂s'.8(\C eƉ: PT'?EtOdH?j)ŲEn]<  [)xF‹!t=H8ȣ*2xe\=麟S,؀žg@S 4:}3px''qr կFg`b91"B=DXvѤIdOa1&>SWVzH7j-h2Z| $1צoi*6T[fVh|^L_f3W13r' "B iTYb!jHC]{[ 3: yIv%0? B7g\ C*Qn' aF 9#@rZ]YaS]Ug/qs|' =BF\󺌣FZjiwb`U&Yw׭$1^, zJ6KTLʎ&E~)n0wh ^B/i \2!@-a 1kqRY:ͳ05```'980yf_wѧN!~V}Mgd%vy^cCXAؑ6P~NUviu+t1Z!jy0>$KnQ.,J::#+f9ɊY=or+h>e]љ}CpCtr2U7i?}%RNey:/G84[!?0\2+aJ3{9$@I&CI>#ـBϘk$<(z`Y"3/d ,Êr `K7 AY{^no}Ie w0EIߛ X ^/Mf p1&"5ĕ!U}p}JEŌu i+j];Va!Kf1kEtZGL'ke툥`r_% *y)\|R1ނe e<_QȚY +[&*f,d{R:w*O^,(fid&hrdU{0S`Xp· "ЅLj/ I$2[dCYKXdcB&bεMs\ DݙgY.9kvvjkrw<2iZ~XZ%qӤy5Q 3Jð>d:0pڟ+u0FLX`%hWKD^2൯|{qÄu.q\dh`f)i]RD^- 1_{Z'MW#C 3Q|Fx!3whbaBqO,tbBp`V|$LIUnjk@F!J@=DuW?wNg^@jfQJtbb \4rԉ*Ḥ>z45Ih f06GM x6tpX8l_hvGzP2.0,;|A/򈨳ٚgC pxEyK^eVdc:EA^Ҳ3٪&2`O>t: FQ0ܹR]0N4*Z\Χ,X2Hg|eÙy_@0n}v1Ӕ\. FˈLnTo֥ ǣ$ZӵD)cNyC.lADf1DWe+Zo9ۚp/x{AV$c֌9(\>ƾH SsCD}2%Po{_!pXA.^So%eFPYY^^^h"'ُ3 ]SG09E ':w,}~9\_f֧ɘ|'MSv(Knd]$H@C)V1nQVADAH*deJλI-dVfM2 _mb>Vua|0PZ}PńŴRq76ќ> |M]P'; G~xez_.;U4:Fـ6/H@0Y,r {;0Yw֌gM;KFXv!9njUECd7ג|kfQp$XNa9lYYUppB-khEMv83Ͽav^4?Y ƕA8@AA5J\Xh57.焺t\qXŊ%Ihd lz_Ϣ(+ԼF5^'ׇF3)KG7]c@ù_,AwWkYR 4-H$4-'~G'0#Ggxht0+f ,zE>9audeVDq!DZ0fv8diDoݥJgJ*.fMIpE5o;)ۜEE&Z,XUytаBYv5AVi:>*8b̈́fw ^֘Ɓp?B- v(Y+erge͈bADlп5kwAX||(4cr /kr` 4ZH˼w@QtYafi Wd=ˣ%wb?} OD0Y{zփ }b=Ծ"M(a2, E+E9!jhw[IlBr!\> 1u㸈Y6پݬx]S43mЏ+kp.iėC's>2*O2s?̉:kgW`Œɝ홄f7k4]1ҚV^U&1?!0yrbDn{r33&}j)Eރ5މ=ڜB_Ya~c62eq^$xŘR̡_ sr?[PapSB(AoVM `Y!ݞaʋoXk{t3ղ{-T]Cl xE\A*`2P@›8 *PM:x{,&lj01m<9d VCf:)1fQpSSD1:X(>  R.OKwrUH( hnDw$Y䉭K0F"`TFM̚sY泆*y׾[S\u_4EiFZK0A1.ͯVS D#qP)q$;%oDI Fn<=E > j.l"Gن40b&:ԅ2\o>;r09!Dxށ]&%lJ@N%sku%²wHkOEۈ6V;1bDտl䮲n@ZE^bDvjU7cɵ|L5-)1v,ȺE \ %HY#.}}k]cM&Uu9,(wI +3:ؾ=pq"[%x3]wL$I,:" U&C%HPyVV~`JD=MriVdWosKϣ?eznL( EKug5Y+sTwȻ4StIRӑd=y3"B>Ny?X-N5[/ѢE$g ]6!Tg)Xv<)}~A᫸|$T9'7kugv(.'7 N/ߡS>xJEp6DƎ(α6a˃Z7W1(ʬp3 'l2yN|v6XТ h'nl?` 7 'ujɎHh}!,"uRm>[Yډ诠:Cq%G: s#yݮ"f-nr㗄f$TKfnJ%bS$&=^s>pI,W)r"zUƞ0d"Z>J 8HYxv\9ﶽwVDT @K)APoe0"W1;TDطK婷biX k3ق?}Uf {̙2YOۨm"+Y]3jr 55{"-lT4}ZvaxY4ʗj:@wĆ.>g1Ә{@^9dFt<|4b(~zXs5e4VVR(UDY&N<2/C!/l~N)o4+Bɫ3>+hM@@P(NcWrTA4"Y)P 6;Y?)#dy7oV}kEn~[ϳt<>bUۡVBvdӺ-/(>>l;pPfSiI.d.)"y{ʹQ+.f-sN3H)>PՂeqO \=|Rl_G't(&$wf#%z#ؾQUH CvvZ^rZGgha,B쑍8zZў+ӐnDv] (# 1iIPut'"fӓgH:6*]isLC9W>^ƔC18کpZ#rYs~Ku㩆X@C-0=tӯq hz9ڑYg;/("= C@nE'OK6 .e@n]|ذ*3l܃U)UWXgB i8MqFGeDhTi[&9H7+r-I1٢*.]wͽxh!~A2iA;iYx/ѳvg{lY,&-Ư=$!*Ĵ(_A?ƨM6:󌛟@XrZX/:q/`6}LIt5 R!.TcfosJ;+65t2a(e)8ȏE(}}V9e =QϮc&GyW3ɽD˹qG;`ɬTKL>$WU9 gbXkeMBtdvؿS# g1!e 4kyt ng撵C9m&(|] D08.ah߱Jqn>ȕs/U Olɟ$qPt|˜1L}Zgr^wʠהLIw3 y\O~(5{&>X) 0&y) k7˚g\)=b%:-+н2UҬwٞSOdp5r'MsԱE8szSU@patd^hGcK I jI`J0 !@0n%2K]~ps߉vlzr39R2ytD+6jW3]VC$_/ȁ1ŭ@|v:tB灇9^Z?`5g͇CPdJ\%˳!HȧpEԆ8˰Z6Dljv?s5-~+ןp͑$W;XE廉CE7͙ɣ),/tcb߳u\ ی2tvmf`iA:XlP. x 獷#^p \a<ہ agt#%ᴬ/T*+2 v<$ģշǟCx@ ֛g-ϤNʨ)'yO^+/.Ǹ,,͛-^ q 75L1@y3~S;f9f]kDu/Ѧ@+aV[e}{v.ޕ^4Imh͹k!J9jړ4$z2JY 6b @bR*bd.9L3%O=OO鋄$*)hL=wLZ3~8xd"&Y}Y=Ŕ7ryJ9h+g!V~I6[>F 'KùmYB>1}9+|}^0}ͧq ?O>h-4Z[U `)Ăh_3,msg~2[R{x0p8koO˚ihEQ1M`xtfxͶn/3V:hU{0LVwyEa4zŪ~NWARd/̿r%hg>shjDBs
Enjoying the preview?
Page 1 of 1