Io non lo odio
(I don't hate him) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
There is a form of violence that is not physical, but is just as persistent and pervasive, to the point of devastating the self-esteem of those who suffer from it. This is what Clare, sixteen years old, undergoes: she meets Davide, a handsome and successful young man, and they develop a relationship. But love does not blossom and Clare soon puts an end to the relationship. However, he does not take it well, because he does not accept to be dumped and implements a subtle revenge which is accomplished by isolating her: he creeps into her friendships, into the relationship between her and her best friends, he succeeds in tearing down the music band of which she was a part; even the girl’s mother does not understand why she left such a charming boy. Clare, now past that period, thanks to a heightened awareness, tells her best friend, who was absent during that period because he was studying in the U.S. [Publisher’s website]
Edited by: Centro MeTRa - Università di Bologna (Italy)
Comment:
Violence does not only strike physically, but also psychologically, and this does not make it any less serious. This crucial concept is explained very well in the short novel Io non lo odio (I don’t hate him) by Giuliana Facchini, which shows how this kind of violence can completely devastate a person until they lose their confidence and self-esteem. Unfortunately, this is what happens to Clara (a 16-year-old girl) who will be the target of a terrible revenge by the boy who claimed to love her, who will build an unbearable void around her. The girl will have to undertake a long and difficult journey to find herself, freeing herself from stereotypes and preconceived conventions. The straightforward and clear language makes this novel at the same time fluent, concise, and compact, while the compelling content ensures that the reader’s breath remains suspended from the first to the last line.