Review of The Ghosts of the Past

[Isaac Oh]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Ghosts of the Past" by Luigi Pascal Rondanini.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Giorgio came to Naples to see his father, while Antonio came to see the producer who would be making a film out of his book. They were friends who grew up together but were thrown apart by distance, time, misunderstandings, and non-communication. They meet at a bar on the eastern outskirts, and while they catch up with each other, they speak about their friendship and rediscover each other. They speak to the ghosts of the past that haunt them. Are some things better left unsaid? Are some secrets better left uncovered? What does this mean for their friendship?
 
There are positive aspects to The Ghosts of the Past by Luigi Pascal Rondanini. The book is made up of three acts that took place in three settings. This alludes to the simplistic structure of the book. It is also short in length and would not take a lot of time to read. However, contrary to the simple structure of the book, the nature of the book is complex and psychological. It requires an in-depth understanding of the characters and drawing up logical inferences about the events that happened in the book from the conversations of the characters. The entire story is basically a conversation that highlights human nature and tendencies. Antonio grew up feeling constricted by his environment and knew he had to leave to spread his wings. He made a name for himself not just in England but also in Naples. Giorgio grew up philandering, never realizing the value of hard work and yet envious of hard workers. They experienced the same childhood trauma but reacted differently to it. Giorgio chose to be a coward, refusing to speak up even after his friend died. He chose to let it affect his relationship with women, desperately looking to prove he was a man. Antonio chose to rise above it. Though they are polar opposites and have different outlooks on life, they are connected by an underlying trait. Antonio and Maria condemned Giorgio's cowardly ways, yet none of them could boldly admit the wrong they did to him. They were cowards.
 
The author was not focused on telling a complete story but was more interested in depicting human nature and flaws. The book was exceptionally well edited. I could not find any errors in it.
 
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. There is nothing I disliked about the book. It was short, interesting, and mind-engaging. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys psychological books and books about friendships.

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The Ghosts of the Past
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[Shinshinshin]

This review provides a favorable evaluation of "The Ghosts of the Past" by Luigi Pascal Rondanini. The reviewer appreciates the book's simplistic structure, psychological nature, and well-edited content. They highlight the depth of the characters and the exploration of human flaws, making it a mind-engaging read for those interested in psychological books and friendships. Overall, the review suggests that the book is a good read, receiving a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

[Rohith Kumar Pakala]

Thank you for your valuable insights, your review built interest in me to read this book. Great information is given by you about the book, thank you for that.