It is the second book that I read at distance of few months, written by Nickolas Butler. The previous one Sotto il Falò, was shockingly vivid, a real picture of the most profound and real America. This one Uomini di Poca Fede is an unstoppable and unputtable down reading. Enchanting. For many reasons.
The story is engaging.
People narrated in this book are real. They "smell" persistingly of beer, Ca
Real friends from a life, a healthy social tissue, a simple existence marked by the rythm of seasons, the importance of feasts, and their meaning when things don't go exactly as it should. Least, but not last, importance of feelings.
It's a wonderful story this one of Lyle and Peg, a strong couple of Norwegian origins, grown up ethically: hard work, manifestation of their feelings deliciously absent, they had a baby, unfortunately gone too soon. For this reason, devastated by this pain and thinking that they wouldn't never have lived anymore a happy moment, they will discover in Shiloh, their adoptive daughter, a reason for smile again at the existence.
Shiloh is a problematic girl, and donated with the time at this couple some thoughts; but situation becomes clearly dangerous when Shiloh starts to follow a so-called new church, falling in love for the "pastor", Steven.
Not just innovative christian ideas, also the absurd feeling that it would be possible healing people just with prayer.
Oh: asking for money, of course.
Steven will be in grade to manipulate the mind and feelings of Shiloh, creating a horrible situation. Isaac, the son of Shiloh in fact is considered by Steven a healer, although the kid lives this story pretty embarassingly.
Not only: he will start to suffer of an important illness and the only, the only therapy formulated by Steven the one of prayer.
It is moving this book, because we see a grand-dad who tries to fight for setting free his nephew, preserving at the same time, the love of his daughter, for obvious reasons. The nightmare of not seeing anymore his nephew would be devastating to him and his wife Peg.
I love Butler's way of describing his characters. He is plenty of humanity, he is plenty of good heart, and a great observer of the beauty; he is poetic in the description of places, people, moments; great observer of the world and its contradictions.
This book is inspired let me remind to my readers this, by a real story. A baby lost the existence because people surrounding him, part of a sect, thought that just the power of prayer was important.
In the book you will meet several iconic characters. The one I loved the most is Hoot, absolutely! but also Charlie and a series of people that Lyle meets along his way reflecting about the casuality (or not) of our existence.
Religion will be one of the most important thematic. God exist? And if He exist while sometimes He is so cruel, sending too many crosses in families?
We meet along our way and our existence, as you will see with Lyle, good people sometimes strangers. They seem, they appear like Angels on Earth, or God's Messenger, and they openly speak to our heart. Are they just a casualties or they are people sent by God along our way?
I also loved the friedship developed by Lyle with his friends Charlie and Hoot in particular, assisting this friend in all his needs and necessities because with a severe and important illness.
Aging, the final phase of the existence other big thematic of this book, treated with a humoristic touch, perplexities, uncertainties about another possible existence after this one.
Beautiful. Highly recommended for sure.
I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of this book.
Anna Maria Polidori
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