The publication of Primo Levi's book- the description of his year as a slave labourer for IG Farben in Monowitz, Auschwitz - is going to become a reality.
On 11 October, it comes out in a print run of 2500. Cheap paper, no advertising campaign to speak of, but at least it is there. Turin's middle classes show some interest; the odd review is written. And that is that. Nothing more. The book vanishes. The testimony remains unheard.
'My presence is a borrowed presence. There is no room for me on these pavements. This world, where I have made a surprising appearance, has not been waiting for me. It was complete without me-it is complete without me. It is a world where I am not, and I grasp it in my own absence.'
(Simone de Beauvoir in Chicago)
Photo of Chicago via Reddit.
pick12/63
I didn't entirely love how this book was set up, but it grew on me by the end. The book is divided by month, and there are passages from different cities/regions about what was happening during the time. It followed a couple stories throughout like the Nuremburg trials and the conflict with Palestine. All in all in interesting look at an important year in history.
pickThis book 🤯I don‘t usually read non-fiction, maybe one or two a year probably because I like to escape into my books. This book is not an escape. It is written beautifully, one reviewer says it‘s poetic and I agree, it‘s a joy to read but oh my god the content. It‘s basically a day in the life over a year of a bunch of key people or players in our ‘now‘ for a variety of reasons, good and bad. It‘s heartbreaking and dumbfounding and awesome.
I don‘t often read non-fiction but here we go
bailedBased on the first 2 chapters, January & February, this is excellent, written in layers of brief descriptions of what was happening in the western world directly after WW2. ie 10,000 women lost their jobs at London Transport to make room for men. Decisions & actions by individuals directly affected our future. I only bailed because I‘m not in a frame of mind to read about refugees & Palestine & people aiding Nazis. I hope to return to this later.
so-soBörjade med denna av Augustprisnomineringarna. Jag kan inte riktigt bestämma mig. Otroligt lärorikt och skrivet på ett sätt som var lättläst, men trots all skit 1947 så berörde den mig inte riktigt. Och den stannar inte riktigt kvar hos nig heller. Men otroligt snygg framsida!
1947 | 
