The
Side Road
by
Giancarlo Dell’Angelo
Review
by Maria Teresa De Donato
A remarkable descriptive
ability combined with an equally great analytical capability and observation of
reality emerges as the main factors from the first pages of this literary work
by Giancarlo Dell’Angelo.
Aspects such as the Spirit
of Time and the incessant, mysterious, and equally unpredictable flow of Life
are described most realistically and objectively by the Author who, through the
creation of his characters and various settings, highlights both the everyday
life and the merits, the faults, the limitations and, above all, the fear of
confronting each other, that is, of digging into one's soul and fighting one's
inner demons.
The smiles, sarcasm, and
the same glances that the characters exchange, often without uttering a single word,
highlight the human beings’ inability to look inside, but also and above all the
discomfort in expressing their feelings openly, communicating them verbally,
their emotions and in making themselves, therefore, potentially vulnerable to
the other.
Hence, the paradoxical
lesson that is drawn from it is that, by not communicating openly and when
there is ample opportunity, even of running the risk of being rejected, others
will hardly know the importance they played in our life. When perhaps we are
ready to take this step, they may no longer be there but rather leave an
unbridgeable void in us.
A particular and
meaningful character of the novel is, in my opinion, the envelope: an
envelope posted years before and which fails to reach the recipient. It
continues to turn in the hands of the most varied people, ending up in the most
unusual places, and being recovered on time in the strangest ways. Regardless
of its content and reaching its ultimate goal, this envelope seems to be the
very metaphor of Life, of the events that happen, or do not happen, and of
which one can neither have certainty nor, in many cases, a logical explanation
of why or wherefore. Life – as almost making fun of the human beings – passes
them by, it allows itself to be touched for a moment by deluding them and
making them dream, but forcing them, however, to accept the fact that "things
happen and it is not mandatory to always have to explain them" (Dell'Angelo,
2021, p. 145) and that too often there is nothing left for many, perhaps the
majority, but to take the 'side road'.
A Destiny that
"sometimes makes a little confusion" (p. 150) as well as Love that at
times it is chosen while others chooses you and Life that "Takes the
reins in hand, tugging and dragging away" (Dell 'Angelo, 2021, p. 150)
all equally escape whatever logic.
Faced with such mysterious,
unpredictable, elusive, and uncontrollable Life and Destiny, a question arises:
"Is there always an escape ... a happiness in which you have to
believe?" (p. 160)
The answer will be better
left to the reader.
A very beautiful and equally
profound book for themes and contents that I highly recommend to everyone.
