Sunday, July 4, 2021

The Side Road - by Giancarlo Dell’Angelo - Review by Maria Teresa De Donato

 

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.