Chiunque abbia mai letto un libro di Alan Bennett non può essere andato a dormire senza averlo finito. Non solo per la mole ridotta di questi volumetti, ma anche e soprattutto per la genialità che li contraddistingue. A ripensarci, sembra una storiella facile ma è davvero difficile riuscire ad ammantare la storiella facile di tutta quella ironia e riuscire, in poche pennellate, a dare quella vitalità ai personaggi.
La trama è presto detta: il "misterioso" ed eclettico Clive, vero protagonista della vicenda, è morto e a Londra viene organizzata una commemorazione. Gli invitati sono parecchio diversi tra di loro: si parte dal direttore di banca "parecchio in su nella City", dalla starlette televisiva, fino al ragazzino appassionato di geologia. Animatore, è quasi il caso di dirlo, di questa commemorazione, è padre Jolliffe, prete molto all'avanguardia... forse troppo, pensa il "controllore" Treacher. Tutti loro sono legati al massaggiatore Clive, qualcuno di meno, qualcuno moooolto di più!!L'impatto di quest'uomo davvero "vivace" è stato quasi simile a quello di un uragano nella vita di tutti loro, nessuno (a parte Treacher) escluso...
Molto, molto carino, meno rispetto a La sovrana lettrice, ma sicuramente notevole!
Alan Bennett
La cerimonia del massaggio
Adelphi
Euro 7
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Tells the inside flap: "Alan Bennett, extremely popular writer in UK..." Oh really?? (Sarcasm)
Anyone who has ever read a book by Mr Bennett didn't leave the book without finishing before falling asleep. Not just because the narrow gauge of this little books, but especially because the brilliance. It looks like an easy story but it's pretty difficult to being able to cloak this easy story with that irony and, few strokes, give that vigour to the characters.
The plot is easier said than done: the "mysterious" and eclectic Clive, the real main character, is dead and in London is set a commemoration. The guests are of several kinds: from the "quite important in the City" bank manager, from the tv star to the geologist boy. The master of ceremonies, it has to be said, is Father Jolliffe, a groundbreaking priest... maybe too much, in the opinion of the "inspector" Treacher. They are all bounded to Clive, someone less, someone a loooot more! The impact on their life of this lively man is comparable to an hurricane, nobody (except Treacher) excluded...
Very, very nice, a bit less of "The uncommon reader", but still very nice.
Alan Bennett
The laying on of HandsAnyone who has ever read a book by Mr Bennett didn't leave the book without finishing before falling asleep. Not just because the narrow gauge of this little books, but especially because the brilliance. It looks like an easy story but it's pretty difficult to being able to cloak this easy story with that irony and, few strokes, give that vigour to the characters.
The plot is easier said than done: the "mysterious" and eclectic Clive, the real main character, is dead and in London is set a commemoration. The guests are of several kinds: from the "quite important in the City" bank manager, from the tv star to the geologist boy. The master of ceremonies, it has to be said, is Father Jolliffe, a groundbreaking priest... maybe too much, in the opinion of the "inspector" Treacher. They are all bounded to Clive, someone less, someone a loooot more! The impact on their life of this lively man is comparable to an hurricane, nobody (except Treacher) excluded...
Very, very nice, a bit less of "The uncommon reader", but still very nice.
Alan Bennett
