Midnight in Sicily (Panther)

This is an excellent book, but although there's some original stuff, it's really more a synthesis of the works of others than anything else. While Robb pulls it all together extremely well, he fails to attribute his sources adequately, using italics in an awkward and, for a reader, distracting fashion where he quotes other writers. He also neglects to relate specific quotes to their sources, which may have been an editorial decision intended not to put off the more casual readers. Nevertheless, this makes for a frustrating read at times. I kept seeing the work of Norman Lewis, in his riveting and beautifully written book The Honoured Society, quoted here without any direct attribution, and returned to that book often as I was reading Robb's. Lewis is far better, but this brings you up to date very well. It isn't really a food book or a travel book - more editorial decision-making there, I suspect - but it's a terrific read. Read it, it's well worth it, but read Lewis too.

Too much mafia, not enough art, food and literature. (1/1 people found this helpful)

I read Peter Robb's 'Death in Brazil', which follows on from this book. I guess Peter didn't feel very safe in Italy after completing his book, and in time honoured fashion fled to Brazil like all people who survive crossing with the mafia.

Like 'Death in Brazil' Peter outlines modern life in his chosen subject matter by crossing modern politics (and historical events) with his subjects culture and guiding ancient history. Robb comes up with all sorts of wonderful gems, such as the fact that the invention of the fork may have solely come about as a means of each spaghetti, a food invention created by Sicilians in the middle ages.

Unfortunately, where 'Death in Brazil' and 'Midnight in Sicily' part is where Robb gets too bogged down trying to explain the intricate connections between the mafia and the government (especially Andreotti's government - for which he was later tried for corruption in respect to his mafia connections). I think the main problem for Robb is that the relationship between Sicilians, Italy and the mafia is so intricately woven that not even he could easily explain the mafias accepted existence.

From a British perspective it is very shocking to see that another European nation is heavily mired in corruption and illigalities even to this day.

This is a good book, there are one or two moments when the chapters do not seem to close out as quickly as you would hope, but if you persevere you'll find this book a gem.

A great read (5/6 people found this helpful)

I'd just read Lampedusa's dazzling 'The Leopard' when I spotted this by chance in a bookshop and got hooked while flicking through.

I really enjoyed it. As other reviewers have noted, 'Midnight in Sicily' combines all sorts of aspects of Sicilian life and history, from the development of the fork to domestic violence. It gives a lot of jaw-dropping, eye-opening information about the mafia, and about how Cosa Nostra's influence had spread to politics and the Vatican before its existence was even acknowledged.

The book deals mainly with the period of time between the 40's and the 80's, and I thought it was a pity that it didn't run up to the present day - although this would probably be impossible.

Robb's heart seems to belong chiefly to Naples, and I found the chapters on Neapolitan life perhaps the most interesting.

I very much liked Robb's writing voice. The author clearly had a wide and detailed knowledge of his subject(s), but he never lectured, and managed the very difficult trick of balancing his own experiences and observances with an objective perspective. He was informed, discursive, conversational, intelligent without being stuck-up. And some of his descriptive writing is amazing.

If I were to make any criticisms, it would be that there was just a bit too much detail for my liking, some of it repetitive; and also that although the book's main subject by a country mile is the mafia, the way the book is marketed does not reflect this.

Highly recommended.
(F, 31)

It's about the Mafia (6/10 people found this helpful)

I obviously wasn't paying attention when I read the other reviews because I got the impression that the book would be as much about art, food, history and literature as it was about the mafia. In fact the book is entirely about the mafia, and only uses art, food etc to illustrate the pervasive influence of the mafia. They are not covered as subjects of interest in their own right.

I was looking for something a bit more balanced. I am interested in the influence of the mafia, but that interest was waning after the first 100 pages and in the end I found the book turgid and depressing. So, a good book if you want to know about the mafia, but not if you want an insight in to art, food etc. Now "The Leopard", that is a good book!

Midnight and Midday in Sicily (8/10 people found this helpful)

Peter Robb's genius is in marrying all the different facets of Sicilian life - for example, and in no particular order, food, Mafia, religion, history, poverty, violence, beauty and riches. I lived in Palermo for two years, and read the book while I was there, and this helped me get a greater understanding of the place and its people. This compelling novel goes deeper than any guidebook in capturing the multi-faceted nature of Sicily, subject of many invasions, of all of whom left their mark and some of their people, which is what makes Sicily such a mix. Robb explores with great purpose the inner, darker, and at present almost invisible side of Sicily, and the outer, sunnier side. For all lovers of Italy, and Sicily in particular, essential reading.

Midnight in Sicily (Panther)

Peter Robb

Reader Reviews:

Excellent, with reservations (1/1 people found this helpful)

Too much mafia, not enough art, food and literature. (1/1 people found this helpful)

A great read (5/6 people found this helpful)

It's about the Mafia (6/10 people found this helpful)

Midnight and Midday in Sicily (8/10 people found this helpful)

Similar Products

Categories