The story is very well-told, but I have to agree with the reviewer who mentioned that the author seemed to lack a sense of discretion when it came to Woody. In places there really were too many details and said details were off-putting. These aside, this book, The Sixteen Pleasures and The Italian Lover do make a very satisfying trio. I just really enjoyed the other two more.

The most important part is that I could feel.
This novel is about the grieving of a father, the dissolution of his family and the way he slowly finds his path again.
The most remarkable part is the sensation I had of walking with him throughout his transformation and rebirth. The author made me feel familiar with Woody, his journey, so much that I almost miss him now! lol

But seriously, I think Robert Hellenga made a great job here.

I enjoyed this book, despite of it's somber subject matter. It was not a fast read, but the slow pace of the book seemed to suit the story. This story has a surprising persistence in my psyche. I think of the character off and on in moments of quiet. I have done a lot of searching in my life and I think I could relate to this character for this reason.

This novel spans the range of human emotion. It is at times whacky and hilarious and at other times sinks to the depths of despair. The writing can best be described as lyrical.

A dense family dram about language and music and loss and male sexuality and journies, physical and moral. There were times when I was entranced and times when I didn't believe but regardless, it was a great read.

Excellent, a professor's daughter is killed in Italy in a terrorist attack and it describes the 7+ years after and the toll it takes on his family, etc. He is a college professor at a college in Illinois, and he heads to the trial of the accusers when they finally are tried.

This was just way too misogynistic for me. From the point of view of a dirty old man. It tried to compel with its asides on the loss of loved ones, but it never convinced me. I just remembered this book because it takes place partly in Italy, where I just came back from last night. But it doesn't do Italy, women or lost love justice. Skip it - you can learn more from your own experience.

just a shit man going through a mid life crisis using sex as a crutch, it only gets worse after he fucks an ex lovers daughter. also really misogynistic. and he’s weird (used christian imagery to depict his daughter having sex with a guy, it was really gross)

i wish i could give negative star reviews, but here we are.

not worth it!!!!!

Complicated, thought-provoking, heartbreaking: this is so rich a read that my reaction is complex. It will be most appealing to someone who knows academia, or someone who knows and loves classic literature and thought, and/or Italy -- or at least Americans who love Italy, but especially for those who have lost a loved one, especially someone young, but really anyone whose loss must be dealt with at your core level.

It is clear that the author is a writer of note and his descriptions really evoked a wonderful sense of place, while his characters came to life on the page. Problem was, the main character just wasn't very likeable His obsession with Cookie ( which was basically the theme of the book, but which became incredibly tedious), his fling with a student and his decision to opt out and start a new life in Italy made him seem irresponsible and self- indulgent. And really, it took far too many pages to plough through this long tale of angst, however beautifully written.

Daughter's death at the hands of terrorists shifts family's boundaries.

I read this book many years ago. I am always weary of reading foreigners' books about our history (I am from Italy) but Robert Hellenga proved me wrong. The insight-fulness he demonstrates writing about one of our history's darkest moments it's amazing and very rare in someone who "wasn't there" to experience it. He writes about such loss and healing in such a way that made really wonder whether he was just a small town USA professor. So I emailed him once and thanked him, for writing so beautifully and expressing in words what many of us still couldn't. He is a very gracious man and his kindness made me a fan for life. Highly recommended.