Frank S. (colonelstech) reviewed The Goodbye Kiss (Giorgio Pellegrini, Bk 1) on + 38 more book reviews
Mediterranean Noir Sociopathy, June 14, 2013
By Dr. Frank Stech
Giorgio Pellegrino, the protagonist of Massimo Carlotto's "The Goodbye Kiss," is a classic sociopath. Despite a thoroughly black heart, he earns our sympathies as a villain above-average in intelligence and easily in the top 10% of the class in utter deviousness, devoted mostly to doing in his criminal conspirators, whom he sets upon us innocents, while his hands stay relatively clean. Pellegrino bests his fellow criminals brutally and efficiently, betrays his partners, fools and degrades his women, destroys the innocent with a classy delicacy and respect, and submits only to the more powerful.
As dishonest and deceptive as Pellegrino is to nearly everyone else, he is pretty nearly completely honest with himself, and, as our narrator, with us, the readers. By the end of this novel, I felt like his shrink. Having heard this sincere account of his crimes and evils, there wasn't much a shrink could do except trust Pellegrino to continue in his black ways, despite all his proclaimed intentions to join the "normal" people. Like all true sociopaths, Pellegrino excels at blending into his surroundings and faking sincerity, even to himself. Pellegrino tells great tales, and repellent as he is, I'd look forward, week to week, to hearing him tell his next black episode. He could make any sinner feel near-saintly.
This novel is supposedly semi-autobiographical; Carlotto had many experiences akin to Pellegrino's. If so, I suspect Carlotto will continue to bring us cold, sadistic, and brutal blackhearts, telling shocking but captivating tales of their evil-doings, letting us peak into those well-hidden hearts of darkness, beating among us.
By Dr. Frank Stech
Giorgio Pellegrino, the protagonist of Massimo Carlotto's "The Goodbye Kiss," is a classic sociopath. Despite a thoroughly black heart, he earns our sympathies as a villain above-average in intelligence and easily in the top 10% of the class in utter deviousness, devoted mostly to doing in his criminal conspirators, whom he sets upon us innocents, while his hands stay relatively clean. Pellegrino bests his fellow criminals brutally and efficiently, betrays his partners, fools and degrades his women, destroys the innocent with a classy delicacy and respect, and submits only to the more powerful.
As dishonest and deceptive as Pellegrino is to nearly everyone else, he is pretty nearly completely honest with himself, and, as our narrator, with us, the readers. By the end of this novel, I felt like his shrink. Having heard this sincere account of his crimes and evils, there wasn't much a shrink could do except trust Pellegrino to continue in his black ways, despite all his proclaimed intentions to join the "normal" people. Like all true sociopaths, Pellegrino excels at blending into his surroundings and faking sincerity, even to himself. Pellegrino tells great tales, and repellent as he is, I'd look forward, week to week, to hearing him tell his next black episode. He could make any sinner feel near-saintly.
This novel is supposedly semi-autobiographical; Carlotto had many experiences akin to Pellegrino's. If so, I suspect Carlotto will continue to bring us cold, sadistic, and brutal blackhearts, telling shocking but captivating tales of their evil-doings, letting us peak into those well-hidden hearts of darkness, beating among us.
