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The Imperfectionists
The Imperfectionists
Author: Tom Rachman
Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep it -- and themselves -- afloat. — Fifty years and many changes have ensued since the paper was founded by an enigm...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780385343671
ISBN-10: 0385343671
Publication Date: 12/28/2010
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 111

3.2 stars, based on 111 ratings
Publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperbacks
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 412 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
The rise and fall of an international newspaper based in Rome, detailed through a string of vignettes centering around the lives of the paper's hapless employees. This is an incredibly enjoyable read, even if you know nothing about journalism. Alternately poignant, hilarious, and sad. Great read!
cheermom140 avatar reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 85 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Very original novel - reads like a bunch of short stories about people who work at a Rome-based English-language newspaper, but all the stories are connected and are easy to follow.

You get a good sense of all of the characters' personalities - some of funny, some are poignant - some are just plain nuts. One particular chapter about a young college grad who thinks he wants to be a reporter (but gets taken advantage of by an older, ego-driven correspondent) was so entertaining and funny that it made me laugh out loud.

At first I wasn't sure about this book but the more I read, the more I loved it.
wantonvolunteer avatar reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 84 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Loved reading this, the characters are all so fully presented with their good and their bad and their naked faults exposed. The story is about an industry titan who doesn't marry the one he loves but follows her to Europe and in order to remain near to her, establishes a business, an international newspaper, so that they can work together while married to different people, with him never divulging his love to her. That particular bit is unsatisfying, but all the microscopic peeks at the others who work on the paper (for 3 generations) are all amazing in their breadth and depth and hilarity! There is Herman Cohen (whom I picture in my mind's eye as Madmen's Bertram Cooper) the militant grammar nazi at work who goes home to grovel at the feet of his loving wife, and Rich Snyder (Wayne Schneider the super on One Day At A Time) the slimy correspondent who totally abuses the hospitality of his stringer competition Winston Cheung, every character presented is delightful and pathetic in their own wholly realistic way.
gogreen avatar reviewed The Imperfectionists on
Helpful Score: 2
I had high hopes after reading the book reviews on Amazon etc. I, however, found most of the stories tedious, most of the people uninteresting and often the little stories too short to cover the situation being covered. I often flipped the pages looking for more info. I think that is the only reason I finished the book. I thought maybe that more might be explained. It wasn't.
reviewed The Imperfectionists on
Helpful Score: 2
Surely the book is well-written, but do you really want to spend 272 pages with a bunch of unhappy people?
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reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 15 more book reviews
cleverly written book with interesting characters all set within a world of journalism.
reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 20 more book reviews
A great read. Lots of charm, atmosphere, loops and twists. Very fun and engaging.
janete avatar reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 22 more book reviews
This is the story of a once mighty and respected international English language newspaper headquartered in Rome (not surprisingly, Rachman once worked at the International Herald Tribune) that is now fighting for its life in a 21st century world of the Internet and an unfeeling and unresponsive corporate headquarters. Each chapter profiles one of the newsrooms irrefutably but often lovably imperfect staffers from ambitious, opportunistic Kathleen, editor-in-chief, down to Ruby, hired 20 years ago as an intern, who stayed on as a lowly, unappreciated, misunderstood copy editor. This is their story in all of its wry humor and messiness. Despite all, this assortment of loners and misfits share a common devotion to getting out the next days news. This is a novel about the ties that bind us in the workplace ties that are often surprisingly and heart-wrenchingly strong. 3.5 stars
reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 5 more book reviews
New York Times Bestseller. Excellent story about the newspaper industry. The story revolves around the lives of the employees of the newspaper. The paper is in Rome and appeals to an International audience, although written in English. The owners of the paper span 3 generations. They are ecentric and interesting.
reviewed The Imperfectionists on + 116 more book reviews
The Imperfectionists tells the story of an international English language newspaper based in Rome, from heady beginning to bitter end. Each chapter introduces the reader to a person connected to the newspaper, from obituary writer to would-be stringer to business officer. The cast of characters will be familiar to anyone with a knowledge of the media business or to anyone has toiled as an unappreciated drone for a budget-stingy employer in a job they're not sure they love anymore. Some stories are painfully funny and some are sad--all are memorable.


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