Fabio Volo drags us into a whirlwind of existentialism and bad coffee in "Everything Is Here for You," a book that'll make you ask: "Really now?"
Data Sheet
- Author: Fabio Volo
- Genre: Thought-provoking Narrative (that makes you laugh)
- Publisher: Mondadori (yeah, they dared)
- Year: 2023 (a good year for surprises)
Plot
Marco, the protagonist, is a forty-something employee with a life so monotonous even the flies fall asleep on his desk. His existence, a sequence of indistinguishable days, is upended by the arrival of a new colleague, Sofia, a sort of modern Mary Poppins but with a wardrobe full of rock star clothes and gravity-defying attitude.
Sofia, with her indomitable spirit and glass-shattering laugh, starts transforming the office. It all begins with small changes: plants suddenly appearing on desks, rock band posters replacing boring corporate charts, and coffee that for some reason tastes of chocolate and adventures.
Real chaos erupts when Sofia convinces Marco and the rest of the team to join an "office trip" that turns into an unauthorized road trip across Italy. From unlikely stops in monasteries turned into nightclubs, meetings with self-help gurus straight out of a '70s self-help book, to deep reflections over a plate of spaghetti, the characters confront their fears, desires, and the reality of a life that could be much more colorful than they thought.
In this adventure, Marco begins to discover sides of himself he never imagined. He finds himself dancing in the rain, laughing until he cries, and considering the idea that maybe life isn't just a succession of gray days.
Ma ogni storia ha le sue sfide. Sofia, il sole in questo universo, nasconde un segreto che potrebbe cambiare tutto. E mentre il viaggio prosegue, i personaggi dovranno affrontare non solo le stranezze del mondo esterno, ma anche quelle nascoste dentro di loro.
Review
Imagine walking into a Michelin-starred restaurant, expecting a sublime dinner, but instead, they serve you a burger with an olive on top and call it "gourmet." Well, "Everything Is Here for You" is kind of like that. Volo leaps into the unknown, but lands in a puddle of narrative clichés with a dive worthy of an absurdist Olympian.
The plot unravels like a drunken snake at a mouse party: unexpected, chaotic, and at times, you wonder if the snake is really there or just a figment of your imagination. The characters are so outlandish that compared to them, Alice in Wonderland seems like a calm stroll in the park. Marco, the protagonist, has the emotional depth of a teaspoon, and his transformation from a bored employee to a road-tripper is as improbable as it is irresistibly fun.
Sofia, with her free spirit, seems like a cross between a self-help guru and a failed rock star. Her presence in the book is like that crazy aunt we all have: a bit annoying, but secretly everyone's favorite.
The book is a cocktail of comedy, drama, and a pinch of surrealism, shaken not stirred. Volo writes with a pen dripping with sarcasm, creating scenes that make you laugh until you cry or cry until you laugh, depending on your mood.
In conclusion, "Everything Is Here for You" may not be the literary masterpiece of the century, but it has its quirky charm. It's like watching an episode of a sitcom where all the actors have forgotten their lines and are improvising: a total disaster, but impossible to stop watching. Rating: 6/10, for the audacity to be so shamelessly strange and for some laughs that, whether you like it or not, will rip from you.
Why I Recommend It
I recommend it because sometimes in life, you need a bit of absurd to understand the normal. "Everything Is Here for You" is a journey into the ridiculous that will make you appreciate the little (and healthy) things in life.
Why I don't
I don't recommend it if your sense of humor is drier than a cookie left out of the jar. If you're looking for a book that makes you say "This is Art," well, maybe this isn't for you.
I give advice, then you see...
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