Tasmania: A Novel by Paolo Giordano and translated by Antony Shugaar

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

After losing the future he imagined for himself, a writer sets out in search of connection and purpose at a tipping point with climate change and global conflict, in this breathtaking novel from the Strega Prize–winning author of The Solitude of Prime Numbers.

In late 2015, Paolo feels his life coming apart: While his wife, Lorenza, has decided to give up on pregnancy after years of trying, he clings to the dream of becoming a father, not just a father figure to Lorenza’s son. As their marriage strains, Paolo immerses himself in work, traveling to Paris to report on the UN Climate Change Conference in the wake of terrorist attacks that shook the world. His journalism dovetails with a book he hopes to write on the atomic bomb and its survivors, a growing obsession that will take him to cities across Europe and ultimately Japan.

Along the way, Paolo interacts with a vibrant cast of characters, each struggling to find their own Tasmania, a safe haven in which to weather the coming crises—global warming, pandemics, authoritarian governments, and wars. He develops a friendship with a brilliant, opinionated physicist, who followed the scientific path Paolo had abandoned, and who will test Paolo’s loyalty and values.

A stunning return to fiction after How Contagion Works, Paolo Giordano’s semi-autobiographical novel captures the fear, anxiety, wonder, and beauty of this time of uncertainty and upheaval, exploring how we can create and maintain relationships with other people when it feels increasingly difficult to connect.

my thoughts:

An introspective novel, Tasmania by Paolo Giordano and translated by Antony Shugaar, is a must-read for everyone. This is a story about how everything in life (climate crises and the rise of political turbulence) has everyone searching for a safe haven, a Tasmania of their own. The fact that no matter the difficulty, hope never dies, feels so truthful to humanity. The fear, anxieties, and worry that life is unraveling is so relatable. We've all had those moments where things are just so overwhelming and we need to escape - so we dive into a work project, travel plans, anything to divert our attention to whatever crisis it is we wish to avoid for the moment. Of course, problems never really disappear do they? 

Paolo feels like everything is falling apart so he throws himself into his work, which involves travel. And, he decides to focus on a book idea he's been obsessing over. He is wanting to escape into a different part of his life, one that is far from his personal life. Except his work life brings about more questions and worries. Thankfully, through it all, it's the people he meets along the way that remind him of the fact that hope lingers in all of us. Hope connects us. 

I really enjoyed this one. It was thoughtful and relatable. I found myself looking forward to reading it each night - I made myself take my time, because I didn't want to let go. I love when a book is so good you want to savor it. 

I would happily recommend Tasmania to fans of Giordano and to anyone looking for their next great read. 

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!