Book Cover

I am death's telegram boy, death's kissogram. And that is the beauty of it. In my line of business, everything I do flows uncompromisingly towards one tiny moment, a final destination of perfection. How many artists can claim as much?

# Review

After watching The American I fell prey to my compulsive need to read the novels that movies are based off of. This novel is narrated from a first-person perspective by the protagonist, a man hiding away in the Italian countryside masquerading as a butterfly painter. Edmund, or Signor Farfalla (“butterfly” in Italian), has a dark past and the reader slowly discovers Edmund’s actual trade throughout the novel.

I’ve never actually been to Italy but Booth’s beautiful descriptions of the Italian countryside definitely makes me want to move Italy up on my travel list. This book is surprisingly artistic for a crime thriller. I particularly like Booth’s technique in abrupt transitions from grim stories of different crimes to lighthearted descriptions of the Italian town and surrounding areas. The book also had a nihilistic take on life; it almost reads like a Camus novel.

There are some references which were left out of the movie, such as certain details of the plot being hidden from the reader until later on, and the various references to the Templars who used to frequent the Italian countryside. I actually thought the movie ending was more fitting but I do understand why Booth chose the ending for the book.

# Conclusion

The pacing does drag on but Booth's writing is very beautiful.

# Overall rating: 7.6

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