I don´t remember when I´ve read last something written by Primo Levi. I remember only how shaken I was every time by the very easy way to tell stories, terrible stories. There is a detachment in the pace and the voice of the every sentences that one can achieve only after being overrun by the sadness of the world. After all, there is no hope in the world so let´s take it easy and keep writing stories inspired by this cruel world.
The Periodic Table, which I had access to as audiobook, read by the late Neville Jason, was based on the translation from Italian by Raymond Rosenthal. Levi who experienced Auschwitz and shared his experience in the devastating If This is a Man was a chemist by formation. The Periodic Table is a wise chemical thread of stories of Italian Jews, before, during and shortly after the Shoah, mostly from Piedomont, where the author was originary from. Each story is associated with a chemical substance, with the main element of the story emulating the features of the element.
I´ve listened to the short stories - listening to the audiobook lasted around 3 weeks, because always felt the need to take a break in between readings and think about the essence and message of the account - careful, looking for both the fiction and the historical background - Shoah, local Jewish history. There is no judgement, no screams, no tears. Just the monotous voice - an excellent audio rendition, by the way - and the collection of senteces after sentences making up the collection. Such an art of storytelling is not taught or learnt. It just comes out of, from the deep ends of the being.
No comments:
Post a Comment