Margherita Crepax Libros

Publicada dos semanas después del setenta aniversario de Nabokov, "Ada o el ardor" supone la cumbre de la narrativa de uno de los autores más relevantes del siglo XX. En ella se aborda la singular crónica familiar e historia de amor (incestuoso), de Ada y Veen, dos hermanos que, habiendo crecido separados creen que su parentesco es más lejano del que en realidad es y por ello, siendo ambos adolescentes, se atreven a cruzar la línea y mantener un encuentro sexual en la finca familiar de Ardis (el Jardín del Edén), que supone el inicio de un idilio que a lo largo de los años será rico en encuentros y desencuentros. Con motivo del noventa y siete cumpleaños de Van, inmersos en la más placentera nostalgia, contemplan los distintos avatares de su amor convencidos de que la felicidad y el éxtasis más ardoroso están al alcance de la mano de todo aquel que conserve el arte de la memoria. Además de dicha historia, enmarcada en un país imaginario que es una mezcla de Estados Unidos y Rusia, este libro también es un tratado filosófico sobre la naturaleza del tiempo, una paródica historia del género novelesco, una novela erótica, un canto al placer y una reivindicación del Paraíso entendido como algo que no hay que buscar en el más allá, sino en la Tierra.

Now that all the others have run out of air, it's my turn to do a little story-making.In Homer's account in The Odyssey, Penelope—wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy—is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, her story a salutary lesson through the ages. Left alone for twenty years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan War after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumors, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay, simultaneously. When Odysseus finally comes home after enduring hardships, overcoming monsters, and sleeping with goddesses, he kills her suitors and—curiously—twelve of her maids.In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her twelve hanged maids, asking: "What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?" In Atwood's dazzling, playful retelling, the story becomes as wise and compassionate as it is haunting, and as wildly entertaining as it is disturbing. With wit and verve, drawing on the story-telling and poetic talent for which she herself is renowned, she gives Penelope new life and reality—and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.

Liz è bella, bionda e ha una vita apparentemente perfetta: una grande casa a New York, un matrimonio invidiabile e un lavoro gratificante. Tuttavia, una notte autunnale la trova in lacrime sul pavimento del bagno, desiderando di essere lontana da tutto ciò. In quel momento, Liz realizza di non volere nulla di ciò che ha e compie un gesto inaspettato: prega. Come reagireste se Dio o qualcosa di simile vi dicesse che avete ragione, che quella vita non è per voi? Liz, dopo una riflessione, decide di raccogliere le forze per il futuro. Affronta un doloroso divorzio e una tumultuosa storia d'amore, ma intravede anche un'opportunità: un anno di viaggio alla scoperta di sé. In questo diario-confessione, l'autrice racconta il suo percorso verso la felicità: in Italia scopre il piacere e stringe amicizie preziose; in India trova la grazia attraverso la meditazione; in Indonesia un misterioso sciamano le insegna a superare la tristezza e a riaprirsi all'amore. "Mangia, prega, ama" è la storia di un'anima irrequieta, con cui è facile identificarsi.

Anastasija Kamenskaja, a successful Moscow detective, intends to recuperate from her lingering back ailment and bring order to her chaotic emotional life at a sanatorium. However, her keen instinct for deception and crime draws her into a mysterious case even far from the Russian metropolis. Strange occurrences unfold in the deceptive tranquility of the small town. Unusual visitors arrive at the sanatorium for just a day or two, and the guests seem to be seeking more than mere relaxation. Nastja notices odd advances from men, suspicious noises on the phone, and unsettling changes in her room. What is happening here? When a murder finally occurs, she is taken aback to find that it is not the local police seeking her assistance in solving the crime, but the Mafia, the true 'guardians' of the city. What role do they play in the deadly game of money and influence that Nastja begins to uncover?