Book review: The Silver Book by Olivia Laing

Set in Italy during the volatile 'Years of Lead', 'The Silver Book' follows Nicholas, a young English artist drawn into the glittering, dangerous world of Cinecittà by Danilo Donati, the magician behind the sets of Fellini and Pasolini. As Nicholas becomes entangled in a web of art, power, desire, and illusion, his secret nature goes unnoticed in a society obsessed with surfaces. The novel is both a noirish thriller and a meditation on the relationship between artifice and truth, love and power, set against the backdrop of rising political tensions and the looming tragedy of Pasolini's murder. Laing's prose is lush, intense, and evocative, capturing the decadence and dread of 1970s Rome and the transformative power of cinema.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is a 1955 novel by Patricia Highsmith that follows Tom Ripley, a young American con artist who travels to Italy to persuade Dickie Greenleaf to return home. As Ripley becomes increasingly obsessed with Dickie's lifestyle, he commits a series of crimes to assume his identity. The novel explores themes of identity, morality, and the blurred lines between reality and deception. Highsmith's portrayal of Ripley as a charismatic yet amoral character has captivated readers and inspired numerous adaptations.