The Silver Book
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Author: Olivia Laing
Published by: Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Books
Pages: 248
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★★
Published by: Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Books
Pages: 248
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★★
It is September 1974. Two men meet by chance in Venice. One is a young English artist, in panicked flight from London. The other is Danilo Donati, the magician of Italian cinema, the designer responsible for realising the spectacular visions of Fellini and Pasolini. Donati is in Venice to produce sketches for Fellini’s Casanova. A young – and beautiful – apprentice is just what he needs.
He sweeps Nicholas to Rome, into the looking-glass world of Cinecittà, the studio where Casanova’s Venice will be ingeniously assembled. Then in the spring, the lovers move together to the set of Salò, Pasolini’s horrifying fable of fascism.
But Nicholas has a secret and in this world of constant illusion, his real nature passes unseen. Amidst the rising tensions of Italy’s ‘Years of Lead’, he acts as an accelerant, setting in motion a tragedy he didn’t intend . . .
He sweeps Nicholas to Rome, into the looking-glass world of Cinecittà, the studio where Casanova’s Venice will be ingeniously assembled. Then in the spring, the lovers move together to the set of Salò, Pasolini’s horrifying fable of fascism.
But Nicholas has a secret and in this world of constant illusion, his real nature passes unseen. Amidst the rising tensions of Italy’s ‘Years of Lead’, he acts as an accelerant, setting in motion a tragedy he didn’t intend . . .
My thoughts:
When I first read The Silver Book as an early proof copy last November, I knew I was reading something unusual. It’s a novel that is hard to categorise, weaving together themes including queer love, guilt, fascism, violence, beauty and art into a story that feels both intellectually ambitious and emotionally compelling. I’d probably describe it as a ‘queer love story meets true crime thriller in the dream factory of 1970s cinema’ and somehow, it works beautifully.
As someone who loves novels like The Talented Mr. Ripley and classic Hitchcock films, I found a lot to admire here. The story captures that same mix of longing, obsession and glamour, all shadowed by a sense of danger. Laing explores desire, power and identity through characters who feel complex, fascinating and deeply human.
What impressed me most was the richness of the novel’s ideas. This is a book that rewards close attention, inviting readers to think about identity, memory and the stories we tell ourselves, while never losing sight of the emotional lives of its characters. It’s layered and thought-provoking without feeling inaccessible, and I found myself reflecting on its themes long after I’d finished reading.
More recently, I attended an author event in Bath where Olivia Laing spoke about the novel and their writing process. Hearing Laing discuss the inspirations behind the book and the careful craftsmanship that went into its creation only deepened my appreciation for what the author has achieved on the page. Most of all I love how effectively the author inserts a fictional narrative into a real historical world in this novel.
The Silver Book is a bold, intelligent and absorbing novel that lingers in the mind. It won’t be for everyone (its ideas are often challenging and its deliberately ambiguous) but for readers who enjoy literary fiction that isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions, it is a gripping read which offers a richly rewarding experience. Although The Lonely City remains my favourite of Olivia Laing’s works so far, The Silver Book comes a very close second, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Overall reaction:
As someone who loves novels like The Talented Mr. Ripley and classic Hitchcock films, I found a lot to admire here. The story captures that same mix of longing, obsession and glamour, all shadowed by a sense of danger. Laing explores desire, power and identity through characters who feel complex, fascinating and deeply human.
What impressed me most was the richness of the novel’s ideas. This is a book that rewards close attention, inviting readers to think about identity, memory and the stories we tell ourselves, while never losing sight of the emotional lives of its characters. It’s layered and thought-provoking without feeling inaccessible, and I found myself reflecting on its themes long after I’d finished reading.
More recently, I attended an author event in Bath where Olivia Laing spoke about the novel and their writing process. Hearing Laing discuss the inspirations behind the book and the careful craftsmanship that went into its creation only deepened my appreciation for what the author has achieved on the page. Most of all I love how effectively the author inserts a fictional narrative into a real historical world in this novel.
The Silver Book is a bold, intelligent and absorbing novel that lingers in the mind. It won’t be for everyone (its ideas are often challenging and its deliberately ambiguous) but for readers who enjoy literary fiction that isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions, it is a gripping read which offers a richly rewarding experience. Although The Lonely City remains my favourite of Olivia Laing’s works so far, The Silver Book comes a very close second, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Overall reaction:
