An Italian Obsession by Kfir Luzzatto Review for Pump Up Your Book

Join Kfir Luzzatto, author of the general fiction/drama novel, An Italian Obsession, as he tours the blogosphere from October 1 – 26, 2012, on his second virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About the Book
In the lax atmosphere of middle-class post-war Italy, sex and drugs are easy to come by. Roberto tries to find his own balance, but a crush he had for Alessandra in elementary school is reignited and the course of his life is changed forever. It’s the 1970’s, a time of political upheaval driven by disillusioned young people. Roberto is caught up in the times. He makes a new start, but his past catches up with him. Finding himself accused of a crime, he must defend himself even when he isn’t sure he committed it.

A vivid snapshot of European post-war society, this novel is viewed through the eyes of a young adult coming of age

About the Author

Kfir Luzzatto was born and raised in Italy, and moved to Israel as a teenager. He acquired the love for the English language from his father, a former U.S. soldier, a voracious reader and a prolific writer. Kfir has a PhD in chemical engineering and works as a patent attorney. He lives in Omer,Israel, with his full-time partner, Esther, their four children, Michal, Lilach, Tamar and Yonatan, and the dog Elvis.

Kfir has published extensively in the professional and general press over is the author of several short stories but now mostly writes full-length fiction. Books: CROSSING THE MEADOW (2003 P&E “BEST HORROR NOVEL”), THE ODYSSEY GENE(2006), HAVE BOOK WILL TRAVEL (2012). He got the idea for his new thriller, “THE EVELYN PROJECT,” from an in-depth research into the family archives. He has another book of fiction in the works.

Author’s website: http://kfirluzzatto.com

Purchase this book through: Amazon and Barnes and Noble

My Thoughts

This is the second book that I have read by author Kfir Luzzatto and It is a wonderful novel. A coming of age novel of a young Italian man who has developed serious feelings toward a girl that he met in grad school. He does not meet her again until he is a teenager and they develop a serious relationship. This is a time when sex and drugs are being experimented with on a regular basis among the young people. Roberto's parents are rather cold people and when Roberto gets into trouble with the law , he is shipped off to boarding school and his relationship with Alessandra comes to an end, at least for awhile.

After his parents and brother leave from a visit, they are killed in an accident and the only "family" he has is an "Uncle" Dan.

He works in Dan's shop as a mechanic and his life goes on. After his uncle dies he goes into a partnership with a friend and his life seems to be going along well, Alessandra comes back into his life via one of her friends, Giorgia. But things are not what they seem and this is where the story gets a little dark. This book explores the political times of the era, with young angst and young love and of course there is the mystery of how Roberto's parents actually died. I love the authors writing style and I recommend this book.

I received this book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.