The first few months of the year have been a bit of a challenge for me. Between repetitive dental work, both my computer and phone deciding to quit on me at the same time, and some family health concerns, it’s been a lot to deal with. But I’m still here, and things are moving forward.
Music
I haven’t had much time to sit down and produce new music lately, though some ideas are forming. Right now, they exist mostly as rough demos and mental notes – small glimpses of what’s to come.
A quick music recommendation: Massive Attack and Tom Waits just dropped the song “Boots on the Ground” and it’s staying with me. I’m delighted to see these incredible artists working together – it’s a powerful take on the state of the world today.
From the Translation Desk
I’ve been kept busy translating some fascinating books.
- Lethal Vengeance: one of my recent projects, Lethal Vengeance by the acclaimed British author Robert Bryndza, was just released. It’s a compelling thriller, published in Italy as L’angelo della morte. It’s already receiving great reviews, and I’m currently working on the next installment in the series, which is proving to be just as gripping.
- Phantom Limb: next month, another thriller I co-translated with Giulio Lupieri will hit the shelves. Originally Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry, it will be released in Italy as La gemella silenziosa. I stepped in at the last minute to help my colleague with the final chapters – a common occurrence in the world of demanding publishing deadlines.
- Just Finished: I also just hit “send” on another book delivery yesterday. Phew!
Writing & Reading
In other news, I’ve been writing new articles for the Italian magazine LINK. You can check out my latest piece here (in Italian).
Finally, I’ve been indulging in my obsession with comics. I’ve added some great titles to my collection, and I’m particularly excited to dive into The Man Without Talent by Yoshiharu Tsuge (image above). Tsuge, who sadly passed away last month, was a pioneer of Gekiga. Unlike traditional Manga, which is often seen as pure entertainment, Gekiga focuses on mature themes and is crafted specifically for an adult audience. I also recently picked up Inio Asano’s Solanin. It’s a beautiful, heart-wrenching look at the struggles of a modern generation finding its feet. Quite an emotional read – and not a Gekiga, rather a seinen slice-of-life Manga.
“In fondo, essere inutili è come non esistere. Esisto senza esistere”.
