THE TIME OF INDIFFERENCE, A NOVEL BY ALBERTO MORAVIA (MOSTAR)

Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! In this post, I shall review The Time of Indifference, a novel by Alberto Moravia.  You can read this novel in English for free here. Published in 1929, The Time of Indifference is a beautifully complex psychological novel that explores human emotions and relationships. The novel focuses on one dysfunctional family specifically and is spread over a very short span of time (a few days). Rather than on events, this novel focuses on inner lives of its bourgeoise protagonists.  It could perhaps be best described as a work of psychological realism with elements of existentialism. 

Besides reviewing this novel, I'll also show you a spring outfit I wore fairy recently. Spring is nearing its end and Summer is almost here. Spring's been filled with work and family events but I found time to do some blogging and reading. Yes, I managed to find some time on my blog to publish a quite few book reviews. Now, the time has come to share with my my  full review for one of Moravia's books. I actually listened to an audio version of The Time of Indifference (original Italian title Gli Indifferenti ), so I don't have photographs of this book. However, there's a floral outfit I've been meaning to share. The location is the amazingly beautiful city of bridges aka Mostar. I even made some gifs, so that I can share more photographs of this place without them being overwhelming. Let me know how you like them!

“Good writers are monotonous, like good composers. They keep trying to perfect the one problem they were born to understand.”

Alberto Moravia

Who was Alberto Moravia? 

Moravia was an Italian writer, one of the most notable Italian authors of the 20th century. Here is a brief quotation from Britannica with basic information about him. 

Alberto Moravia (born Nov. 28, 1907, Rome, Italy—died Sept. 26, 1990, Rome) was an Italian journalist, short-story writer, and novelist known for his fictional portrayals of social alienation and loveless sexuality. He was a major figure in 20th-century Italian literature.Moravia contracted tuberculosis of the bone (a form of osteomyelitis usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis) at the age of 8, but, during several years in which he was confined to bed and two years in sanatoriums, he studied French, German, and English; read Giovanni Boccaccio, Ludovico Ariosto, William Shakespeare, and Molière; and began to write. Moravia was a journalist for a time in Turin and a foreign correspondent in London. His first novel, Gli indifferenti (1929; Time of Indifference), is a scathingly realistic study of the moral corruption of a middle-class mother and two of her children. It became a sensation. Some of his more important novels are Agostino (1944; Two Adolescents); La Romana (1947; The Woman of Rome); La disubbidienza (1948; Disobedience); and Il conformista (1951; The Conformist), all on themes of isolation and alienation. La ciociara (1957; Two Women) tells of an adaptation to post-World War II Italian life....*

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alberto-Moravia#ref223509

“When you aren't sincere you need to pretend, and by pretending you end up believing yourself; that's the basic principle of every faith.”

 Alberto Moravia, The Time of Indifference

BUILDING ON MY OLD BOOK REVIEW 

I read and reviewed The Time of Indifference a few year ago, but for some reason I forgot to post it here on this little place to call my own.  My book review will be somewhat similar to the one I have already shared on goodreads (a site I'm no longer active on), but I'm going to build on it and add up a bit of commentary. It's something I do fairly often on my blog. I  go back to my book reviews and add something new. Sometimes I even write a completely new review upon rereading. I haven't reread this novel yet, though. I plan to do to it  this Summer. There's also a movie based on this book that I'd like to see and maybe than I'll do a comparison.

THE TIME OF INDIFFERENCE, A NOVEL BY ALBERTO MORAVIA 5/5

Albeit depressing and melancholic in tone, The Time of Indifference  was an amazing and enjoyable read. It's a quite a reflexive novel, perhaps it  could even be claimed that it invokes catharsis in some way. There's something  quite refreshing about the brutal honesty with which the author examines the characters. Reflecting on this book gives me great joy, because it is truly a fascinating and educating novel. While it is true that there is much to be sad about in this novel.

 The Time of Indifference is definitely not for everyone. Some aspects of it might even be triggering to some readers. It is perhaps a book best suited for those who are inclined to realism or just serious literature in general. This is definitely a novel that invites you to analyze its protagonists and the society they live in. While the novel does focus on individuals of one family, the social aspect of the novel is also present. It is not just about the individuals, it's about the society as well. While Moravia retells the demise of this aristocratic family, he also examines the society they are a part of. 

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PORTRAYAL OF CHARACTERS IS PHENOMENAL

I suppose it could be said that I’m admirer of this Italian writer. Alberto Moravia was, in my opinion, an excellent novelist, one of the best. What makes Moravia so great is the ease with which he portrays the most intimate inner states of his characters. 

His portrayal of characters is always very human but at the same time very detailed and precise. In many ways, Moravia reminds me of great Russian novelists. I mean that as a compliment, of course. Psychological realism is definitely one of my favourite genres.

 THIS IS MORAVIA'S FIRST NOVEL AND IT WON HIS CRITICAL ACCLAIM

 

Published in 1929, The Time of Indifference (Gli indifferenti) is Moravia’s first novel. In many ways, this novel can be considered a masterpiece. At any rate, it is worth noting that The Time of Indifference is a novel that won Moravia fame and critical acclaim. I'd agree that it is one of his best works for sure. THE NOVEL TELLS A STORY ABOUT THE DECLINE OF A BOURGEOIS ITALIAN FAMILY  It is certainly a very successful piece of writing. As far as the plot, it is a story about a decline of a bourgeois Italian family. On surface it is a simple story, a tale of intrigue and betrayal, featuring only 5 characters (Mariagrazia, Leo, Carla, Michele and Lisa) and covering events over a short amount of time ( two or three days). A MATURE WRITING THAT EXAMINES BOTH ITS CHARACTERS AND THE SOCIETY  However, there is more to this novel that meets the eye. Besides the basic plot, this novel is also a critique of aristocratic/ bourgeois society and a very successful one at that. Moreover, it is a psychological study of its characters that at times feels like a work of existentialism. This book questions whether change is possible and whether we can find our own meaning and purpose.  I have to say, Moravia very first novel is quite ambitious in a number of ways. It aims to ask some important questions. It's bold and honest piece of writing. Given its mature feel, it is hard to believe that the author was so young when he wrote it. On second thought, I'm not that surprised. Having read so much of Moravia, I'm not terribly surprised that he has produced such a mature work so early in his life.  THERE IS A SOCIALISTIC ELEMENT TO THIS NOVEL I said that this novel criticizes the aristocracy. Does this novel reflect Moravia's revolutionary ideas?  Well, it does to some extent, but not at the expense of the writing. There is certainly a socialistic element to this novel, but it's not a dominant one. The Time of Indifference is certainly not a communist pamphlet, it is a serious study of one family set in a particular time and place. Is it a critique of the aristocracy? In a way, it is, but it's also more than that. It's a study of a family, that at times feels like a study of human existence.  UNIVERSAL TOPICS SUCH AS LOVE AND LONELINESS EXPLORED IN A FAMILY SAGA At its core, this book speaks about universal topics: love, loneliness and isolation. It asks phycological and existential questions.  The writing is very precise, easy to follow and clear.  The Time of Indifference is written in a realistic style. It employs third person narration, so it feels objective. However, the third person narrator seems privy to the character's inner thoughts and feelings. Therefore, the reader feels close to the characters. The characters are studied and described with accuracy, without too much mercy, one could add. Moravia certainly doesn't try to embellish anything. A SLOW PACED NOVEL ABOUT AN EXTREMELY UNHAPPY FAMILY With a novel whose pace is as slow as this one (hardly anything happens in the conventional sense of the word, most of the novel takes place within the heads of the characters), it is up to the characters to make the matters interesting. These five sure manage to do that. Who are the characters then? A family, for five out of five characters in this novel live together in a villa. The fifth character Lisa is connected with them by past. A sort of a family saga then? Once I listened to an interview with Moravia where he elaborated on the influence that the Russian classics had on him and I certainly couldn’t help thinking of Tolstoy and his line- all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way. This novel tells a story of one extremely unhappy family. MARIAGRAZIA- THE MOTHER WHO DOESN'T DO MUCH MOTHERING Let’s start with Mariagrazia, an aging widow whose lover Leo is losing interest in her. Mariagrazia, who is, like all the other characters, a creature incapable of finding her place in the world. Mariagrazia, a woman who worries about her increasingly bored lover Leo leaving her. A woman of little imagination. A woman who says that the poor don’t suffer the way they do (higher class that is) because the poor don’t have their sensibilities and imagination.  Is Mariagrazia very sophisticated herself? Not at all. Her characters is not a positive one, for she's not a very nice person. Mariagrazia shows little candid interest in her children. While her children are technically adults, her coldness towards them is still strange. Mariagrazia seems incapable of understanding that the world that she belongs to is long gone. Moreover, for all her talk of sophistication, Mariagrazia seems to be a lady of a limited intelligence and imagination. THE LOVER LEO WHOSE ETHICS IS MORE THAN QUESTIONABLE AND ADOLESCENT CHILDREN WHO ARE LOST Her lover Leo is more important to her than her children, and her children are interested in nothing, a passive decedents of a dying class. LISA- A FAMILY FRIEND WHO GETS INVOLVED INTO EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS Leo, the lover of Mariagrazia, used to be romantically involved with Mariagrazia’s friend Lisa. Why he treated Lisa for Mariagrazia is not elaborated on and perhaps it is not important for the context of the novel.  Sensing that Leo is growing apart, Mariagrazia suspects he has something to do with Lisa, her friend, the lady she stole Leo from in the first place. Although, it is hard for me to understand why woman would fight over a man like Leo? LEO FALLS IN LOVE WITH MARIAGRAZIA'S DAUGHTER WHO IS IN EARLY TWENTIES Leo doesn’t remain passive but falls head over heels with Carla, Mariagrazia’s daughter. Leo who enjoys torturing Michele, the son of Mariagrazia. Not a very decent human being, but that says something about Mariagrazia as well. When Lisa makes her appearance, Leo at this point quite bored with Mariagrazia’s jealousy and reproaches, decides to pay Lisa a visit only to discover that Lisa is no longer interested in him. Lisa falls in love with Michele, who in turn finds her annoying. Perhaps Lisa reminds Michele of his mother. WHO CAN BLAME MICHELE FOR BEING INDIFFERENT? Michele seems to be disgusted with everything, with society and life in general. Who can blame him? His inner thoughts take over the novel at one point. Michele becomes the judge and the judges himself just as harshly as he judges the world. In a way, he becomes to voice of the author.  CARLA AND MICHELE AS VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCES THEY ARE BORN INTO What to say of the siblings? Carla and Michele, children of Mariagrazia, indifferent and bored, lost in a world that has no place for the likes of them. They were the only characters I could relate to. I felt sympathy for them both. Because they are so young and they haven’t really lived, haven’t really felt and perhaps will never get the chance. I felt sympathy for the poor Carla, for her youth and beauty, for her imprisonment. For Carla’s life is a sort of imprisonment. An impoverish family who insists on keeping up appearances is a trap for a young girl, especially a passive one, even if she is a pretty girl. THE NOVEL OPENS WITH A SCENE THAT ISN'T EASY TO READ The novel opens with a disturbing scene, a scene in which a step-father (Leo) courts his stepdaughter (Carla). Now, she's twenty-four, but it's still revolting.  At least it seemed that way to be. It might not be as shocking in this day and time. Apparently Miley Cyrus' mother married an ex lover of one of her daughters. It might be the new normal to some, but to me it is still disturbing. Back to the novel.  Can Leo be really considered a stepfather or is Leo merely a lover of her mother(Mariagrazia)? Even if he is just a casual lover (and Leo seems to be more than that, at least in Mariagrazia's eyes) the fact remains Leo lives in the villa. The fact they all inhabit the same space makes the whole affair even more revolting. Either way, it is quite disturbing. Now, having read other novels by Moravia, I’m not stranger to this scenario. For example, there is another novel by this author that features a protagonist who falls in love with his stepdaughter, but for some reason the opening scene of this one was particularly nauseating. Moravia has written about incestuous before. As a writer, he seems to psychologically examine the causes that might leads to this pathological and unnatural behaviour. Incestuous- like relationships are a pretty common occurrence in Moravia’s novels, and yet here it seems  too much.  Perhaps Moravia was aiming for a shock effect? Moravia seems to have known what he was doing, for I’m not sure have I ever read a more descriptive opening scene. It transforms the reader into the atmosphere of a decadent family perfectly. THERE'S SO MUCH TO DISTURB ABOUT THE FAMILY DYNAMICS  It is hard to describe what is more disturbing, the incestuous passion of the lover, or the indifference of Carla. Leo’s pursuit of Carla is initially shocking, but by the end of the novel, nothing really surprises us anymore. THE PLOT IS ALMOST  LIKE A SOAP OPERA EXPECT THAT NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS The basic story line resembles a soap opera, with seduction attempts at every step of the way, and yet nothing much happens, but the character feel very real and human. The aristocratic characters perhaps give this novel its flare of a Greek tragedy. They are a dying breed. They are far from perfect, unlike the heroes of Greek dramas who seem to be on a moral pedestal. What destroys the Greek drama heroes and heroines is the tragic flaw. What is the tragic flaw of this family? Is it indifference? Is it the inability to truly love?  THE OLD TRY TO SEDUCE THE YOUNG- A POSSIBLE METAPHOR A lot of seduction takes place. It is the older who try to seduce the young, perhaps trying to recapture their youth and life. Could it be the case?  The young (Carla and Michele) instinctively sense that it is all in vain. You cannot escape time.  The protagonists of this novel are hard to love, lost in their indifference (Michele and Carla), their stupidity and egoism (Leo and Mariagrazia) or their desperation (Lisa). They all want to be loved, but they have no clue how to love. They lack human warmth, they don't know how to be vulnerable and open with one another. Hence, they remain in their bubble, dreaming of change that seems to never come. Their isolation is painful to watch, but at the same time it makes perfect sense. Could it be any different? They all live in illusions, and surprisingly the young ones (Carla and Michele) seem to be more aware of it. THE YOUNG SEE THAT THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN IS ILLUSORY, BUT LACK THE STRENGHT TO CHANGE IT The young ones sense it but lack the strength and the motivation do to anything about it. Mariagrazia is afraid of her lover abandoning her. Lisa is afraid of not making Michele her lover. Carla is simply lost. She’s so passive, she daydreams of a lover, and deceives herself with the story of this imaginary lover. I wonder if Carla is not the one who suffers the most. Carla seems to be deeply unhappy with her life. While it is true of others as well, she seems to feel more emotion and more desire for a change. One feels more kindly towards her, simply because she's a young woman in a difficult position. Carla might become Leo’s prey out of sheer boredom and desperation, because it is the only way to escape her coursed life. Is prey the right word? Carla is an adult yes, but there's an age difference and this is obviously not the only problematic thing about their potential relationship.  IS THIS FAMILY EVEN CAPABLE OF LOVE?  Michele is worried for his sister and mother, but incapable of idolizing them and perhaps incapable of loving them as well. What they all seem to be incapable of is- love. The older ones can still feel desire and lust, but neither of them can feel love, neither for themselves, nor for one another and certainly not for the society. THE HYPOCRISY OF BOURGEOIS CLASS IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL   The Time of Indifference describes with painful accuracy the hypocrisy of bourgeois class. Moreover, with its modern theme of loneliness and isolated protagonist, this novel speaks volumes about the curse of human existence, the curse of solitude all of us endure in our lives, one way or another. The characters are very human in their isolation and loneliness.  THE NOVEL IS EXISTENTIAL IN ITS QUESTIONING OF HUMAN EXISTENCE To conclude, I'm very glad I've had the chance to read this novel. I plan to reread it some day. It is such a haunting piece of writing. It is one of those novels you can't forget, that stays with you and if that is the kind of novel you're looking for, then Moravia is your kind of writer. Highly recommended!

OUTFIT DETAILS- MY SUSTAINABLE OUTFIT IS ALL ABOUT FLORALS

 

The Multiple Advantages of Shopping Our Own Closets

1. You'll save money!

We are going to start with the obvious benefits. Obviously, when you shop your own closet, you'll saving money because you won't be spending as much  money on new clothes. If you decide to commit to exclusively shopping your closet and opting for a shopping ban, then you'll probably be able to save a pretty sum. 

2. You'll rediscover your favourite clothing items!

Once you've started shopping your closet, you'll be amazed to find a lot of clothing items you loved, but that you've completely forgot about. For example, that one pair of jeans that fit you like it's nobody business. It is not so uncommon to buy things we already have.

3. You'll be able to feel comfortable while you're shopping!

Assuming that you feel comfortable in your home, as most people do, shopping your closet can be a very comfortable experience. 

4. You'll be able to listen to the kind of music you like or  listen to an audio-book!

When you're in a mall you're basically sentenced to listening to modern music and if makes your ears bleed, that's your problem. When you're shopping at home, you can listen to whatever you want.

5. You'll have the possibility to better judge the true comfort of clothes!

When we try clothes in a shop, we don't spend much time wearing that clothes. How much time do we spend in a clothing item we try on in a shop? I would say under a minute. 

I LOVE TO BLOG ABOUT SHOPPING ONE'S CLOSET BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO BE SUSTAINABLE! 

HOW I WORE THESE ITEMS BEFORE? 

FLORAL RUFFLED SHIRT- FIRST WORN HERE IN 2013 AND HERE HERE IN 2018!

OLIVE VEST WITH FLORAL PRINT-

20 WAYS TO WEAR A GREEN VEST 

FLORAR PARSLEY SKIRT WITH RUFFLES- 

8 WAYS TO STYLE A PRINTED SKIRT8 WAYS TO STYLE A PRINTED SKIRT

BEIGE MINI BAG- HERE

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LOCATION !

   FIND MORE PHOTOS FROM MOSTAR AND MORE POSTS ABOUT MOSTAR

OUTFIT POST, MOSTAR APRIL 2024

ONE OF MY LAST POST FROM MOSTAR HERE

ZRINJEVAC PARK IN WINTER 

PHOTOS OF NERETVA RIVER & SPORTY STYLING 2023

OUTFIT POST FEATURING  A LEATHER JACKET IN MOSTAR CITY

SPANISH SQUARE IN MOSTAR CITY

WHAT HAVE I BEEN WEARING IN MOSTAR? 

ŠANTIĆEVA THE MOST PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY STREET IN MOSTAR 2022

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/happy-easter-weekend-everyone-wiwt.html- EASTER POST FROM MY HOME

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-vintage-white-blazer-blue-jeans-diy.html- RESTAURANT ROMANCA

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/04/ozz-students-fashion-show-under.html- MOSTAR INTERNATIONAL FAIR 

https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2022/03/uno-nessuno-e-centomila-one-no-one-and.html-  ŠANTIĆ STREET IN MOSTAR

THE JAPANESE CHERRY TREES IN MOSTAR  / PARK ZRINJEVAC  FASHION ILLUSTRATION

TWO MORE POSTS ABOUT MOSTAR: HERE & HERE SPANISH SQUARE MOSTAR HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MOSTAR ! FAREWELL TO SUMMER FROM MOSTAR CITY  2018 STREET ART MOSTAR , 2016 STREET ART , 2021 STREETART and also here , here and here.   STROLLING MOSTAR CITY 2021  

OLDER posts about Mostar  

1. You can see Mostar from the bird perspective in my previous posts (here, here and here). 

2. One of my favourite streets in Mostar here and here.

 3. Musala bridge (also known under its old name Tito's bridge here and here)

 4. You can see photographs of Mostar's Catholic cathedral here.

5. You can see images of Mostar and its famous Nertva river here, here and here.

 6. You can see the surrounds of one of its most iconic Catholic churches in Mostar here.

7. You can see both photographs of old bridge and my drawing of it here. 

CAN YOU SEE HOW OBSSESSED I AM WITH BLOGGING ABOUT MOSTAR YET?

8. Another one of my favourites when it comes to streets here. 

9. You can see photographs of Croatian cultural centre/theater here , here , here , here and here. 

10. You can see photographs of the main city park here here, here, here and here.

11. You can see images of Spanish square here, here , here , here and here. 

12. You can see photographs of Custom's bridge here and here.

 13. You can see photographs of the new bridge here and here. 14. A few photographs from old city centre (2018) here. 

15. What to wear for sightseeing Mostar in summer here.

16. This post is focused on 7 outfits I wore but you can see many of Mostar's attractions there as well. I suppose the same can be said for most of my outfit posts. 17. Mostar as an Easter destination (2019) here.

DON'T FORGET - MOSTAR IS A GREAT DINNING DESTINATION!

18. Mostar dinning and cafe recommendations here. 

19. Hiking options in Mostar here.

 20. My drawing of Mostar old bridge here. 

21. University campus in Mostar here. 

22. How I have fallen in love with Mostar here.

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...AND LET'S NOT FORGET TO THANK MY PHOTOGRAPHER GORDAN!

Thank you for reading and visiting this little digital place to call my own!