Customer Reviews

Cosi Fan Tutti Hb (Zen)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Da Ponte wrote a libretto for the opera the composer called "The School For Lovers". Michael Dibdin titles each chapter with a title from the libretto in Italian, and in the contents gives the English approximation. An estimate, a guess, any thought that suggests ambiguity is appropriate for this Aurelio Zen mystery, for neither the reader nor those fictional characters of "Cosi Fan Tutti" really know what is happening either.

When the protagonist in the series is reduced to thinking, "Not only was the plot slipping from his grasp, even the names of the cast appeared unfamiliar" you either are holding a great tale, or the thoughts of a writer who is in over his head. In the hands of a lesser talent this would often suggest a book that has lost direction and has resorted to rhetorical thought, as some gimmick for obscuring what is at heart a story gone amiss. But this is Michael Dibdin, and control of plot is never an issue for him.

Like a great play or opera the story arrives at its denouement, and then seemingly every player is brought together and the true and final facades are taken away. But for the Author this is not enough, for in the previous book he plants in Aurelio's mind a doubt of the worst sort, which appears to be solved at the end. A Priest leans over Zen's stricken Mother, the Confession, and then the question as to whether the Mother would like the Right of Extreme Unction. The Mother of course responds with "is there more Brandy", the "Priest" is a mature changeling of sorts, and everything you thought you knew, is twisted. All your thoughts are held up to a mirror, and they are not backward gibberish, but Michael Dibdin true plot, having once again the final resounding laughs at the reader's expense, and delight.

Michael Dibdin has yet to repeat one of his sleights of thought he baffles his reader's with, and with only 1 installment left to read I doubt there will be repetition. His writing is wonderful, to use a climber's term he continually presents false summits, the corner you turn is never the last until you are convinced it is not, and his mirrors reflect what he wants them to, not what light and nature intend.

My enthusiasm for this man's work continues unabated, his work is simply excellent.

If you're expecting your traditional whodunit, this ain't it. Dibdin is definitely not a formula writer and it's impossible to know exactly what to expect when Aurelio Zen is involved. This case is a classic, It's well-written with plot lines within plot lines of which Zen, or you, may or may not be aware. It doesn't matter anyway because this book was, to put it simply, a lot of fun to read.

Michael Dibdin has created a wonderfully clever, witty and suspenseful crime novel. He weaves the characters together seamlessly amidst the perplexing chaos and rhythm of Naples. Anyone looking for a stylish novel with deft touches of humor need look no further.

Reading Aurelio Zen out of sequence is as sensible as the mystery in this book. And figuring out which of the several plot lines represents the mystery is half the fun. Picaresque is the only description for Zen. And the other characters! You get to meet every Italian you've ever known, with a couple of true-to-life foreigners thrown in. Truly delightful if you have a sense of humor and a taste for the absurd. A disaster if you like a lot of senseless violence and macho language in your mysteries. Aurelio Zen has a new fan in me.

This is the best of the Aurelio Zen mysteries. Zen is not your normal literary detective. He frequently has no more idea what is going on than the reader, and that is his charm. In Cosi Fan Tutti, Dibdin manages to write an excellent mystery, be funny and describe the normally hidden side of Naples all in one. This is a wonderful book.

A literate and thoroughly enjoyable read if you like (a) opera, (b) Italy, (c) humor, or (d) classical Chandler/Hammet mysteries. The violence is limited (thankfully), the characterizations are sharp and funny, and the parallels to the Mozart opera, though not necessary to enjoy the book, provide an extra layer of delight. Dibdin is probably not for everyone; if you like exceptional tension or violence, this is not for you. But if you enjoy very skillful use of language and turns of phrase, along with a burlesque of Italian (and other) life, you are sure to enjoy this.

If you're an opera fan who's a parody fan who likes mystery, this is for you. The mystery almost gets lost in the sometimes witty/sometimes not parallels between this plot and the opera of almost the same name. The detective is well-developed, but no other character is. It's amusing but not engrossing.

Michael Dibdin has written his own version of the "Cosi Fan Tutti" opera and it's well worth your while to read his novel. Prior to reading the book I spent some time reading the libretto, and I thought this would give me a better idea of what would come to pass in the story, well yes and no, decide for yourself. One thing for sure he has given it a 'modern' spin.

One thing that Dibdin (like other writers of Italian crime novels like Andrea Camilleri and Donna Leon) likes to make fun of is the amount of corruption in everyday Italian life. When Zen senses that he is in trouble after the 'incident' in Rome, he decides to transfer himself to Naples before 'they' can send him to the Tyrol or Sardinia. He places himself at the head of the Harbor Precinct and then ingratiates himself with his corrupt subordinates.

Not needing to do anything to upset the applecart, Zen spends little time in his office but finds time to get involved with his landlady and her two daughters suitors. The landlady is from a 'proud' family and doesn't want her daughters to get involved by the two 'toughs' they are dating. Zen works out a deal with the Mother and daughters to prove that the two erstwhile suitors are not as dedicated to the girls as they act.

In between, Zen gets involved with tracking down a smuggling ring, a Navy Ensign who is AWOL, and a 'terrorist' group that is kidnapping well known corrupt officials and gang leaders. There are also a whole lot of personal problems that come to a crashing denouement. Once again Zen falls into the slop (this time literally) but manages to come out smelling like the proverbial rose.

Zeb Kantrowitz
zbestblogaround@blogspot.com

Aurelio Zen has been dispatched from Rome to Naples to help the Polizia dello Stato responsible for law enforcement within the port area. He is going to fight against a terrorist gang called "Strade pulite" - Clean Streets. He is going to meet Signora Valeria Squillace and her two daughters Orestina and Filomena who wish to marry two members of the local Mafia, Gesualdo and Sabatino. Zen promises to help Signora Squillace by trying to "divert" the two men's taste for women and hires two "prostitutes", Libera and Iolanda while Orestina and Filomena are sent to London, allegedly to improve their English. Matters nearly get out of control when an American marine is killed by a gang of drunken Greek soldiers but whose identity the officers are not able to establish. Among the dead man's belongings there is a mysterious video cassette which is soon to vanish without explanation...

Nothing is what it seems to be, nobody is what they claim to be - except Zen with his usual bonhomie - and so numerous misunderstandings occur which make "Cosi Fan Tutti" the wittiest Aurelio Zen mystery written by Michael Dibdin.

Dibdin takes a holiday of sorts and writes a comic opera set in Naples (today we could call this a sit-com). You have to really pay attention with Dibdin, but never more so than with this installment in the A. Zen sagas. We find our hero indolent in this southern port town stalked by love, murder, video games and incest. Dibdin takes us on a merry chase and somehow manages to bring it all together in the final (long) chapter. New comers to the Zen mysteries should not start with this book (try the Dead Lagoon) but long time fans will be caught up by the third page. You should read the chapter title translations to get the jokes as they are played out. All in all, a real hoot that captures the atmosphere of Naples today.