Paulo Giordano: Q & A

[Stewart]

Okay, a quick heads up. We're looking to do another live discussion, with another Italian winner of the Premio Strega Prize, in association with Transworld this time. The author is Paulo Giordano, whose first novel, The Solitude Of Prime Numbers took the prize in 2008.

Transworld are offering a number of copies in advance (ten, most likely), although this will be limited to Europe only. (Sorry!) There's no date set, although it would be likely to be around the end of May, start of June as that's when the novel is released in the UK. I've had a quick dig around the internet to see if I could find any supplementary information and found a review of the book at the Italian Literature Review blog and a short extract from the book from the Transworld site.

If you live in Europe and think the book would interest you, that you'll have time to read it, and that you'll also be able to take part in a live chat with the author, then please do say so in this thread and we'll get things organised as soon as possible.

[kpjayan]

Any specific reason for limiting to Europe ? Could we 'buy' the copy from Transworld and participate , if that is the issue ?

[rburdock]

You so know I'm going to be interested again Stewart *grins*

[Stewart]

Originally Posted by kpjayan

Any specific reason for limiting to Europe ? Could we 'buy' the copy from Transworld and participate , if that is the issue ?

I would guess territorial rights have a part to play. Buying the book and taking part isn't an issue: the chat, after all, is open to all.

[Transworld Publishers]

Hello, I am Samantha - Paolo Giordano's UK publicist!

If anyone would like to request a review copy ahead of the chat, drop me an email and I will whizz a copy over to you in the post. For those wanting a bit more information, The Solitude of Prime Numbers has sold 1.2 million copies in Italy, is a bestseller in Spain (70,000 hardbacks in print) and reached number 5 in the Dutch bestseller charts. It also won the Premio Strega prize, and at 26 Paolo is the youngest author to do so.

The plot focuses on the intertwined destinies of Mattia and Alice, and Paolo uses mathematical patterns of numbers to intrepret their relationship. As a child Alice's overbearing father drove her first to a terrible skiing accident, and then to anorexia. When she meets Mattia she recognises a kindred spirit, and Mattia reveals to Alice his terrible secret: that as a boy he abandoned his mentally-disabled twin sister in a park to go to a party, and when he returned, she was nowhere to be found.

These two episodes mark their lives, and finally a chance sighting of a woman who could be Mattia's sister forces a lifetime of secret emotion to the surface.

It's a stunning debut and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have - get in touch if you would like to see a copy!

Samantha

[Ramblingsid]

Count me in! I really enjoyed the last book "Crossroads" - and what is more I later persuaded my sixteen year old son to read it - and he thoroughly enjoyed it as well.

[Galatea92]

The book sounds interesting. Count me in Stewart.

[Transworld Publishers]

Hi all,

For those who haven't signed up yet for their review copy of The Solitude of Prime Numbers and to chat with the author when he is in the UK later this month, here is an extract from the first two chapters of the book to whet your appetite!

I would love to know what you think, and if you want a copy please don't hesitate to send me a message

Samantha

[Ramblingsid]

Any news on what is happening with this? Is it still on the cards?

[Transworld Publishers]

Hi, all is still going ahead - Stewart and I are just decided the format. Date to be revealed shortly.

For those based in London, Paolo will be doing two events at the end of May. The first on Fruday 29th at 7pm at the italian cultural insitute (talk, q and a and drinks reception). The second is a lunchtime reading session at the Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies at 1pm, on Saturday 30th.

Would be great see members of the forum at these events! If anyone wants further details, just send me a message! and do let me know if you would like a FREE reading copy

Sam

[Transworld Publishers]

Hi all!

Thanks to everyone who contacted me who wanted to be involved in this discussion.

I think the best way to proceed with this is a question and answer thread as opposed to a live web chat. I will start a new discussion in the Writer Discussions and Giveaways folder, called Questions for Paolo Giordano. Then if you guys could post your questions, I will sit down with Paolo this Friday and type up all his answers. Any questions posted after this date, I will post up answers as and when possible.

I will also giveaway a signed copy to the person who asks the best question!

How does that sound to everyone? Drop me a message if you haven't received the book!

Sam

[rburdock]

Only speaking for myself of course but that works for me Sam. Here's only hoping I can get the book finished in time, especially with that *signed copy* 'carrot' dangling .
Warmest
Rob

[mcgramsci]

Looking forward to the questions and answers from Paolo here.
In the meantime, here's an english language interview with him published recently in Three Monkeys Online:
Paolo Giordano Interview - The Solitude of Prime Numbers

[Stewart]

Originally Posted by mcgramsci

Looking forward to the questions and answers from Paolo here.

They are here.

[mcgramsci]

Oops - didn't see that - thanks.
Good discussion!