It is known to all, that love literature, after several years of being on ice, she's taken over.
The beginning was made by Metaichmio publications, reissuing some of the masterpieces of the genre. Pataki publications followed, where with the “Fifty Shades Of Grey”, they made the success of the outgoing year, to complete the cycle the Tulipa editions and the trilogy “Crossfire”.
And while all the other publishers are looking for the book that will be able to make a difference and stand out, to become the ultimate reading fetish, Livani publications come in turn to present us with the first book of the trilogy “Eighty Days”, the creation of two very famous so-called authors, who hide their identity and combined efforts, behind the stage name, Vina Jackson.
The story revolves around the life of Samer Zahova or to be more precise, around her sex life and identity, in an attempt to find out, who she really is and what she is looking for, to feel complete. Her relationship with Darren, it is by no means what is needed and so, she decides to leave him. But the one that never gives up, it is her violin and the music that comes out of it, something that brings her to the extent that she would like to lead her and a love relationship. That's when Dominic shows up, a charming man who has his own obsessions and needs, who is fascinated by Summer who becomes obsessed with him. When Summer's violin is destroyed, Dominic, offers to replace it in exchange, a concert just for him, which Summer accepts without thinking. That's when a dangerous game begins between them that can lead them both to the extremes as, enjoyment and satisfaction, they don't come without a cost in their ever-so-strange and peculiar relationship.
Before I say more, I should emphasize that the “Eighty Days”, it is not a read for everyone. Its aesthetics and philosophy, refer to that of the Marquis De Sade for’ this, those of you who have read him and were shocked by his writing, better choose something else. The same goes for over romantics who cannot accept the dark side of human sexual nature, they don't understand it and they don't understand it, not simply because it doesn't suit them but, because they refuse to accept that for some people, this is the truth of their daily life. Bad lies… the book talks about fetishism and the definition of submission and regardless of that, as far as the descriptive part is concerned, does not resort to provocative extremes, is able to shock a more conservative reader. For God's sake, I don't mean you have to be loose morals to like it but, however we do it, you must be what they say, open minded.
Summer and Dominic's relationship, it is anything but conventional. Besides, the purpose of the writers is not so much to explore their emotional motivations and stimuli but, the dark side of human nature and sexuality, of which they themselves are witnesses. Both of them, possessed by instincts that are above them seeking a form of pleasure that is inextricably linked to submission but also pain. But as for the game between them, their relationship, it's give and take, at least until the moment when they provoke each other by driving him to the extremes, he gradually directs them to the edge of the cliff. But in the focus is cat’ Summer par excellence, which is less self-aware than Dominic, more willing to go to extremes, risking even her very spirituality and mental balance. She reaches her limits and does not hesitate to even exceed them, in her attempt to understand who she really is and I finally wonder… this is due to her inability to control her passions or her boundless boldness which unconsciously leads her to try everything, in order to reject that which does not suit her;
While reading this particular book, I was trying to decide if after all, I liked it or not. Completing it, I came to the conclusion that yes, I really liked it, for very specific reasons. The psychological profile of the central characters although extreme, it is not unrealistic, no matter how much we want to believe that we live in an ideal world. There are people whose everyday life, it is the same as theirs and we cannot cancel them. On the other, the narration is done in such a way that we have the possibility, on a first-person narrative level to see, both Summer's own perspective, deeply understanding her feelings and the reasons behind her decisions, as well as a third-person level, which allows us to have a more global picture of the events, how the regional characters perceive the developments, Dominic himself and ordinary observers, seeing essentially the same situation, through different and multiple prisms, just like in real life.
The flow of the narrative is steadily upward, with climax and relaxation points, thus balancing the whole so as to maintain some elements of provocation, without, however, touching the limits of obscenity, challenging the limits of the reader, obviously respecting the fact that not everyone who falls into their hands will be equally open-minded. The authors' writing is distinguished by an undeniable dynamic, that fascinates and captivates you from the first, until the last line. The music-obsessed Summer and the way it takes over her and directs her deepest instincts, he is at least charming, as well as the way and means used to bring out the dark side of catalyzing passion and need sometimes, some people, to do morality, emotional and sexual transcendence, in order to reach the limits of pleasure, even if they risk acrobating on a very thin and ill-defined dividing line. If nothing else, a surprise novel.
By Yota Papadimakopoulou
Source : culturenow.gr
