This was my first time reading Moravia, and I was surprised by how entertaining this book is. He’s sharp, funny, and has a way of capturing relationships that feels honest and familiar. His exploration of love, hate, power, and desire is certainly sharp, but more than that I loved how real it felt. I recognized dynamics that felt true to life, the kind you notice in people around you without always putting into words. Many of these stories stayed with me long after I finished reading, lingering in the back of my mind.
If there’s one drawback, it’s the sheer number of stories. With over 40 packed into the collection, most only five or six pages long, they start to blur together. The short format makes for quick, punchy storytelling, but many times I wanted more depth, more space for ideas to breathe. That’s not really a flaw in Moravia’s writing, just a limitation of the medium. Still, this was such an enjoyable read that I’m already looking forward to his longer works, where his insights can stretch out and take their time.